hilary_v's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, and Drug use
alifromkc1907's review against another edition
3.0
Gut Instinct Rating: 1
Characters: 3
Believability: 2.5
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 1
Story Line: 3
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 3.39
Characters: 3
Believability: 2.5
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 1
Story Line: 3
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 3.39
mollitron's review against another edition
5.0
The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World is one of those stories that you don't apply logic to, because if you did, it would be incomprehensible and completely rubbish. However, this does not mean it is not funny, charming and packed full of raw emotion.
Characters
Billy - Throughout the entire story, all I wanted to do was give Billy a hug. You know a kid's been through a lot when they adopt a TV therapist who they've never met as their grandma, and Amy Reed manages to write him in such a way that he doesn't seem like a pathetic spineless idiot.
Lydia - Another character that I just wanted to give a hug to. Her storyline ripped my heart to shreds, and it's nice to see a mixed lead that isn't a product of a previous ~forbidden romance~ plotline.
Caleb - An asshole, but a well written one.
Plot
Made zero sense. I loved it anyway.
Characters
Billy - Throughout the entire story, all I wanted to do was give Billy a hug. You know a kid's been through a lot when they adopt a TV therapist who they've never met as their grandma, and Amy Reed manages to write him in such a way that he doesn't seem like a pathetic spineless idiot.
Lydia - Another character that I just wanted to give a hug to. Her storyline ripped my heart to shreds, and it's nice to see a mixed lead that isn't a product of a previous ~forbidden romance~ plotline.
Caleb - An asshole, but a well written one.
Plot
Made zero sense. I loved it anyway.
kendylh's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the book! Really long. I was very connected to the characters! An emotional roller coaster!
florrr12's review against another edition
2.0
didn't finished, I got to 16%. Might come back to finish it later but as of now I'm not finishing it.
c_hloe's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
missprint_'s review against another edition
2.0
Just too weird for me. I think it's a great comp for Landscape With Invisible Hand and a few other things but I didn't like Billy or Lydia enough to care about them as characters. Billy's meandering, painfully optimistic narration was grating while Lydia's pragmatic apathy was almost too hard to take. An interesting blend of satire and fantasy and magic realism but ultimately too many things at once.
missymaus's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Classism, Alcoholism, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Racism, Death, Gaslighting, and Drug abuse
avabrewer's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a fascinating book! There were elements of it that I loved, but others that seemed to fall short.
I picked this book out without fully realizing it was a fantasy book but I’m so glad that it was. It’s been ages since I’ve read a fantasy book and it was delightful.
First, I loved the characters. As a teenager, it’s wonderful to read about other teens going through the struggles of high school and beyond. Lydia’s experience dance was also beautiful for me to read about as a dancer myself. The obscure details, such as the description of Billy’s house and the whole town itself, were wonderful and kept me engaged and interested.
However, some relationships felt rushed. At the end, Billy and Ruth’s relationship seemed to come out of no where. They saw each other in passing, exchanged very few words, then all of the sudden she shows up with a shotgun before a tsunami and Billy’s in love. On the other hand, I adored the blossom of Natalie and Lydia’s relationship. Throughout the story, Billy was accused of being gay but it turns out that it’s Lydia who is. The introduction of this relationship is tasteful and keeps the reader wondering whether or not he or she is correct in assuming a romance may be beginning.
Finally, I’m still confused about the ghost of Lydia, the crowd that attacked Billy numerous times, the creatures that the characters saw over and over again, among other things. Did I miss an explanation somewhere or am I meant to read between the lines and assume that Billy and Lydia’s meeting was simply the cause of the fantastical events?
Overall, a delightful read!
I picked this book out without fully realizing it was a fantasy book but I’m so glad that it was. It’s been ages since I’ve read a fantasy book and it was delightful.
First, I loved the characters. As a teenager, it’s wonderful to read about other teens going through the struggles of high school and beyond. Lydia’s experience dance was also beautiful for me to read about as a dancer myself. The obscure details, such as the description of Billy’s house and the whole town itself, were wonderful and kept me engaged and interested.
However, some relationships felt rushed. At the end, Billy and Ruth’s relationship seemed to come out of no where. They saw each other in passing, exchanged very few words, then all of the sudden she shows up with a shotgun before a tsunami and Billy’s in love. On the other hand, I adored the blossom of Natalie and Lydia’s relationship. Throughout the story, Billy was accused of being gay but it turns out that it’s Lydia who is. The introduction of this relationship is tasteful and keeps the reader wondering whether or not he or she is correct in assuming a romance may be beginning.
Finally, I’m still confused about the ghost of Lydia, the crowd that attacked Billy numerous times, the creatures that the characters saw over and over again, among other things. Did I miss an explanation somewhere or am I meant to read between the lines and assume that Billy and Lydia’s meeting was simply the cause of the fantastical events?
Overall, a delightful read!
fluegel's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book. I thought the characters were interesting and I liked their relationships. It seemed to be a little hostile towards Christianity and so I did not like that, but maybe that was just the characters she made. I liked how the author sort of played on reality through most of it making it hard to tell when things were actually happening and when they were not. That was a fun space to be in.