Scan barcode
xgabrielle_hx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
hollyamber's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
cath_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
What I greatly disliked throughout the whole thing is how romanticized and swept under the rug Holden’s manipulation of Sky/Hope was. Having violent outbursts and then not explaining them? Ghosting her for weeks only to show up and say “everything’s fine but I can’t tell you why I was gone”? Withholding information about Sky’s past and person from her even when she asks? The part where they both use each other for sex later in the book, so they can escape a traumatic experience for a moment? That’s not love; none of it is love. It’s a trauma bond, and what Holden was doing is manipulative and dishonest, even if he “had Sky’s/Hope’s best interest at heart”.
I understand that this book is trying to make some pretty heavy points about abuse, right versus wrong not being so black-and-white, and breaking harmful/toxic cycles. But in my opinion, having the main characters in a trauma-bonded relationship was not the way to illustrate that.
I do know this book is part of a series that I’ve committed to reading and it’s entirety this year, so I may come back and change my review later if some of this is addressed in further series installments.
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
blynn343's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
katalamar's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
issibelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
charlie29's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gaslighting
xlaraxk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
The writing: The writing in this book was so bland. Nothing about it was clever or original or showed linguistic talent. Any AO3 or Wattpad writer could do better than this. CoHo really tries to hammer the youthfulness of the characters home by constantly using the phrase "xy sucks ass", "this sucks ass", "he sucks ass" etc. To introduce direct speech she constantly uses "he/she says" so it gets repetitive easily. The comparisons she makes are also strange and could even be considered offensive (e.g." He looked at me like I just said I have a penis"). All in all, the writing was not the worst thing I ever read but just straight up boring - something you will have read a hundred times by now.
The characters: Again, just bland. I could not tell you anything about the main character Sky or Holder in regards to their personality. They all have one character trait only - Holder is "misunderstood", Sky likes to read and that's about it. I do not even understand why they liked each other in the first place
The problematic aspects: Oh, there are so many.
- This book depicts queer, especially gay people, so stereotypically. Colleen Hoover wants to tell us how much of an ally both Holder and Sky are yet to fail to see Sky's friend as anything more than his personality. We've all seen some rendition of "the extroverted quirky gay best friend" in a book or a film - again, nothing original about it. I'm really sick of seeing this stereotype being brought up over and over again.
- Sky has so much internalised misogyny. Her only issue seems to constantly tell the read that she, in fact, is not a slut. The "slut" topic plays a big part in the beginning of the book and then weirdly is never brought up again later. But in any case, she tries to "not be like other girls" by calling other girls either a slut, stupid or manipulative.
- Holder does not know about consent. There are some scenes where Sky is clearly uncomfortable with their physical intimacy (at one point she even tells him no "forcefully") but he keeps on pressuring her. He's emotionally manipulative and that's not romantic or cute in any way.
- Just the plot in general. There is some serious trauma going on but it is "fixed" by a romantic relationship. That's just not what you should convey to a young audience. If you really want to read this book, please make sure to take a look at the trigger warnings.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Transphobia
savleigh3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping