Reviews

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

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fmmiller88's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This book features Aled from the Heartstopper series but the main character is Frances. Oseman focuses on building a platonic friendship while trying to navigate the path to University and beyond. Both Frances and Aled have two sides of their identity and struggle with the put together image that they have created. This was an interesting read. I did feel like it was a bit simple at times but I liked that it dove deeper into serious topics. It touched on topics of loneliness, abuse, sexual identity and depression. It also dealt with what it means to be internet famous and the troubles that can come along with it.

Check out a podcast that I host with my boyfriend where we talk books and book related things:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6Xjyht7...

and our Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/

feyasyl's review against another edition

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5.0

“I wonder- if nobody is listening to my voice, am I making any sound at all?”

I dare to say that this is my favorite contemporary novel I have ever read. I could relate to Frances so much, it honestly hurt at times and got me really emotional. I never had friends from school that shared my passion for books, so no one ever understood me in that way, which is the reason why I could relate to the whole concept of school Frances and real France. It was done so well!

“Everyone's different inside their head.”

The friendship between her and Aled was beautiful and I am really glad it stayed platonic during the whole book. Their friendship reminded me of the friendships I have with some amazing girls I met on Instagram who are all just obsessed with books as I. With them I always feel like ME. They are all my Aled and this book made me appreciate them so much more.

“He smiled and looked away. 'Sometimes I think we're the same person...but we just got accidentally split into two before we were born.”

Don´t even get me started on the educational pressure that I feel like everyone at some point in their life has experienced.

In conclusion: This book is a gem and everyone should read it!

hannahrose_99's review against another edition

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5.0

one of the most beautiful books about friendship i've ever read, maybe one of the only books about friendship i have ever read! it reminded me of how i've felt every time i've met one of my best friends for the first time, that feeling of falling in love with someone purely platonically. it made me want to go and hug all my friends! i was thinking so much about the ways my friends and i have shown up for each other during our hardest moments and how that's the best love i've ever felt! i love my friends!

also loooooved the discussion on the pressures of university. having graduated college already, i found i related these struggles more to just the idea of a capitalistic society in general, and the struggles of realizing that what everyone expects of you isn't maybe what you actually want. i related it to how now, as a twenty four year old, my level of success has so much less to do with my job and more to do with just making art and trying to be happy.

as i felt with heartstopper, i couldn't stop thinking about how much i would have LOVED this book in high school. wish i could send it back to 2014 tumblr hannah.

rashmi_taylorsversion's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

jagic's review against another edition

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5.0

16/7/2022:
I didn't get into the university I wanted. The competition this year was absolutely not what anybody expected. Thank you Oseman for all the encouragement in the book. Thank you for creating Frances!
After reading all the things I have written in the book and sticking sticky notes everywhere(!) I can calmly say that this is in my top 5 books ever read. Thank you Alice, I will be forever thankful.

7/7/2022:
Wow. I have reread this book. I do feel the feelings, not gonna lie. I don't think they were as strong as the first time. The first time I listened to it as audiobook which I think is a superior way of consuming this story. This time I read it as a paperback(thank you BH for the awesome birthday gift) which was really fun because I annotated it! Of course, it still deserves 5 stars. I recommend this book to almost everyone, especially my generation, because it captures human condition of teen years so well.

We still adore Frances' mom, and we still despise Aled's mother(she is a maniac).

On the 8th page of this book, in the last sentence it says "...I was born for this" which was really fun to stumble upon.

I also love the discussion of asexuality and demisexuality. I am on both aromantic and asexual spectrum so it means a lot to me. Even if Oseman's characters aren't aro and/or ace author still doesn't push necessary romances on them. Alice knows how to represent people and they are very good at it.

There are so many internet and movie/TV show references and I am deceased. Alice, bring me back from dead.

I don't know what so say anymore, Alice is my favourite author and I can't wait for Heasrtstopper 5 and other things they will publish in the future.

This is also one of my favourite videos of all time.

29/8/2021:
What are you doing to me Oseman????