wrenvale's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect end to a well written series. I will miss Russell, Kevin and the gang
tim5alive's review against another edition
3.0
It was a fun book that brought together all the characters from previous books.
I wish we got to know more about what Min and Gunnar have been up to and some events were a little too much lol.
I wish we got to know more about what Min and Gunnar have been up to and some events were a little too much lol.
jessicastewart's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This book was a bit different to what I’d usually read/listen to, I loved the mystery element of it. It was a bit slow to start with but I really liked how everything came together at the end. I thought it was nice that there was an overall message of the book, I wasn’t expecting that at all so it was a nice surprise!
ex_libris_volantes's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Mediocre finish to a series with a trope overdone for “everything that could go wrong, goes wrong at a wedding…”. Russel never gives me anything emotional throughout this entire series. I connected better with Geography Club because the coming out process and intense teen angst and desire for acceptance is highly relatable, but I don’t find any of this “after story” trilogy believable. Russel too often laments on what a struggle things are, only to be saved in the end by his eccentric friend who happens to have a lot of money, but no career or substance as a character other than being the same social outcast from high school. I mean yeah he has hobbies and obsessions, but Gunnar seems directionless, and only there to explain away how Russel is able to do all of these things and end up financially stable for a person who has pretty much never had a serious career so far in life. I’m not saying he should have his shit figured out, but it isn’t relatable to the majority of people, as most of us struggle to put our own dreams together, and don’t have a generous friend who apparently thinks $20K is chump change, and easy to part ways with…. That just doesn’t really happen in life, at least not often, and Russel just rolls with it like that is normal life.
The worst part is, I never believed in Russel and Kevin as a couple. This trilogy gave me no reason to understand the two of them coming back together, or why they work as a couple. Kevin loses all of his own agency just to basically become Russel’s pet-time working trophy husband by the end of this series, when at the start he was on a career path and in a steady relationship with another guy. The author also still has issues with being judgmental of people he deems “permissions, or over sexual outside monogamy.” It wasn’t as bad in this book as the blatant rant about the loveliness of se workers at the end of book two, but there was still an undercurrent of it throughout this book where Russel comments against promiscuity, but nervously explains away that fantasizing about sex with other people is fine as long as you stay with your one partner like his “perfect relationship…” he called his relationship perfect so many times it felt like I was being forced to accept that as fact, with nothing again to back it up. One time we finally get a little bit of emotional backstory when Kevin opens up about his insecurities and desire to fit in back when he transferred into school and met Russel in 7th grade, and how even then he “noticed Russel,” and felt a kinship to him…. But none of their actual on page experiences in these three books make them feel authentic to me.
The story writing is overall not bad, but because the characters gain no depth throughout, it falls low in my ratings. Plot with no character attachment just doesn’t do it for me.
The worst part is, I never believed in Russel and Kevin as a couple. This trilogy gave me no reason to understand the two of them coming back together, or why they work as a couple. Kevin loses all of his own agency just to basically become Russel’s pet-time working trophy husband by the end of this series, when at the start he was on a career path and in a steady relationship with another guy. The author also still has issues with being judgmental of people he deems “permissions, or over sexual outside monogamy.” It wasn’t as bad in this book as the blatant rant about the loveliness of se workers at the end of book two, but there was still an undercurrent of it throughout this book where Russel comments against promiscuity, but nervously explains away that fantasizing about sex with other people is fine as long as you stay with your one partner like his “perfect relationship…” he called his relationship perfect so many times it felt like I was being forced to accept that as fact, with nothing again to back it up. One time we finally get a little bit of emotional backstory when Kevin opens up about his insecurities and desire to fit in back when he transferred into school and met Russel in 7th grade, and how even then he “noticed Russel,” and felt a kinship to him…. But none of their actual on page experiences in these three books make them feel authentic to me.
The story writing is overall not bad, but because the characters gain no depth throughout, it falls low in my ratings. Plot with no character attachment just doesn’t do it for me.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: You're in Love. We Get It.
Drinking Buddy: The Non-Idealized Gang
Testosterone Level: Ahem...
Talky Talk: I Always Cry At Weddings
Bonus Factors: History's Mysteries, All My Rowdy Friends
Bromance Status: Goodbye, Old Friend
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: You're in Love. We Get It.
Drinking Buddy: The Non-Idealized Gang
Testosterone Level: Ahem...
Talky Talk: I Always Cry At Weddings
Bonus Factors: History's Mysteries, All My Rowdy Friends
Bromance Status: Goodbye, Old Friend
Read the full book report here.
cadiva's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it, absolutely loved it. Russel and Kevin are a fabulous pair, perfectly suited and their journeys to happiness over seven books has been at times hilarious, at times heart breaking and at times a chaos of feelings.
I've loved Russel and Kevin since they first made their awkward hesitating steps on the Road to Amazing and seeing them reach that nirvana was a joy. These books just make me happy because Russel and Kevin are real, ordinary people living normal lives and being happy and that's all any of us ever want isn't it?!
I've loved Russel and Kevin since they first made their awkward hesitating steps on the Road to Amazing and seeing them reach that nirvana was a joy. These books just make me happy because Russel and Kevin are real, ordinary people living normal lives and being happy and that's all any of us ever want isn't it?!
pjmurphy3's review against another edition
5.0
I love the expansion of the character of Russell in that he broke away from his usual neurotic self. The expansion of the subsequent characters really helped bring the story into more of a real life. While this did follow the constructive narrative that Hartinger has set up in his other books, I did like the ideas that are presented in new ways. I think it's interesting as well that given this book was written and published in 2015 they are talking about a lot of the current political issues that we are facing. This book gave me as a gay man the willingness and wanting us to pursue this same dream of being married. I will continue to read Mr. Hartinger books as long as he continues write them.
dilton94's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed The Road to Amazing!
I was dubious coming into it after the travesty that was Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams, however I had nothing to worry about.
I listened to this as an audiobook as I was going about my business. Which in turn means I have cried three or four times in public dude to this book!
I was dubious coming into it after the travesty that was Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams, however I had nothing to worry about.
I listened to this as an audiobook as I was going about my business. Which in turn means I have cried three or four times in public dude to this book!
cadiva's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it, absolutely loved it. Russel and Kevin are a fabulous pair, perfectly suited and their journeys to happiness over seven books has been at times hilarious, at times heart breaking and at times a chaos of feelings.
I've loved Russel and Kevin since they first made their awkward hesitating steps on the Road to Amazing and seeing them reach that nirvana was a joy. These books just make me happy because Russel and Kevin are real, ordinary people living normal lives and being happy and that's all any of us ever want isn't it?!
I've loved Russel and Kevin since they first made their awkward hesitating steps on the Road to Amazing and seeing them reach that nirvana was a joy. These books just make me happy because Russel and Kevin are real, ordinary people living normal lives and being happy and that's all any of us ever want isn't it?!