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raphiphiii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Addiction
thehmkane's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
I started out being deeply annoyed by one of the leads, and not super able to connect to the other, but by the end I was very fond of them both, as well as their little friend groups. Liked that the ending was hopeful, but not super pat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia
a_l_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Racism, and Chronic illness
Minor: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, and Homophobia
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.75
My favorite part about this was the personal growth that the two main characters showed. Honestly it was really beautiful to see how these characters really blossomed, and by the end of it I was 100% on board.
Max was the golden star of this book for sure, I just loved reading about his character and thought that he was wonderfully complex and super endearing. Jordan was also very well written, but something about him just vaguely annoyed by me for absolutely no reason (probably the fact that his narrator in the audiobook had an irritating voice). But, the fact that he was unlikeable in the beginning really showed his growth, as by the end of the book I genuinely felt him maturing.
Initially a bit basic, but really hooks you in and becomes really addicting and heartfelt.
Max was the golden star of this book for sure, I just loved reading about his character and thought that he was wonderfully complex and super endearing. Jordan was also very well written, but something about him just vaguely annoyed by me for absolutely no reason (probably the fact that his narrator in the audiobook had an irritating voice). But, the fact that he was unlikeable in the beginning really showed his growth, as by the end of the book I genuinely felt him maturing.
Initially a bit basic, but really hooks you in and becomes really addicting and heartfelt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Addiction, and Rape
Moderate: Racism, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
_yeenaw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Addiction
Minor: Toxic friendship
katrinaeames's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction and Rape
hannahs_library_'s review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Racism, and Addiction
richie_the_forgetful_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
2.5
The book had good ideas and concepts I just don’t think I liked the writing style and language choice. But it would be a good book for younger teens to read as it deals with difficult topics such as mental health, sexual assault and addiction in an accessible manner.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Rape
Minor: Mental illness
The book is for young adults but it does deal with some difficult topics.nathaneal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Racism, and Rape
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
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
1.5
Although it's not the worst book ever, it's also not the best. I thought the representation was fantastic. But aside from that, the book felt uninteresting. First of all, this book is advertised as being for young adults. While it's true that a young adult book can address issues like rape, sexual assault, and abuse, this one did so while using extremely disturbing and descriptive language.
Second, I detested the majority of the characters. Most of them weren't even all that unlikeable. Reading the dialogue between the characters makes me think a lot of 2013 Wattpad, and not in a good way. The characters enjoy helping one another out. It's possible to kill someone and then explain that you have to because you're depressed. I get why the author decided to incorporate a ride-or-die friendship, but if they keep giving one other the benefit of the controversy rather than calling each other out on their nasty behaviors, it isn't a true friendship.
Thirdly, I believe the writing of the characters was really problematic. Jordan and his friends have a "inside joke" where they hand out passes to one another. One can get away with anything, for instance, because they are cisgender and white, whereas the other can because they are gay and it would be homophobic not to. The jokes about skin tones and equating max's skin tone with food persisted among Max's friends. It's repulsive.
Additionally, the conflict was not adequately addressed, which raised the suspicion that these two wouldn't be together for very long. What makes a successful rom-com? A happy conclusion! Even though the conclusion was undoubtedly joyous, it raised some issues. Without giving anything away, the conclusion was really disappointing. The storylines involving Jordan's mother, Max's PTSD, and Max's baseball team are all left open-ended. Only the romance between Jordan and Max remained as the "completely solved" problem in this situation; everything else was left out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Moderate: Racism and Death
Minor: Homophobia