Scan barcode
love_bookswillbetheendofme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident
mals_library's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, and Alcohol
paskendus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was an interesting read in a way, especially seeing teenagers showing anger and even being spiteful as a self preservation technique, but my oh my how they did not communicate. With each other or the adults. And the adults were... passive at best, so all around people just trying to survive on assumptions.
The writing felt repetitive at times and overly dramatic for my taste. I also did not feel a lot while reading the book, I got what the author wanted me to feel, but I just didn't. Characters made correct, good conclusions after something happening but I just did not see how they got there, that may be on me and lack of investment. I also think it was preachy and very on the nose at times.
And honestly I did not like the ending after all the messy things that happened everyone should have gotten some therapy to work through at least some of their personal stuff before being all lovie dovie. Or I at least would have loved to see the resolving their problems more.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
longlost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. Autistic rep AND queer rep ?? All I want in life. Unfortunately I just could not vibe with the book or its characters.
Lukas and Jeremy's relationship was not enjoyable to read about during most points of the book. It came off as TOO mean-spirited so so often and I genuinely don't see why
I DID enjoy the queer power message in this book, and while I didn't enjoy the shitty school system it also reflects reality unfortunately so. I wish I could have liked this book more because I'm 100% behind Jeremy's fight to change the Code so that the harassment he's facing is Actually Acknowledged but I couldn't stand the main plot of fighting over the Homecoming crown even if I could sympathize with both character's motivations. The actions they took against each other just felt too mean-spirited.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Medical content, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
alyshkalia's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
alyxinthestars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, and Dysphoria
Minor: Biphobia, Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Car accident, and Alcohol
rey_therese07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Antisemitism, and Grief
seawarrior's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Both boys could be horrible throughout the story. I spent most of it angry with Jeremy in particular. However, I did see my own angry, terrified, newly transitioning teenage self reflected in his rage and self destructive views. Anger is a key theme throughout the book; Jeremy takes it out on others, while Lukas turns it against himself.
It's not exactly rewarding to see the ugliest parts of transitioning into a boy transcribed into words, but I do feel it's important. It's rare to find stories that tackle the grief and the rage that trying to find yourself again as a self-made man can inspire. Walking the line between rejecting toxic masculinity from your personhood and protecting yourself from the wrath those who embrace it feel towards you can feel like an everlosing war, especially when trapped in environments with hateful men who are never held accountable. At the same time, we risk losing formerly close relationships with cisgender women who struggle to understand us as both a male and as someone who's experienced similar gender-based violence all our lives. Finding community again in these circumstances can be rough, but it is possible once we learn to let our anger evaporate and trust that our loved ones will protect us once we part with the armor that rage provides. I feel relieved to find a story that embraces these difficult issues as a part of it while still reminding the reader that our lives aren't as hopeless as they can sometimes feel.
I was also excited to find out that Lukas was autistic. His own struggles with wanting to control how people viewed him felt really relatable to me too. Yet I didn't feel he was able to have his tangled emotions and self-hatred resolved as much as Jeremy did, which was disappointing.
Overall, this story was one I really loved. It presents itself less as puzzle piece that fits exactly in place to validate the reader and more like a series of ever-shifting mechanisms that shy away from snapping together so simply. I don't think that's necessarily a flaw. These characters hold a lot of meaning for me and I expect them to stick with me for a long time. If their author ever wants to continue their story, I would be delighted to re-enter their world.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Biphobia, Drug use, Fatphobia, Racism, Antisemitism, and Alcohol
nickoliver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Biphobia, Blood, and Alcohol
Re: homophobia and ableism, there's also use of the f-slur and the r-word.sunsetcity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment