Scan barcode
nabaraditi'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
3.0
I can't exactly put my finger on what I didn't exactly like in this book. Hence, 3 stars.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Vomit, Blood, and Self harm
Moderate: Sexual content and Mental illness
Minor: Grief, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
mrmarshall591's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As with Thirteen Reasons Why, I know many would say this book glorifies suicide, but I think the language used that talks about why people felt the need to attempt to tale their own life and the specific thoughts that went through their head (which often are ones of peace, and yearning) are critical to being realistic and helping people connect with the characters. People who experience mental illness and suicidal ideation do not get to sugarcoat their thoughts and feelings and often don’t realize they are not alone, so I applaud the raw emotion and deep dive into the suicidal mind. That being said, I really think there should be a forward to this book that addresses what readers will witness in the book, in a way that promotes safe messaging around suicide. And I do agree it may be detrimental if someone DOES NOT finish the book as some individual moments in fact would be read as glorifying suicide but again, it is all part of being authentic in portraying the characters experiences.
The only thing I truly did cringe at was some of the unaddressed ableism, such as with the use of the “r” word which I know in 2008 was more widely thrown around but that does not make it any less gross.
Anyway, I think this book takes a bold approach towards addressing very realistic but stigmatized experiences, that while being written with a lot of dark humor, involves a wide range of the strongest and most powerful emotions. There are horrible things that happen but also things that made me so hopeful and glad. I did love the book but also was unsettled by it and uncomfortable… but that was what I needed to feel. I just really need to stress the importance of knowing where you’re at mentally and emotionally when reading this book and checking content warnings if needed.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Vomit
notsosecretbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
daringreader13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Hate crime, Sexism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Drug use, Rape, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
samg01'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Suicide, Self harm, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content, Incest, Death, Bullying, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia
Minor: Vomit and Murder
mxkenzie_11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Suicide, Mental illness, Addiction, and Drug abuse
fa1ryts'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Gore, Sexual content, Addiction, Vomit, Sexual assault, Self harm, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
theo_the_newt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Eating disorder, Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Outing
matheo'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Medical content, Murder, Outing, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
calledyup1e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Vomit