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filuipa's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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
yungblonde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, and Blood
sammykat's review against another edition
- 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
With sad and upsetting parts, more wholesome parts, and some very bare and honest parts, the book was a good mix of YA, coming of age, and sci fi/philosophy.
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
annashan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
charlotteslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There’s also some beautiful discussion of death and grief, which added another layer to the novel and it’s characters.
A thought provoking and heart wrenching read, highly recommend.
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
wordsofclover's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent