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kayladaila's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Grief, Suicide attempt, Outing, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
anniereads221's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Outing
Misgendering Conversion therapytinytrashqueen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wish we had gotten more of his best friend from PA too- he showed up briefly again at the end and it felt really random after only hearing him mentioned in passing a few times.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Outing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity
cora_hreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The reason why Act Cool is only 3 stars is because the basic plotpoints weren’t as impactful as they could’ve been. Personally, I feel that this story was more plot-driven when it should’ve been character driven. Important scenes, like being with the Conversion cast and director and August confronting his parents, had a relatively large impact, but that was because it more directly related to the main character. At the Rocky Horror party, August leaving his friends and calling out Tess didn’t feel like August was caught between two worlds — professional vs. personal — but just petty and that the newfound fame from Conversion was getting to his head. I would’ve liked to see more sensory detail, especially when describing the boys’ dressing room, the auditorium where they performed Grease, and August’s hometown house. All of those locations were/are central to August’s character and the plot of Act Cool, and should’ve been put forth with more importance to match the intensity of the characters, emotions, or situation.
Overall, I give Act Cool 3/5 stars. It taught me a great deal about what transgender people may go through, which I will be forever grateful for. I only wish that there was more detail to fully immerse readers into the story.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia