Reviews

As a contemporary romance with low action/adventure stakes, this is honestly a genre I rarely ever read. That being said, I truly and utterly adored this book. This book is truly wonderful if your whole nervous system just needs a rest and a reset. The pain that Sal is going through is so real and his friendship/relationship with Pax is so wonderful that this whole book was like healing your body by taking a perfectly warm bath. Ironic, of course, considering the spooky elements, but rather than being supernatural, they're linked far more to the psyche and healing of those internal wounds.

Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Yes!

See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book

CHARACTERS: This is one of the best grumpy/sunshine duos I've read, mostly because it actually took me most of the book to realize that that's exactly the trope I was reading! They truly felt so natural. I utterly adore Pax and honestly would love to be like him. He has the most wholesome acceptance of himself that is just...incredible and something to live up to. And Sal's first reaction to everything being to simply stay silent or not talk? It's part of both who he is and his trauma. Watching him grow through it and merge the two together is a truly profound experience in all of it's gentleness.

PLOT: Life. It's honestly not a genre I normally read. There isn't a grand quest. It is simply, living and learning and experiencing as a high school student. Learning that you belong and being yourself and working through stages of grief and family trauma as well as new love. It's a coming of age in its own way. Sal in many ways doesn't even have a bi/gay-awakening. It is simply what happens. I can't explain it only that it's truly beautiful. Not only for Sal and Pax to come together, but for the four of them, "The Other Ones" to come together fully into a beautiful found family even as Sal literally 'finds' his family in another way.

EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

3/5: medium. I think the author did a fantastic job of hitting on themes that can hurt so deeply but offering such a beautiful balm to sit with that pain and feel through it and finish the book true to Pax's name: at peace.

CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?

100%. I truly wasn't expecting this book to be anything wild in terms of my usual wild rides. But it did exactly what I needed it to do. I honestly ended up feeling as though I'd just been soaking in a warm tub for the hours I read it and I finished with a grateful sigh.

amberly1997's review against another edition

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dark emotional lighthearted sad tense 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

4.25

I really enjoyed this book and this book remind of Heartstopper but I do think the marketing for it was very misleading. I was expecting a really spooky read but it was more a very cute and sweet little contemporary story. The writing was quick read and I found this book easy to read. The atmosphere needed to be flash out bit more and the paced of plot was fine but it did drag out bit also the cover of the book was fine. I really like the ending of book.

I really like the characters but some of them needed flash out bit more, I really like both Sal and Pax and I found them well flash out as characters. Asha was a other character at was well flash out as character but I feel at Elsie and Dirk could be flash out bit more.

broke's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

wordswitwonder's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was a cute, cozy queer romance about grief, family, and finding yourself. It would be the perfect read for a cool autumn day at home. The cast of characters was pretty diverse, although I do wish some of the supporting characters were given a bit more depth beyond just what they could do for Sal. I also thought the ending felt a bit rushed. Overall, I think this book would be great for lgbtq+ teens, anyone who enjoys character forward stories, and people looking for emotional but cozy books.

jamiedarcyb's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-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

librarianally's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

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