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rennygrunau's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
fellowshipofthebroom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is sweet, cozy, and hope filled. It has some darker moments, mentions of child abuse. But it made me laugh out loud several times, tear up a couple moments, and I ultimately finished with a big smile on my face. I desperately wanted there to be more. I can't wait to read the sequels!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Xenophobia
redstringraven's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
*clapping hands with every other word* i don't know where to begin with praising this booook. i love this book SO muuuuuch.
the prose is excellent and brimming with personality. there are so many little word choices or details i adore, or descriptions of a character's mannerisms that made me grin or giggle or just kind of wiggle around in my chair. the dialogue between characters throughout is so enjoyable.
i love the island. i love linus. i love zoe so much. i love arthur and i love all the kids;i'd sell a man's soul to lucy for one corn chip . they each have their own voice and presence throughout the book, and i love the gentle changes and shifts in how linus responds to and approaches them.
i'd go into "things i liked" and "things that didn't jive", but i'm not sure that i can with this book. i'd have to thoroughly comb through it again to find the latter, and i feel even those would be more in the realm of nit-picking. and for the "thinks i liked" list, you may as well just rewrite the book in bullet-list form. i genuinely enjoyed this book so much, and i'll be excited to return to it in the future.
yeah, i really do wish i was there.
the prose is excellent and brimming with personality. there are so many little word choices or details i adore, or descriptions of a character's mannerisms that made me grin or giggle or just kind of wiggle around in my chair. the dialogue between characters throughout is so enjoyable.
i love the island. i love linus. i love zoe so much. i love arthur and i love all the kids;
i'd go into "things i liked" and "things that didn't jive", but i'm not sure that i can with this book. i'd have to thoroughly comb through it again to find the latter, and i feel even those would be more in the realm of nit-picking. and for the "thinks i liked" list, you may as well just rewrite the book in bullet-list form. i genuinely enjoyed this book so much, and i'll be excited to return to it in the future.
yeah, i really do wish i was there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
taryn_g's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Confinement and Hate crime
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
natekka's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Violence, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
weeniereads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Confinement
sabrinz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It hurts to give this book only 3.75 stars - and the main reason for my rating is just personal preference.
The story is lovely and told in such a clam manner despite some of the heavier topics that it touches upon. The characters are amazing (esp. the children) and I could spend hours finding out more about each and every one of them.
In general, the story is about Linus Baker, a caseworker who lives and breathes by the rules and regulation of his company because that is how it's done (even if he might not be too happy about it). Extremely Upper Management send him to investigate an orphenage with very special children - they expect him to stay for a month and send weekly reports, ultimatley helping them decide if the orphenage is to remain open or not. And during this stay we see Linus opening up and slowly shedding the grey coat of his old life that he had donned becuase it was what people told him to do.
The story is lovely and told in such a clam manner despite some of the heavier topics that it touches upon. The characters are amazing (esp. the children) and I could spend hours finding out more about each and every one of them.
In general, the story is about Linus Baker, a caseworker who lives and breathes by the rules and regulation of his company because that is how it's done (even if he might not be too happy about it). Extremely Upper Management send him to investigate an orphenage with very special children - they expect him to stay for a month and send weekly reports, ultimatley helping them decide if the orphenage is to remain open or not. And during this stay we see Linus opening up and slowly shedding the grey coat of his old life that he had donned becuase it was what people told him to do.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
cdeaton119's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There's so much about this book I love. The overall theme of acceptance and perseverance, the way the characters develop throughout the story, the descriptions and emotions and... all of it. A few things stick out to me. TJ Klune is a LGBT author, and he writes in a way that brings that to the forefront in a beautiful way. I love that the way he portrays relationships in this book is with the main point being love, and not gender. If you wanted to, you could read this story with the main character being female and it would all still fit together perfectly, nothing would need to change. By saying this, I simply mean the fact that the characters are gay doesn't change the story, and I love that its brought up in such a tasteful and accepting way, while still being very important to the plot. Another thing I really enjoyed was the way differences and bigotry were handled in the book. The hate in this story is from humans toward supernaturals, "monsters". There were quite a few quotes in the book about how it doesn't matter what a person looks like or what they are, they deserve to be treated with respect and given a chance. You can tell that Klune has likely faced adversity in his life, and the message of love yourself and others comes through loud and clear. Overall, the story is light hearted and fun. The characters are all very unique and well developed. It's not a sad story, but one of learning to accept others and yourself, and overcoming adversity. It's a feel-good story. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
molliford's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Fatphobia
Minor: Confinement
elyssawithane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry