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filuipa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was really uncomfortable to read, mostly because I think it did a good job in portraying toxic masculinity, locker room talk and all kinds of those haunting things in high school context. It was very unexpected the turns and actions of some characters when I started reading just for the fondness of groundhog day kind of plots. I won't rate this for now as I need time to digest and recover the nausea I had at some parts. The ending was really good and I felt like it did justice as best it could.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
anj's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Sexism, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
wordsofclover's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
When James Spencer wakes up in his car outside school on a Friday morning, he knows it's going to be a bad day. From remembering that it's been one year to the day since his mother died in an accident, leaving him and his dad alone in their grief, to getting into an argument with his old crush Clara Hart about a phantom parking bump, he's ready to let loose at his friend Anthony's house party. But things go from bad to worse when Clara ends up dead at the end of the night, and the next morning Spence wakes up in his car again to realise it's Friday, again, and he has to repeat the day. Will he be able to save Clara? And what is he really suppose to be facing during this Groundhog Day moment?
This was a fast, addictive read that I couldn't put down. I really loved the main character James Spencer aka 'Spence' and he really did feel like an 18-year-old boy, on the verge of adulthood but still cloistered in the toxic fugue of lad culture, drinking and not really knowing anything about the opposite sex. Spence isn't a bad character, in fact he's rather sweet and becomes sweeter as the repetitive Fridays makes him not only more self-aware but also wakens him up to what's going on around him - the toxic masculinity of his friend group, and the danger some of the girls are in because of this. It takes Spence a while to see what he's fighting as he does everything to try and make things okay from befriending Clara, drinking the night away, and even exiting himself from the situation entirely. But Clara keeps ending up dead, and Friday keeps repeating.
This is a fantastic book looking at toxic masculinity from the inside out. I think this would be such an important book for YA readers, particularly male readers, as they think about what's said in those infamous lad Whatsapp groups, and how 'it's a joke' doesn't cut it. Words have meaning even if they are just said in a private group message - there's always one lad who thinks it's okay to take it further, to say it to the girls, to get his way no matter what, even if she isn't capable of consent.
This book is about the courage it takes to face yourself and your own actions, as well as that of standing up to a friend and telling them, 'no, this isn't right and I'm not going to let you act this way.' About ownership of your mistakes and not hiding from them, and apologising to those you hurt even when you didn't know they were hurting.
Definitely recommend this book.
This was a fast, addictive read that I couldn't put down. I really loved the main character James Spencer aka 'Spence' and he really did feel like an 18-year-old boy, on the verge of adulthood but still cloistered in the toxic fugue of lad culture, drinking and not really knowing anything about the opposite sex. Spence isn't a bad character, in fact he's rather sweet and becomes sweeter as the repetitive Fridays makes him not only more self-aware but also wakens him up to what's going on around him - the toxic masculinity of his friend group, and the danger some of the girls are in because of this. It takes Spence a while to see what he's fighting as he does everything to try and make things okay from befriending Clara, drinking the night away, and even exiting himself from the situation entirely. But Clara keeps ending up dead, and Friday keeps repeating.
This is a fantastic book looking at toxic masculinity from the inside out. I think this would be such an important book for YA readers, particularly male readers, as they think about what's said in those infamous lad Whatsapp groups, and how 'it's a joke' doesn't cut it. Words have meaning even if they are just said in a private group message - there's always one lad who thinks it's okay to take it further, to say it to the girls, to get his way no matter what, even if she isn't capable of consent.
This book is about the courage it takes to face yourself and your own actions, as well as that of standing up to a friend and telling them, 'no, this isn't right and I'm not going to let you act this way.' About ownership of your mistakes and not hiding from them, and apologising to those you hurt even when you didn't know they were hurting.
Definitely recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent