kbweis's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Transphobia, and Violence
blueberry0531's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Homophobia
ameliainthelibrary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The story was great and the writing was well done with good flow but the charterers, particularly Dawn, were so dislikable that I nearly DNFed. As a non binary queer person I was particularly excited about a story with an older character coming to terms with their identity but I just couldn’t form any relation to Dawn or her self spiraling hatred. Were it not for the writing of Gertrude’s story and my curiosity of if we’d find out what happened to Marta I would not have been able to finish this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
silverhill's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Medical content, Biphobia, Bullying, and Hate crime
Minor: Death, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship
dustghosts's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Transphobia
eicart_reads's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Dysphoria, and Hate crime
Moderate: Terminal illness
kleinekita's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Hate crime, Transphobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Genocide
lesbiankarlmarx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Hate crime
szucker6'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Hate crime, Violence, and Transphobia
headlessphilosopher's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Endpapers by Jennifer Savran Kelley is a compelling tale of gender identity and sexuality set in post-9/11 NYC. The main character Dawn is at a relatable point in her life; post-grad, pre-career, and struggling to find herself. Past and present traumas leave Dawn feeling unsafe to explore her identity, and the fear of losing her relationship or her job leaves her stuck filling molds that don’t always fit, making her feel isolated. She ends up unearthing a queer love letter from the 50s on the back of a lesbian pulp book cover which sends her on a mission to find the letter’s author.
It was interesting to read this book as a trans person living 20 years past its setting. So much has changed and yet, so much remains the same. The book is firmly rooted in the reality of queerness in the early 2000s and doesn’t shy away from showing the ugly bits. I especially enjoyed the comparison to 1950s America brought by the hidden love letter.
Overall, Endpapers is a well-paced, entertaining story that asks the reader to consider the past and present of queer identity as the main character does the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Homophobia