sliceofsav's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Minor: Racism
thatrandomdancer'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
3.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Racism
sbbailey'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: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Racism
missymaus'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
4.0
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Addiction, Sexual assault, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
robin_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Rape, Drug use, Abandonment, Racism, and Alcohol
galliexyc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Abortion, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Racism, Eating disorder, and Rape
Minor: Sexual content
jaylee_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, and Alcoholism
reillycar's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Abortion and Racism
atalanta_nins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
So, I'll tell you some of the things I noticed and disliked about this time that I reread it so Spoilers Ahead.
Spoiler
So, the story opens with Penelope "Penny" Lee who is American-Korean leaving in Texas who just graduated in high school and is finally moving out of her mom's house even though their house is just a few hours away, like she could just drive home from school but instead chose to live nearby her school. And of course basically, she met Sam who is her roommate's (Jude) uncle (although, this is just uncle by marriage and not by blood). Then one thing led to another and our two leads, Penny and Sam became each other's emergency contact, in a sense that they are both so secretive and strangely wary of people (who I think just want to take good care of them).To be honest, I kinda find Penny a bit annoyingly insufferable and kinda whiny? (or is this just how most YA contemporary romance FL are usually portrayed because they are teenagers, I suppose?) She gives off this vibe like how annoying and needy her mom is (maybe she is but it feels strange to talk so bitchy about your mom if she just want to be close to you and is different than you in a sense that she's pretty popular and well you're neither). I kept racking my brain if what happened to Penny kinda gives her a right to treat people that way. (this bit was overwhelming to read upon but perfectly executed in terms of storytelling. Although, weirdly enough it feels like there was an emphasis that the guy is half-Filipino, plus there's this other remark about a Filipino although that remark she deserves that coz that bitch really didn't care while millions of their people starved). Also, it feels like she's passive-aggressive to her mom sometimes (although i kinda relate on how i think she parents her mom, which is a bit common in Asian household if you're the eldest or an only child of a single working parent). Also, it annoys me so much how she judges people sometimes like she's so righteous or think she's above them. Sure, it doesn't exactly sound like that but the way she loathes herself in a way that maybe just maybe what she really wanted was to be popular, like the people she hates. I even used to agree with her when she hates Mallory (Jude's best friend) who is kinda like the right amount of meanness queen bee but it fells like both Penny and Mallory are kinda bitchy, just in different fonts.
As for Sam, there isn't much to say. I guess I'm neutral for him. Kinda like he's okay but I neither hate nor love him. Also, even though most part of the book covered Penny's thought, it felt Sam's was the one who finally grow to become a better person.
Although, there was a bit in the last few parts of the book where Penny has been opening a little bit but it felt so rushed in a way that we just got a glimpse of it and it felt like she learned her lesson but we are not there to witness it, kinda those kind of vibes. Although, I still like to think that they grew to be who they are supposed to be and like every teen romance, that they did end up together.
Moderate: Rape and Racism
lisa_m'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
Spoiler
But other than that I thought the book was really good. I maybe should have read some trigger warnings first because I was quite shocked when the rape scene happened. I did not expect it at all. It wasn't exploitative but in enough detail to make me uncomfortable.
There are definitely some darker themes and important topics but I think they were handled in a great way.
I really enjoyed that Penny wrote a story that we also got to read. I thought it was really good and interesting and I always like 'books' in books and that type of thing.
I might reread this and give it 5 stars in a few years. Who knows.
Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Addiction, Classism, Deportation, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship