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voldycat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Suicide, and Outing
faerynthecat'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
I liked all the characters way more than I expected to, especially Bronwyn, and even though I had an inkling of the ending before it happened I wasn't disappointed that I'd guessed correctly because it was so much fun to read!
I look forward to reading all the other books in the series!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Outing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
mahi_nad'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
2.75
The rest of this is going to be labeled as "spoilers", since these are major reveals and are crucial to the plot. I personally don't think of these as spoilers, but this is how the book depicts them so this is how I'm writing this review.
All the characters in this book have secrets that eventually come to light, and the first red flag that arose was Cooper's sexuality. It was written as though the author expected us to be scandalized and join right alongside the other students in the book jeering and treating it as a HUGE scandal. The icing on the cake? The twisted reasoning for this is that we were led to believe he had been flirting and going out with girls.
As I'm saying this, I feel it necessary to point out that I'm not gay. I have no experience with this whatsoever, and so you should take my words with a grain of salt. But, the way the author revealed Cooper's sexuality was absolutely mind-blowing. And not in a good way. Cooper's reasoning for wanting to stay closeted is completely valid and realistic, and might even connect with some readers. It's not as though I think that his storyline and character is useless to the story, I just think that the "shocking revelation" of sexuality should be used as a plot twist.
What makes this even worse is that Cooper was FORECFULLY outed. This could DEFINITELY cause anxiety and fear within those who are closeted or have been through the same experiences.
If you feel differently and think this is fine, that's ok. I just wanted to warn people who this MAY harm.
I'm not saying that horrible mental health can't lead someone to do these things. But it being the driving motive? It reinforces harmful stereotypes about depression and other mental health issues, implying that they can lead to violent or malicious behavior. And that can lead to REAL LIFE PEOPLE never finding help, burying it inside just because they have the stereotypical thinking running through their head that "Oh! Depression is bad? It's looked down upon? I'll just hide it away and never deal with it cause boy, I sure don't want to end up like Simon".
Also. Stop treating suicide as if it's a mystery that needs to be solved. Don't use it as a basis for your book. It just adds to the harmful and WRONG reputation of mental illness that we have today.
So yeah, there's that.
Also, did anyone else think that they REALLY leaned heavily into the "drug-dealing bad boy" stereotype?
BOTTOM LINE:
Horrible portrayals of depression and sexuality, would not recommend unless not affected
AGE RATING:
15+
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, and Mass/school shootings
ajg022'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Outing, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, and Car accident
Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, and Gaslighting
melanielk'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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, and Gaslighting
emilyhiegll'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: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
oceanbluetay'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Grief, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
alalalal'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug use, and Death of parent
lilia's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Suicide, and Outing
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Car accident
icedlemonade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings