Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Vanilla by Billy Merrell

1 review

bluebel's review

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emotional medium-paced
  • 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

4.5

I both love and hate this book. As an ace and queer person, I did have some problems with the way (a character's sexuality)
Spoilerasexuality
was handled, namely
Spoilerthe author equating asexuality to being "vanilla" i.e. innocent, 'pure' and entirely nonsexual
. Additionally, after each time I read the book, I grew to resent one of the characters more and more for his treatment of his friends and partner, and how it seemed (spoiler for one character name, some vague plot, character info, and writing choices/style) 
SpoilerHunter was completely forgiven although he did next to nothing to repair his actions or properly apologise. So much of what he did was horrible, and still the other two characters (whose POVs we also read) still orbited around him and what he wanted - having no life outside of Hunter. Although readers are shown 3 POVs, it is hinted that Hunter is in control of the author's writing (nearing self-awareness) and he has major influence over how the readers can perceive both him and other characters. All of this led to Hunter being shown as influential, important, morally justified/good, whereas the others were largely just there to prop up Hunter's arc. On this, it is important to mention that Hunter has the most privilege as well (he is a cis, gay, masculine, white boy) whereas the other two have dark or brown skin, are more feminine, and belong to gender/sexual minorities. There are also incredibly few women in this book, and none of them are important to the plot.
This book was still incredibly well-written and emotional. It heavily involves the reader and draws them into the intimacy between these characters, stringing them along through conflict and sweetness and love. The imagery and symbolism can sometimes fall flat (e.g. "Vanilla"), but for the most part is stunning and will leave me rereading a page 10 times before I want to move on. I'd recommend this book to most of my queer friends, but I do warn them to read it critically and be aware of its problems (the spoilered text).
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