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squidface'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
4.5
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adored this book, flaws and all (which is definitely one of the themes of the book - loving someone wholly despite their flaws and your flaws). I loved the literary references, the use of Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson, and thought it was interesting that those things fell away as the characters got older - but yet it was sort of a turning plot point in the later third of the book to bring Macbeth back in so the characters could emotionally connect again (sorry if this doesn't make much sense, I'm trying to keep the review as spoiler free as possible).
I felt, as others have pointed out, that Zevin was using some kind of word of the day thing and tried to shoehorn in as many random words as possible. Tuberose was overused as an adjective. She misused the word tautology (who proofed this?).
I disagree with whoever said she clearly doesn't understand music - those observations about Miles Davis et al in the book are made from a character point of view and definitely aren't the views of the author.
Although I did at times find the characters to be thinly veiled versions of parts of Zevin, for the most part they're adorkable.
Despite the flaws, I think Zevin is an amazing and accomplished writer. And this book is definitely worth a read.
For me it actually could have gone into more elaboration about the games world itself and the business side of it, but I suppose in the end the book focused on relationships between people, and that's what mattered more, because it played to it's strengths.
Minor: Ableism, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
intrepid_bibliophile'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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, Abortion, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, and Classism
bothsidespsych'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction and Eating disorder
leontyna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Cultural appropriation
laurajordensharris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
kjm19'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
4.5
It was the perfect combination of smart, emotional and uplifting. The characters are flawed but whole, their lives are complicated as are their relationships. The shifting timeline was done flawlessly. It felt like no time was passing at all because I was so wholly immersed in the experience.
I can’t see what the flaws are… I wish there was maybe a bit more change in their characters as time went on. I understand Sam was unchangeable and that Sadie was complicated and dont get me wrong, I love full circle moments, but there was just maybe something slightly lacking that makes it a 4.5 rather than a 5.
Honestly an amazing book and I will recommend it to so many people!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
ly555's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Suicide, Blood, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Cultural appropriation
codemasterpi'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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Stalking, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Abortion, and Pregnancy
petyapav's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
seubecca'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
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder, Racial slurs, and Abortion