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fynn_jls's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Death
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Drug use
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Transphobia
imaginaryisobel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, Vomit, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Classism and Racism
artstitute's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Terminal illness
Minor: Vomit, Homophobia, and Stalking
The AIDS epidemic is referenced and discussed.mimi_mimsel'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
Graphic: Transphobia
Minor: Death
ramalam98's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I truly feel like it defies categorisation - it's slice of life but action-packed but just vibes but completely alien but mundane.
Paul as a character is obnoxious and self-obsessed but in a way that is so obviously because he feels lost within the world and within himself that you can't help but love him. The book follows about a year of his life in the early 90's, and while I wasn't around back then to confirm, the time and place felt so vibrantly captured.
It's a very compelling book, though slow at times and I think either a bit more plot or a bit more character development would have given it a higher rating from me.
Also as a warning, it's one of those books with a lot of sex but none of it is particularly pleasant to read.
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Vomit and Death
addie'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Drug use
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, and Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death
gwarren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Liked the ambiguity of the ending and the chaos Paul/Polly's life seemed to follow throughout the narrative and appreciated the sex positive, non-binary, shape-shifting protagonist.
Also want to mention how grounded the setting of the story was. There were so many references to 90's pop culture, the LGBT+ community, the AIDS crisis (and it's after effects) and similarities between today's queer youth to then.
Overall, an enjoyable story with lots to sink your teeth into. May read again in the future.
Graphic: Drug use and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Transphobia
beanwa'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? It's complicated
5.0
The first chapter is sex scene after sex scene, which was a bit off-putting, but I'm really glad I stuck with it in the end. I love Paul, love Jane, I love how delightfully camp, cool, overly romantic, and pretentious Paul is - while still remaining vaguely self aware. The book often pokes fun at Paul's youthful romanticism, which I really enjoyed.
I rated this five stars because of how much fun I had reading it and how much I loved the concept (especially as a non-binary/gender fluid person!!) - but I did find the ending a bit unsatisfying + I found the artsy snippets (fairy tale-esque, mythical, etc.) a bit boring. Mostly because I wanted to get back to Paul! The ending felt open ended, which on one hand makes sense as Paul is in his very early 20s but I wish he'd gotten a better ending.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcohol, Vomit, and Death