aru_nika'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
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
eviecanactuallyread's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
frannyrdclark's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Blood, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Self harm, Infidelity, and Animal death
Minor: Vomit and Child abuse
saarahkaatharina's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Self harm, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
jennalea_'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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Grief and Violence
circemarch's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Addiction, and Drug use
ccassidy98'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
aileron's review
- 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
1.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Addiction
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Transphobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
earth2sammi's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Spoiler
I think I would have rated this book a lot lower if not for the last chapter. I think it did show how Cleo had grown--her not talking to Quentin anymore was heartbreaking but it was also what was best for her. I like the thought of Cleo and Frank still being friends, but it does make me sad how they hurt each other so much. Cleo's art almost send Frank into a panic attack, and he also didn't fully believe in her talent, and he was so quick to mentally get angry at her and mock her for using crystals. It's like they can't stand each other but they need each other to be in their lives. It's so confusing. I like that Cleo and Zoe are friends now, and that Zoe has found her niche. Anders is a cliche. I understand Cleo's jealousy of Eleanor getting the sober, more attentive version of Frank, but I don't think Cleo would have been ready for that version either. I don't know. I don't think I ever want to read this book again.Also, ended up talking to my therapist today about the line "But the people who did get that love, they grew up to be different from us. More secure. Maybe they're not as shiny or successful as you and I feel we have to be. But it's not because they're not interesting. They just don't feel they have to do the tap dance, you know? They don't have to prove themselves all the time to be loved. Because they always were." That did a number on me.
Moderate: Self harm, Alcoholism, Addiction, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
babsi_222'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
3.0
Soooo many ts songs reminded me of this book!!!
Deeply flawed characters and toxic relationships. Everyone struggles.
I Never liked Cleo and Frank‘s Relationship (i don’t like the age gap) and I don’t like them both that much. I like Cleo sometimes too, she can be relatable. The chapters are quite long but that didn’t bother me very much- the usual POV‘S are Cleo and Frank but you got like 1-2 chapters in the POV of Zoe, Eleanor, Quentin and Santiago
The two chapters that were Eleanor‘s POV i didn’t like, I don’t know why there were that many small paragraphs with stuff I don’t care about. Her and Frank‘s relationship was something I also never liked. A lot of things were predictable in this book but there were also plottwists so it’s fine if.
Quentin is very strange and I was always a bit scared of him tbh because he’s just so uncomfortable. I kneeew that Alex was bad for him tbh (I thought it was cute in the beginning in Quentin‘s POV but then in the other people‘s POV i saw the problematic)
I loveee Zoe. I think she was my fav person in the book. I could sympathies with her (more in the end not so much in the beginning) Santiago is I think the only unproblematic character in the book. I love him and I’m sooo happy for how his life‘s like now.
My fav scene is the one where Audrey, Cleo and Zoe spend time together (p 82- 91) especially the part when they went home to Cleo‘s (i think) ❤️❤️❤️
Cleo:
+ an artist
+ a feminist that puts people in their place
+ „ you want credit for not leaving me? Are you joking? Sorry Frank, but you married me…“ (p261)
+ she has a smooth way of feeling and she feels so much
- she complained about her pain when they had THAT fight but didn’t care about Frank‘s pin at all
- in general made some poor ass arguments in that fight
- „Could it be? Are we back here again? At Frank pity party?“ (p261) HUGE L
- compared her trauma to Frank‘s 💀
- had an affair
Frank:
+ changed for the better!
+ cares about Eleanor
+ finally cried in the end
+ supported Cleo financially
+ super rich but then not too cocky
- a man
- killed their pet that they loved and lied about it
- bought an illegal pet
- had an affair
- gave his sister money all the time
- alcoholic for the most time of this book
Zoe:
+ has her struggles but powerful
+ sweet and kind
+ the whole thing with Jiro :))
+ the way she connected w Cleo
+ idk but her sexual struggles make her so much more sympathetic
+ the scene were she layers on the ground next to Cleo (p 312) ❤️❤️
- asking her brother for money all the time
- doesn’t know how to spend money
„The parties, Sex, alcohol and drug use is so New York City aesthetic“…. Girl wtf no it’s literally not.
„ everyone we know in NY is an addict, aren’t they?“ (p355) lol yeah they are. The way drugs are used in the book is sooooo bad holy shit especially like Quentin and Alex and stuff but actually they all.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Self harm, Sexism, Cursing, Death of parent, Outing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Blood