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anni_banani's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Other YA books- this is a great book to look to.
DAMN that was one of my top 5 YA books easily. It made it into the “How my Life Would Have Been Different if I Had this as a Teen” ™️category.
The most unique thing in this book to me was the tone jumps; one moment it’s meaningful horny and turning me on 🤣, the next it’s meaningfully with nuance discussing what it’s like to have anxiety depression mood swings, then it’s meaningful commentary on queer lit or life as a bisexual person or race, then a random but meaningful bit about how Palestinian history is white washed. It’s a romance then a comedy then a drama and I’m scared for the MC. I related as life has tone jumps.
Never have I related to this book more as a Pansexual and bisexual person or with my own experience of mental health. Aceves spends the most time painting a detailed nuanced picture from how someone can go from bad sleep to bad self esteem to bad harmful thoughts to suicidal ideations. I love not just the Bi rep here but discussing life as a bi person, what’s to be expected of us depending on our perceived gender, biphobia within the queer community, how attraction happens. Often it’s just a footnote or a characteristic in a novel thrown out with the same care as “she loved coffee and is bisexual” . No rainbow / bi washing here.
I was also really impressed with how I loved the book from start to finish- gobbled it up like the Cookie Monster. But there was areas for characters to be grey, imperfect. The MC and his BFF definitely got some shit to work out in their dynamic like all teens, like all humans, but their love is so true.
One of the reasons I wish I had this book besides mental health, besides breaking down biphobic myths, was the sex positive perspective here. Sex (alone and partnered) should not only be respectful, consensual and safer but also joyful! The characters struggle with this in a real honest way, sometimes internalizing messages that sex is wrong or pressure to have sex, they learn.
Aveces I really hope you get an adult book published cuz this book turned me on so much, I can’t wait to see what you would do with actual grown ups!!!
Read this book for
DAMN that was one of my top 5 YA books easily. It made it into the “How my Life Would Have Been Different if I Had this as a Teen” ™️category.
The most unique thing in this book to me was the tone jumps; one moment it’s meaningful horny and turning me on 🤣, the next it’s meaningfully with nuance discussing what it’s like to have anxiety depression mood swings, then it’s meaningful commentary on queer lit or life as a bisexual person or race, then a random but meaningful bit about how Palestinian history is white washed. It’s a romance then a comedy then a drama and I’m scared for the MC. I related as life has tone jumps.
Never have I related to this book more as a Pansexual and bisexual person or with my own experience of mental health. Aceves spends the most time painting a detailed nuanced picture from how someone can go from bad sleep to bad self esteem to bad harmful thoughts to suicidal ideations. I love not just the Bi rep here but discussing life as a bi person, what’s to be expected of us depending on our perceived gender, biphobia within the queer community, how attraction happens. Often it’s just a footnote or a characteristic in a novel thrown out with the same care as “she loved coffee and is bisexual” . No rainbow / bi washing here.
I was also really impressed with how I loved the book from start to finish- gobbled it up like the Cookie Monster. But there was areas for characters to be grey, imperfect. The MC and his BFF definitely got some shit to work out in their dynamic like all teens, like all humans, but their love is so true.
One of the reasons I wish I had this book besides mental health, besides breaking down biphobic myths, was the sex positive perspective here. Sex (alone and partnered) should not only be respectful, consensual and safer but also joyful! The characters struggle with this in a real honest way, sometimes internalizing messages that sex is wrong or pressure to have sex, they learn.
Aveces I really hope you get an adult book published cuz this book turned me on so much, I can’t wait to see what you would do with actual grown ups!!!
Read this book for
- A great discussion of sexuality and sexual exploration for young adults. How to be doing that joyfully and responsibly and how not to
- East LA
- Breaking down various stereotypes including ones about Bi people, Muslims Arabs and Palestinians, Latines, gay adults, people living with mental illness
- Parents figuring it out as they go and really learning
- Good ass therapists
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Biphobia, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Mass/school shootings
Chap 20 Objectification in a consensual sexual encounter.imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Islamophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Classism
patricktreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
This book was everything. It gave me “They Both Die” vibes without both of them dying. That intensity was there and the pain was definitely felt, but also the joy. I also loved that we had the middle eastern representation. You don’t get to see that a lot in LGBTQ+ stories.
It should definitely have content warnings in it though because some of the topics can get very dark.
It should definitely have content warnings in it though because some of the topics can get very dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content and Violence
shamelesslyash's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I wanted 2(!) years for this book. When I first saw Aaron's tweet about it I was sold. I loved that he doesn't shy away from how confusing sexuality, life, everything can be. It's hard trying to figure yourself out! I liked how this was a slow burn and things weren't all pretty and happy and turns out ok in the end. It takes time, mistakes, and learning about yourself before what you want can happen.
This was such a beautiful and at times heartbreaking read. I love that we get to know Enrique and not just his love life, but the good, the bad, and the ugly. I would highly recommend this.
(Also thank you Aaron for saying how bad Call me By Your Name is!!! Seriously it's wrong on so many levels!)
This was such a beautiful and at times heartbreaking read. I love that we get to know Enrique and not just his love life, but the good, the bad, and the ugly. I would highly recommend this.
(Also thank you Aaron for saying how bad Call me By Your Name is!!! Seriously it's wrong on so many levels!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Hate crime
elizabeth_delozier's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
A moment of silence in appreciation for the wonderfully bisexual cover.
This story was a delightful YA bisexual exploration of sexuality, which covers some really difficult themes (see TWs below). While YA contemporary LGBTQ+ stories can often be a coming out story/ an exploration of the MC's identity, this MC has a somewhat firm grasp on his identity and is taking time to develop a relationship and comfortability with his sexuality. The main character is also trying to find a way to get over an unrequited love, which plays a role in this relationship he is trying to cultivate.
This story was both fun and uncomfortable, in very relatable ways. Particularly with the MC's inner dialogue, as many of us have likely had similar thoughts throughout adolescence. I would like to mention that the content of the book is more upper YA, with some mild sexual content throughout.
Trigger Warnings: racism, homophobia, biphobia/bi-erasure, mental health, passive and active suicidal thoughts, physical violence.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Alejandro Ruiz, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
This story was a delightful YA bisexual exploration of sexuality, which covers some really difficult themes (see TWs below). While YA contemporary LGBTQ+ stories can often be a coming out story/ an exploration of the MC's identity, this MC has a somewhat firm grasp on his identity and is taking time to develop a relationship and comfortability with his sexuality. The main character is also trying to find a way to get over an unrequited love, which plays a role in this relationship he is trying to cultivate.
This story was both fun and uncomfortable, in very relatable ways. Particularly with the MC's inner dialogue, as many of us have likely had similar thoughts throughout adolescence. I would like to mention that the content of the book is more upper YA, with some mild sexual content throughout.
Trigger Warnings: racism, homophobia, biphobia/bi-erasure, mental health, passive and active suicidal thoughts, physical violence.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Alejandro Ruiz, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Cultural appropriation
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