myweirdnormal's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
On the other hand the characters are 0/5. I hated most of them, ESPECIALLY SAM, and I only finished this because I had already put so much time into it.
Still, I don’t want to give this a rating because I’m realizing that I don’t like this genre and it would be unfair to judge a book that is probably technically good just because I don’t like the genre. I feel like literary fiction, at least considering the three books in this genre that I’ve read, is about bad things happening to good people while the shitty ones continue to thrive. And I will not be picking up another. Reading this book was my mistake and I will be smarter with my time in the future.
Moderate: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
buckleburyfairie'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
5.0
Definite content warning about a professor/freshman student relationship that has nonconsensual BDSM aspects, and a separate content warning for gun violence.
Graphic: Suicide, Cancer, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Gun violence, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Blood, and Abandonment
opallight'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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Racism
Minor: Infidelity
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
booksjessreads'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
2.75
To reel off some more positives, one thing I loved was how Zevin takes the reader through the gaming world. I am not a massive gamer and do not know a lot of the technical jargon of the gaming world, but Zevin wrote this in a way that was easy to understand, but it generally had an immersive style to it. I felt it was easy to get sucked into Sam and Sadie's world and I liked this element of it. Despite their flaws, I also somewhat enjoyed seeing a variety of characters. This novel is basically a whole platonic miscommunication trope, but I liked seeing different sides to the characters and significant contrasts between their personalities. Finally, the disability rep in this is good and I appreciated the way Zevin depicted Sam's physical disability.
I felt like the thing that happens was just completely unnecessary though.
I don't know if I would re-read this, and I am unsure if I would recommend this. Certainly check the trigger warnings before you read and I think whilst it appears pacey in parts and lighter on the surface, it can get very dark very quickly and I would say the latter half of the book goes down-hill.
Graphic: Grief, Death, Sexual content, Gun violence, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Car accident
Moderate: Homophobia, Drug use, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Medical content, Rape, and Mental illness
lucystolethesky'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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Death, Sexism, Hate crime, and Medical content
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual assault, Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Classism, Drug use, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Minor: Racial slurs
jodean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't even think I can comment on it without reading it again. I have a bad habit of reading too quickly in the second half of books, because I want to know what happens. This book's second half, and really all of it, deserves a reread.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Grief, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Blood, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Ableism, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Cancer
parkerwkelly1's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Grief
Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Toxic friendship
jennyg1234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Rape, and Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, and Vomit
q_bert13'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
Graphic: Body horror, Car accident, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Death, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexism, Death of parent, Medical content, Abortion, and Cursing
Minor: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Abandonment, Abortion, Cancer, Eating disorder, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Ableism, Toxic friendship, and Gaslighting