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nicnocs511's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Abortion
kat_in_a_tree's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wish I had read the content warnings before reading, as some parts of the book were quite intense. I liked the structure of the book, particularly at the beginning when the reader gets glimpses into the future of the characters. I also liked getting a look into the creative process of the video games and how the characters careers developed. However, I found the book depressing as many bad things happen to the characters over the course of the book, many of these I felt lacked closure or enough discussion for it to be meaningful or hopeful, it was just too harsh. The characters are chronically mean to each other and although there are moments of positive interactions, these are overshadowed by the many negative things that happen.
I found the progression of Sadie's career especially depressing, while it may be common for a women's work to be attributed to male collaborators, this gave a bleak perspective on what it is like to be a woman in a male-dominated field. I also didn't like that her love life was so tied to her career, this made her character seem flat and played into the idea that men can't see women as equal colleagues and there will always be romantic undercurrents in the workplace.
Marx seems to be one of the most virtuous characters in the book, and he is punished for this by being killed off, adding to the depressing feel of the book.
I found the progression of Sadie's career especially depressing, while it may be common for a women's work to be attributed to male collaborators, this gave a bleak perspective on what it is like to be a woman in a male-dominated field. I also didn't like that her love life was so tied to her career, this made her character seem flat and played into the idea that men can't see women as equal colleagues and there will always be romantic undercurrents in the workplace.
Marx seems to be one of the most virtuous characters in the book, and he is punished for this by being killed off, adding to the depressing feel of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
abbyarm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Gun violence
Moderate: Ableism and Sexism
Minor: Violence, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
twilhelm's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence and Death of parent
georgiaabigail's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
They had me in the first half. I really wanted to love this book and after reading the first half I was hooked. The second half fell flat, there were storylines I genuinely just did not like and it lost me. side note: I am very grateful that Sam and Sadie didn’t end up together, male/female friendships are important and I would have been so disappointed had they gotten together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Medical content, and Medical trauma
anarobin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Death of parent
buttercup_reads's review against another edition
emotional
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
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug use and Mental illness
amyliz2008's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Cancer
erindoublee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Gosh I wanted to love this book but I just like it only.
Some parts were so beautifully written, and others pure cringe.
I had zero attachment to the characters and their awful relationships with each other. I wanted to see more actual development and working through this issues and instead it was just one frustrating conversation after another.
The first part of the book gave me hope that would be A Little Life - light version, focusing on Sam’s foot and personal tragedy and his friends rallying around to help him recover. But instead Sadie decided after he is hospitalized to be angry with him for his perceived ulterior motives. It was a strange turn in the story that I did not enjoy.
Further, I had zero love for Marx. When he died I didn’t care. Although I will say the narrative for that part was excellent.
After Marx’s death it was just an okay story. I think the author tried to comment on gun violence in America with that entire part of the story. There were too many holes there. Sadie’s reaction to his death was over the top and Sam’s reaction was not within his character.
Overall, I was okay with this story. I did not love, in fact the last third of the book was a total let down.
Some parts were so beautifully written, and others pure cringe.
I had zero attachment to the characters and their awful relationships with each other. I wanted to see more actual development and working through this issues and instead it was just one frustrating conversation after another.
The first part of the book gave me hope that would be A Little Life - light version,
Further, I had zero love for Marx. When he died I didn’t care. Although I will say the narrative for that part was excellent.
After Marx’s death it was just an okay story. I think the author tried to comment on gun violence in America with that entire part of the story. There were too many holes there. Sadie’s reaction to his death was over the top and Sam’s reaction was not within his character.
Overall, I was okay with this story. I did not love, in fact the last third of the book was a total let down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism
vangoghssunflowers's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Interesting read.
While I enjoyed the fact the characters were flawed, this making them feel real, I disliked how heavily the narrative relied on miscommunication/lack of communication. We get to see and hear each characters own experiences through the point of view. When it comes down to it, it helps with the characterization but draws zilch on the plot.Personally, I found it annoying that Sam never reveals his pain to his friends and Sadie never calls him out on his absences. Yes, this is realistic to an extent. But I feel as though Marx would have intervened between the two of them at some point given his antics up until that point, as he sees himself as a “fixer” of sorts.
Something I also disliked was Marx’s death. It felt misplaced. I think if it had been done in different circumstances it could have had legs to stand on, but ultimately it felt gimmicky to me. Many points in this story were political, specifically liberal, sometimes, to me, far too much for the time it was taking place. But maybe this could be a lack of knowledge around the gaming scene that’s having me come to this conclusion? In the end, it felt like too much happened to Sam. Does everyone in his life have to die a tragic death? Not to be insensitive, but felt like overkill.
Finally, I think the ending was lackluster. After all of the build up were left with nothing resolved and loose ends. Again, realistic, but ultimately unrewarding as a reader.
Overall the prose and insights into life were beautiful. Good read, I recommend doing it in a short time span as not to be lost in the lack of plot-focused story telling.
While I enjoyed the fact the characters were flawed, this making them feel real, I disliked how heavily the narrative relied on miscommunication/lack of communication. We get to see and hear each characters own experiences through the point of view. When it comes down to it, it helps with the characterization but draws zilch on the plot.
Finally, I think the ending was lackluster. After all of the build up were left with nothing resolved and loose ends. Again, realistic, but ultimately unrewarding as a reader.
Overall the prose and insights into life were beautiful. Good read, I recommend doing it in a short time span as not to be lost in the lack of plot-focused story telling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Xenophobia, Abortion, and Murder