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gillzzzo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I thought this book had some really sweet moments, in particular when depicting Sam and Sadie as children. I thought there was also some really good commentary on what it means to be a woman in business in a male dominated field.
On the other hand I didn’t find Sadie and Sam’s “deep connection” as adults all that convincing. I also was expecting some complex and emotionally conflicting betrayal based on the blurb which never came. I did think it did a decent job at illustrating the feelings of mild annoyance-but acceptance, that a lot of adult relationships have.
I thought the climax/twist in the NPC chapter felt forced and clique and not really in keeping with the rest of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but not sure i can relate to the hype. Worth a read but don’t expect your life to be changed
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Racism and Terminal illness
haileym35's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Chronic illness, Gun violence, and Racism
soulforsolstice's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
hanzieful'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
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Abortion
Minor: Sexual violence and Terminal illness
slowburnsrus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The root of my dissatisfaction is that reading about a character playing a game is like reading about a character working out…fun when you do it yourself, excruciating when we read the minutiae of another’s experience.
The strongest part of this book is its work with grief, and the metaphors around gaming in relation to grief and loss. That grabbed me in the second half and kept me reading.
But the writing feel excessively overwrought with not enough payoff in either plot or observations on the human condition to make me enjoy reading it.
I cannot express how much I came to loathe many of the characters, particular Dov, the sexual harasser and groomer who (spoiler) gets a fucking redemption arc at the end of the book.
I was surprised that there were fewer attributions than I would expected in the authors note as I recognized many of the book’s references, and Sadie in particular was prone to insightful wanderings that so had definitely read before.
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Abortion
marloesisalive'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
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Pregnancy
ellalouisedavey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Abortion
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexism
raquellecollins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
danpolta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Blood, Vomit, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Stalking, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
mattinthehat'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
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, and Racism