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autisticpoetryqueer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
This was a beautiful book. The descriptions were so poetic, and I loved the imagery throughout the story. I also loved the complicated nature of the relationship between the two main characters. I feel that many queer folks have intense romantic friendships, and I feel this book captured that so well. Although the characters don't end up together , the ending still feels fully satisfying. While this relationship is clearly not meant to last forever, it is a beautiful and formative experience for both characters. I feel that many queer people can relate to this experience, to the intensity of their connection. This was a great summer read. I also loved the brief references to tarot and Perks. It's always fun seeing my interests discussed in books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism, Sexual violence, and Violence
lolajh's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
So much angstier than my usual reads; focuses on a quite toxic and realistic relationship that is just full of heartbreak and unhappiness and not like the usual romcoms I tend to go for. This book is also written in a lettered poetry verse format addressed from one of the main characters to the other, never once saying either of their names, a fascinating stylistic choice by the author I quite like. I felt like I was very much in the head and situation of the main character writing in first person (and second person too I guess), every line written in verse so beautiful and so much more personal when it’s written by the characters themselves. There are also time skips in this book, jumping from the present to the past that all comes together at the end to explain “the fire” event titling one timeline’s chapters. The fact that the author was able to tell a story that could be recounted through solely verse, plus skipping through events in time, was incredible and so fascinating how similar it was to a story told in first person but so different at the same time because of this lettered structure that is the main character addressing her love interest, and makes what is being written so much more personal and raw than it would’ve been if it had of been written in any other way.
And the story. So incredibly heartbreaking and something that is so real and relatable to a large majority of relationships that don’t always go perfectly and showing the bumps along the way and heartbreaks and acceptance that when you aren’t getting something you want and deserve, to understand you deserve better and to move on in order to be okay with yourself independently from a relationship and knowing your worth. Such a beautiful piece and so different to anything I’ve ever read before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
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