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mid_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Ableism, Incest, Mental illness, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Hate crime
midslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Ableism, Incest, Mental illness, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Hate crime
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this is such a heartbreaking & difficult story about grief as well as sexual & gender identity. Emezi's writing is outstanding.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
morganperks'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: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Drug use and Blood
oliviantoinette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Incest, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying
egg_cup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Vivek I love you; Akwaeke Emezi it is ON SIGHT.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
merin_aran'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: Death, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Transphobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Blood
epiphylium'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
There were a lot of parts of this book that I enjoyed. I liked the way the author played around with non-linear storytelling. We know from the get go that this novel is about Vivek and that they die, and going from present day POV writing to a retelling of past tense. I think if done correctly, this can create a sense of mystery and tension that is engaging to read and helps pushes the story line. I enjoyed the author's writing style, which was although simple, it was effective. The characters I enjoyed getting to know also.
I really struggled with the incest however. I found that it was completely unnecessary (as it didn't really aid in story or character development) and it would have had the same effect if they were friends without the discomfort of having to read cousins engaging in sexual activities. The only thing I could think of is that it was potentially to build up shame in the characters experiencing it, but it wasn't really ever discussed or focused on so I'm just. We really could've done without it.
The ending can be seen as anti-climatic, but I don't think that lessened my feelings around it. I think it was cool that it left the readers/and the characters guessing,
Either way, I feel like I would tentatively recommend this book to others but only if they asked about it, and I would be very clear about the content warnings before having them pick up the book.
I would say that The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel has a similar energy to this, although based in a fictional town in America and goes a bit more in depth on certain issues. It has a vastly different writing style however, written in prose, poetry, and metaphors, which whilst I personally love, I can see not everyone enjoys, so there's that!
Graphic: Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual content
lilcoppertop'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Gaslighting
tina94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, and Death of parent