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avocadotoastbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A more appropriate title might have been "Heartbreak in the Big City".
But it's not just about love or heartbreak, throughout the book Sang Young Park covers some heavy topics.
I really liked the overall concept, but the execution was somehow a bit messy. I sometimes couldn't remember at what point things happened. Nevertheless, some passages captivated me and I enjoyed reading the book.
Moderate: Homophobia, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
martasshelf'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
Loved the dry humor and the serious reflective moments.
Also appreciated the writing of different relationships, not only romantic or good ones, like friends and family - Park's relationship with his mum tells us a lot about him.
Park sounds sometimes uncaring, like someone who goes through life lightly but he cares more than he shows. And the book is darker and sadder thank it feels when you think about it. In the end, it feels somehow familiar even if your reality couldn't be farther from Park's.
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Abortion, and Alcohol
stephmcoakley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
raitherabbit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t expect for there to be so much packed in such a small package. 200 pages went by too quickly. I felt that a complete stranger could understand what I was feeling.
The poetry of the writing cannot go unnoticed. Reading the last few chapters and watching them unfold was heart wrenching. That last paragraph will be something stuck in the back of my mind for the foreseeable future.
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
sydneybedell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
cheye13'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
2.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion
Minor: Sexual content, Car accident, and Alcohol
minor: experience being HIV positivelidia7'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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Abortion, Outing, and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Vomit, and Classism
annagerman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The characters were well-written and authentic.
The MC's uniqeu voice was definitely the best part of the book, he's flawed, rude and self-absorbed, but also likeable and touching, I couldn't help but root for him.
I really loved the relationships in this book, they were so complex and realistic.
Also I love the depictions of the big city, its energy and presence.
However, the structure and the pacing felt off. It was like a collections of short stories about the same character, but the timelines and emotions didn't always aligne.
I actually had a time getting back into the story after putting the book down, it took me a while to get though it even though it's so short.
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Alcohol
risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Outing, and Alcohol
bethantg'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death
Minor: Fatphobia, Abortion, and Colonisation