anniefwrites's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
I've loved Mary H.K. Choi's writing since I read Emergency Contact and Yolk and was happy to read her second of the three YA novels. She created such a strong voice for Pablo, and he and his friends and family feel so real, you could touch them. I have to say that the central tension is caused by something that causes me personally a lot of distress, so the reading experience itself was maybe a bit too stressful for me. I really like how the story ends up, but I sort of wish it didn't wrap up quite so quickly and neatly. But in general, I'll always be ready to read another book by Mary H.K. Choi because her style is so distinctive and makes you feel like a smarter, wiser, more thoughtful person for reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, and Drug use
Minor: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Stalking
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was... okay? Compared to other Mary H. K. Choi books, the connection felt superficially insta-love, the banter sometimes felt careless or cringeworthy , and I didn't like the ending. Also I'm just not a fan of the romance-with-a-celebrity, woe-is-me-because-of-fame plot line... probably a trope I'll just entirely avoid from here on out.
Spoiler
(the conversation about Leanna's eight-year-old fan dying of cancer was bad)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cancer and Sexual harassment
martyrdomx5's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
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