Scan barcode
kimberlyswalters's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
violetdisposition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is not a sweet love story, and I don't think it is trying to be one either. I would definitely recommend looking at content warnings before reading this book.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Vomit
librarymouse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death, Homophobia, and Abandonment
natraf_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The first being the prose was beautifully written. It felt like poetry the way descriptions flowed off the page. However, I felt that this thought stream coming from a 17 year old boy was incredibly unrealistic.
17 year old Ellio, finds himself magnetically drawn to 24 year old Oliver, a postdoctoral student studying abroad and staying with Ellio’s family. What starts as a fascination becomes more of an obsession. Every waking thought Ellio has is of Oliver.
Having a young person interested in an older, seemingly cooler, more put together person seems normal. But Ellio’s thoughts become focused on fantasies he has had about he and Oliver’s pairing. There is a lot of sexual content that seems very one sided. These are Ellio’s thoughts and fantasies. It’s not until over halfway through the book we see Oliver reciprocate any feelings or interest.
At which time there’s the pretty disturbing scene with Ellio and the peach that I’m just going to pretend I never read… but it’s fine.
Once joined, I feel that Oliver has continued to take advantage of Ellio and his obsession with Oliver.
We see once Oliver moves back home and comes back a few months later to visit, that he is engaged. He has a woman he’s been seeing the last few years, and pretty much just ends everything he and Ellio shared.
Years later, he still has pieces of memories they shared, Ellio who is still hoping for a chance to see his long lost love , knows he still wants more with Oliver, but can’t. Oliver even acknowledges that his eldest son is the same age as Ellio was when they met, and that he would never want that for him.
I thought the writing was beautiful. I felt that the emotions conveyed and the deep feelings Ellio held were beautiful - but kind of crossed into the territory of obsessive. I feel that Oliver took advantage of him. I feel that their whole relationship was unsafe.
It’s a hard balance between seeing the true romance this was intended as, and the twisted obsession it was.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
spectralspawn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
bluestar_apologist's review
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
mels_reading_log'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Drug use
emotape's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia and Vomit
amaralh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death, Excrement, Vomit, and Death of parent
mals_library's review
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Misogyny, Rape, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, and Death of parent