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06_trinity'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
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Death, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
brookeisbusyreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The characters are all VERY interesting though! Jeff, Sadie, and especially Martha. I think Ford did a great job keeping a bit of mystery (or a lot) for each character while not leaving us completely in the dark.
This book definitely surprised me and Jeff’s sarcasm was top-tier! …But maybe I won’t finish reading a story like this on Christmas lol
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
jasmineslibraryy'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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
eloise648'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: Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
petethecatsdad'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
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
the_true_monroe'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: Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Alcohol
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, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
libraryfairy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Eating disorder, and Homophobia
hypnotic_violet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death and Self harm
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Blood, and Alcohol
pond_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: Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Outing, and Sexual harassment