valer1e's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Misogyny, Bullying, Mental illness, and Car accident
Minor: Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
whosfernn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
It's a shame, because I wanted to like this book. I'd heard mixed things, but from what I'd heard about the plot it sounded like something I would enjoy, or at least be interested in. I was not interested. I was either annoyed or outright bored for at least 75% of this book, and that's being generous.
I do want to give the dark romance genre another shot though, so if anyone has any recommendations that are not as god awful as this book, send them my way.
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual violence, Grief, Misogyny, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug use, Sexual assault, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking
Minor: Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Rape
amaramorgenstern's review against another edition
Graphic: Stalking, Grief, Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Alcohol
readingwithkaitlyn'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? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Stalking, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
elsa_clare's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Self harm, Infidelity, Violence, Death of parent, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content
ye_li's review against another edition
To start with, almost every single fucking character was so 2D. A whiny, pathetic female lead that's "not like other girls" and a brooding male lead that's "tall, dark, and handsome." Every other female character was a mean girl stereotype, while every other male character was some douchy jock—with the exception of Ten and Manny. So, correction, every other male character was either a douchy jock of some flavor of queer stereotyping.
There was so much unnecessary homophobia with no relevance to the story, whatsoever. By the way, it's not directed at the main characters. I'll address that first because it bothered me so fucking much.
Spoiler
To start, there's this one part where Misha's truck was vandalized with white paint. Someone had written f@gg0t on the front. Most of the homophobia happens toward a minor character named Manny Cortez. Manny is used as a punching bag, just to make the main characters look better. Why is there so much homophobia thrown around with no relevant fucking reason? It's not adding anything to the story… Seriously, I was so fucking pissed off. Ryen only ever thinks about herself. Like, what? How can you be so self-centered?I just could not stand Ryen. I found her so fucking pathetic and annoying. Like, c'mon, grow a fucking spine why don't you? Oh, boo-hoo, you didn't wanna go to prom alone, so you still tried to get with the misogynistic and homophobic asshole. Seriously? I gave up on trying to like her when she still put up with Trey, even after all his fucking bullshit. But, oh, she was still kind to so-and-so! Right, after she stood by and watched them have the shit beat out of them. No, she just didn't want to become a victim! She was trying to keep herself safe! And that's what's so fucking pathetic about her. She doesn't change by the end of the book, either… she still cares about appearances and shit.
I know most people hate Misha more, but I liked him more out of the two of them. Misha was more, I don't know, competent? He was still a prick, but at least he didn't try to cover it up, you know?
Spoiler
Oh, but, the whole thing with the principal, Trey's step-mom, actually being Misha's biological mother? Just fuck off. What a stupid fucking plot twist.God, this book just made me so god damn uncomfortable and annoyed me to no end.
You could argue that, oh, they're not supposed to be likable! They're meant to be flawed, they're meant to be making bad decisions—blah, blah, blah. OK, fine, but there needs to be something likable about the main characters. Especially when the readers are clearly meant to empathize with them!!
I'm surprised I managed to read so much of this godawful thing.
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Moderate: Bullying and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Drug abuse
ashleereadsbooks692'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? It's complicated
2.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Physical abuse, Sexism, Stalking, Violence, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, and Sexual harassment
_mya_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Rape, Stalking, and Self harm
victorianbsilva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Violence, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Stalking, and Death
savvymac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Stalking