Scan barcode
orlagal's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
megelizabeth's review against another edition
4.0
This is such an impressive book. The writing style and the storytelling are incredibly clever and the atmosphere is ridiculously strong throughout. It's a truly immersive, captivating story that creeps up on you and then never quite lets you go. It's also the perfect combination of completely heartbreaking and yet also so full of heart.
This is a story that is quiet but devastating and that just packs such a perfect punch. I really appreciated both the predominant themes around family and identity and loss, and also the more subtle (only just) historical nods to the AIDS crisis and the Troubles.
The only criticism I really have isn't really the author's fault, which is that I found the blurb to be quite misleading. As a result slightly disappointed by some of the sections focusing on Matty's childhood and teenage years and time spent at Hampstead, as I expected there to be more of a 'found family' feel and this didn't really come through for me. Overall, though, I still had a great reading experience and got a lot out of this book, so I'd highly recommend if you're even remotely intrigued!
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Car accident
Minor: Racism
miles_books45's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Only thing I would say is the first part of this book kinda jumps about quite alot with the present day and flashbacks and it made it a little confusin initially, but this might be different with a physical book
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, and Vomit