anji's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I want to be friends and family with the characters in this book, and I think this should be required reading for humans. At times I struggled to keep reading because I had tears streaming, but I also smiled and laughed. I’m so thankful this book is in the world.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
looreads's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like this book could have been great but it just fell flat. The themes that the book explores, family, identity, death, the fear and uncertainty of the future, and the change that comes with growing up are very compelling and so universal but there were just so many little and big things that I just did not like about it.
The little things
For one, I kind of did not like Salvador, the protagonist/narrator of the book. There wasn't anything in particular that made me not like him, I try to like him, but I just didn't really click with him. It's not that I dislike him, I just felt indifference towards him for most of the novel. I was bored with him.
I was bored with Salvador and I was annoyed with Sam, Salvador's best friend. I'm not a fan of girl character who 'are not like other girls', who think that all the other girls are bitches. At first, I thought I could get past that, maybe she would change and grow as a character but she didn't.
Secondly, I didn't like the style in which the book was written. I was surprised by that because I love Mr.Sáenz other novel, "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" with all my heart and one of the things I found so charming about that book was the way it was written, which was so different and unique from other books that I had read. That style just work for Ari and Dante but with this book? not so much, at least not for me.
Thirdly, it was pretty obvious that this book was written by an old man who doesn't really know about teenagers and social media. It wasn't too bad or cringy but still.
Lastly, and this is pretty unimportant but why was Salvador nickname Sal and not Chava? Which is the common nickname given to Salvadores in Mexico. It's just one of those things, like how guys name William are called Bill guys named Salvador are called Chava. Especially when they are young guys/boys and not when they are old mature men and that is something that Sal in the book deals with. Not being a man yet but not a boy anymore. It's not like Mr.Sáenz wouldn't know that, I pretty sure he know so I wonder why he chose Sal.
I'm sad to say how disappointing this book was to me. After falling in love with Ari and Dante, I was hoping to love this book or at least actually enjoy it.
The big things
The way that sexual assault was handled in the book. I'm not even going to go into detail about it I'm sure there have been plenty other people discussing it but I'm really disappointed.
There was also this one thing that happened 100 or so into the book that just wouldn't leave my mind for the rest of the story.
At the end of the chapter title "My Uncles and Aunts (and Cigarettes)" P.108, one of Sal uncles calls his dad puto. Which, like many other Spanish slang/cuss words, has multiple meanings and usages but in Mexico and other Latin American countries the word puto carries a lot of homophobic connotations and it's often used as a derogatory term for gay men. It wasn't the usage of the word that stood out to me but the way the characters react to it, especially after the big deal it was made at the beginning of the novel with the word faggot.
I know it's not fair to compare those two words since they don't really mean the same thing and have different history but it just really threw me off how the character just laugh it off? After Sal got so upset and angry when his classmate called his dad a faggot but then his uncle calls him puto and it's all good? and it's never brought up or mention again?
I know they are not the same and that they were said in very different circumstances, and that Sal's uncle was saying it in a teasing manner but I felt that that was worth exploring more. Like there could've been a chapter where they talked about it like it could have parallel the talk Sal and his dad had when they were talking about the fight Sal had with his classmate.
The little things
For one, I kind of did not like Salvador, the protagonist/narrator of the book. There wasn't anything in particular that made me not like him, I try to like him, but I just didn't really click with him. It's not that I dislike him, I just felt indifference towards him for most of the novel. I was bored with him.
I was bored with Salvador and I was annoyed with Sam, Salvador's best friend. I'm not a fan of girl character who 'are not like other girls', who think that all the other girls are bitches. At first, I thought I could get past that, maybe she would change and grow as a character but she didn't.
Secondly, I didn't like the style in which the book was written. I was surprised by that because I love Mr.Sáenz other novel, "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" with all my heart and one of the things I found so charming about that book was the way it was written, which was so different and unique from other books that I had read. That style just work for Ari and Dante but with this book? not so much, at least not for me.
Thirdly, it was pretty obvious that this book was written by an old man who doesn't really know about teenagers and social media. It wasn't too bad or cringy but still.
Lastly, and this is pretty unimportant but why was Salvador nickname Sal and not Chava? Which is the common nickname given to Salvadores in Mexico. It's just one of those things, like how guys name William are called Bill guys named Salvador are called Chava. Especially when they are young guys/boys and not when they are old mature men and that is something that Sal in the book deals with. Not being a man yet but not a boy anymore. It's not like Mr.Sáenz wouldn't know that, I pretty sure he know so I wonder why he chose Sal.
I'm sad to say how disappointing this book was to me. After falling in love with Ari and Dante, I was hoping to love this book or at least actually enjoy it.
The big things
The way that sexual assault was handled in the book. I'm not even going to go into detail about it I'm sure there have been plenty other people discussing it but I'm really disappointed.
There was also this one thing that happened 100 or so into the book that just wouldn't leave my mind for the rest of the story.
Spoiler
At the end of the chapter title "My Uncles and Aunts (and Cigarettes)" P.108, one of Sal uncles calls his dad puto. Which, like many other Spanish slang/cuss words, has multiple meanings and usages but in Mexico and other Latin American countries the word puto carries a lot of homophobic connotations and it's often used as a derogatory term for gay men. It wasn't the usage of the word that stood out to me but the way the characters react to it, especially after the big deal it was made at the beginning of the novel with the word faggot.
I know it's not fair to compare those two words since they don't really mean the same thing and have different history but it just really threw me off how the character just laugh it off? After Sal got so upset and angry when his classmate called his dad a faggot but then his uncle calls him puto and it's all good? and it's never brought up or mention again?
I know they are not the same and that they were said in very different circumstances, and that Sal's uncle was saying it in a teasing manner but I felt that that was worth exploring more. Like there could've been a chapter where they talked about it like it could have parallel the talk Sal and his dad had when they were talking about the fight Sal had with his classmate.
sleeeplessnights's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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
3.5
themostlovely's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been a whirlwind, and now it's ended with me in tears!
Often I find myself taking life for granted and often struggle with what I have lost and what I have gained. This book taught me so much about life and gave me a whole new outlook.
Every single character I love (except Enrique, but that was the whole point) they were all flawed and well...Human.
This book just hit all the right chords with me, I cannot explain in words how much I loved it.
I'm so in love with this book, So thank you for creating this masterpiece.
Often I find myself taking life for granted and often struggle with what I have lost and what I have gained. This book taught me so much about life and gave me a whole new outlook.
Every single character I love (except Enrique, but that was the whole point) they were all flawed and well...Human.
This book just hit all the right chords with me, I cannot explain in words how much I loved it.
I'm so in love with this book, So thank you for creating this masterpiece.
elskeevelien's review against another edition
2.0
I was incredibly excited about this one. It's been years since I've read Aristotle and Dante, but I remember absolutely loving it.
This book I enjoyed. It's about grief, family and self-discovery. It's in style/voice similar to The Perks of Being a Wallflower. However, I had some problems with it.
Here's what I liked:
I loved the family aspect. Salvador's father is amazing and their family felt real. I loved how they were so inclusive and everybody was welcome.
It was moving and it had some great scenes.
What I didn't like:
The writing style and Salvy's voice is very young, even though he is quite mature (in his choices) and smart. It felt a little bit like reading a middle grade book with an YA audience. I like Saenz' writing style, but in this book, it didn't click for me.
When Sam and Salvy were talking I couldn't keep them apart. Their voices blended together a lot of the time.
I did enjoy reading it and it was over before I knew it. However, I was expecting more.
This book I enjoyed. It's about grief, family and self-discovery. It's in style/voice similar to The Perks of Being a Wallflower. However, I had some problems with it.
Here's what I liked:
I loved the family aspect. Salvador's father is amazing and their family felt real. I loved how they were so inclusive and everybody was welcome.
It was moving and it had some great scenes.
What I didn't like:
The writing style and Salvy's voice is very young, even though he is quite mature (in his choices) and smart. It felt a little bit like reading a middle grade book with an YA audience. I like Saenz' writing style, but in this book, it didn't click for me.
When Sam and Salvy were talking I couldn't keep them apart. Their voices blended together a lot of the time.
I did enjoy reading it and it was over before I knew it. However, I was expecting more.
xjackyx's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book.
Made me cry a whole lot but I guess I was in a crying mood.
This book was about all the different kinds of love. It felt warm and safe to me, like a good long hug.
It was also a very quick read. I read it all in a day.
Made me cry a whole lot but I guess I was in a crying mood.
This book was about all the different kinds of love. It felt warm and safe to me, like a good long hug.
It was also a very quick read. I read it all in a day.
starswereenough's review against another edition
4.0
Benjamin Alire Saenz has a wonderful way with words and emotions and such a wisdom to his writing.
jessicaz's review against another edition
Probably this book suffered from how much I love Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - some parts were really lovely, some parts strained credulity a bit (but that could just be my cold, black heart talking...)
nenekiri's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0