The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
annekepaige's review against another edition
Graphic: Transphobia and Sexual content
jmckeough's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
golpesar818's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Drug use
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Drug use
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Transphobia
inabin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
gegoory'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
4.75
holy shit
fuck
wow
what a book
it took me almost a month to finish this just because of how often i would read a section and have to put it down or walk away for a bit. there are so many deeply emotional moments, or even if not emotional, moments that cut to the core.
paul is so sad, and so young. so much happens to him, and he is so so changed when we leave him.Â
i loved the craft of the book. the way the text is divided, with mythos and flashback and time skip taking equal precedent at their respective breaks. i loved the way we were soaked in who paul is and how he thinks and goes through his life
his experience in michigan and provincetown especially hit me so hard. how he acted and reacted to being a dyke, and how lawlor puts it all in writing, was so deeply visceral. those moments are the ones that made me have to step away the most frequently.Â
his time in sf (and his time in chicago) are so. sad.
but in sf,
the ending is not sad. the end kind of just happens. it peters out. all things i heard abt the end of the book
but i think i like it! after everything, and because of everything, it contrasts well with how much he was chasing and hiding. i think i came to rly love paul at the end despite everything
i wouldnt say this was a joy to read. in fact it was really stressful a lot of the time. but wow it was so good. big recommendation to anyone gay and especially anyone trans, and everyone say thank you andrea lawlor
Graphic: Sexual content
imaginaryisobel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, Vomit, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Classism and Racism
artstitute's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Terminal illness
Minor: Vomit, Homophobia, and Stalking
The AIDS epidemic is referenced and discussed.ramalam98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I truly feel like it defies categorisation - it's slice of life but action-packed but just vibes but completely alien but mundane.
Paul as a character is obnoxious and self-obsessed but in a way that is so obviously because he feels lost within the world and within himself that you can't help but love him. The book follows about a year of his life in the early 90's, and while I wasn't around back then to confirm, the time and place felt so vibrantly captured.Â
It's a very compelling book, though slow at times and I think either a bit more plot or a bit more character development would have given it a higher rating from me.
Also as a warning, it's one of those books with a lot of sex but none of it is particularly pleasant to read.Â
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Vomit and Death