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amris's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Addiction
karin_j's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Rape
jay_jade736's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Pros
1. The flow between chapters was smooth and it made reading quite easy. They were short and the passages just fits together well (not in a lyrical or grammatical sense, but I guess metaphorical).
2. Max’s mom.
Cons
1. There’s absolutely no plot. The book’s description clearly states a food truck and how that impacted their lives, but in the later half of the book, the food truck just get sidelined for other subplots that weren’t properly executed. Heck, the rape plot, Jordan’s mom plot, and the food truck plot are not even fully addressed by the end of the book. The book’s lack of cohesion and direction in plot line is that bad ☠️.
2. Jordan is insufferable. Constantly whining and flat as a whole. Max keeps on saying that he’s so beautiful but Jordan doesn’t know it, but how? How is Jordan beautiful when the only things we know about him are that he’s skinny, white, weak, frail, gay, a virgin, and has green eyes?
3. Jordan’s mum is atrocious. I hate how the book presents here mental illness and the way other characters makes fun of her (it’s 2024 now, grow up Bill Konigsberg), but no development for her whatsoever despite the book focusing on her as part of Jordan’s character development.
4. Max is better but he’s also quite annoying. He literally belittles Jordan in his mind in the early parts of the book and then states later on that he’s so attractive. HUHHHH??? He also dismissed Jordan’s vulnerability when he asked max “do you hate me?”. The boy literally responded with “SHUT UP” ☠️☠️. Also, you don’t like Jordan if the only reason you like him is that he’s Jordan. Saying things like “I like his arms” or “I like his green eyes” doesn’t count. Furthermore, can we talk about the allusion that Max wants Jordan to also have a dude bro build? Bill Konigsberg may have fooled others, but he surely didn’t fool me.
5. The coupling isn’t good whatsoever. No chemistry between the two. Idk why Jordan likes Max, and Max only likes Jordan because he’s “Jordan”.
6. The writing style is bad. I’m not sure if this is Konigsberg’s style of writing but who tf writes something like this:
“I can’t stop thinking. About who she likes”
LIKE JUST COMBINE THE SENTENCES SERIOUSLY ☠️☠️☠️
I expected to hate this book, which I do, but the early to mid parts of it made me think otherwise. Too bad, the mid to ending segment was atrocious. Wasted potential. Will not be reading another book from the author. Also, a waste of time and money.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
jace_lee_koe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Mental illness and Rape
Minor: Addiction
sakibat'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
3.0
Also, why are all the friends so shitty in this book? You can have good friendships in your life and still form a meaningful romantic connection with someone!
Moderate: Rape
jainabee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Kidnapping, Cultural appropriation, and Abandonment
Remarkably realistic and accurate portrayal of rape, dissociation, gaslighting, addiction, and moving through various stages of trauma. The challenging material is handled with great care and shows healthy, functional family and community responses to trauma.kodaartz'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? No
4.0
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Homophobia
amillionjourneys'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
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, and Sexual assault
hemelseridan's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, and Rape
heyitsneen's review
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, and Sexual assault