Reviews

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

alexy_lynx's review against another edition

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Lo primero es que, el libro no tiene como una trama concreta, en resumen se puede decir que Riley esta afrontando los problemas que trae ocultar ser una persona de Género Fluido.

Leer algunas situaciones o pensamientos de Riley realmente me puso de nervios, ya que claramente entiendo algunas de las situaciones (como los ligeros cambios que causa en la actitud).
Aunque algunas veces chocaba con actitudes de Riley, pero también sentí que algunos de esas actitudes me recordaban a típicas actitudes adolescentes y eso se me hizo genial, al igual que me hizo recordar que ninguna persona te agrada al 100% (o eso digo yo).

Spoiler Y la parte donde sus padres le "descubren" fue tan agh, se vio reflejada como la gente puede confundir tu orientación sexual con tu identidad de género y malinterpretar todo. Y la odiada mención de que es una fase (se que mayoría de la gente aun no está acostumbrada pero igual me frustra).

aaronschekorra's review against another edition

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4.0

I actually loved this book, and I almost gave it 5 stars. But then the MC is SA’d out of no where. It wasn’t handled well and didn’t add anything to the story.

luna_bear's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny 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

3.5

jenmangler's review against another edition

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3.0

This was really interesting and I learned a lot. It's a little info heavy and light on plot, but that didn't negatively affect my reading experience. That's probably because I had so much to learn about what it's like to be genderfluid.

lailisgrace's review

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hopeful informative lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

If you told me this was ghostwritten by 2016 BuzzFeed I'd just have to believe you

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snowy_owl_151's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

karrama's review against another edition

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5.0

Pros: great writing
genderfluidity described well
characters you could care for
happy-inclusion with parents confused
Cons: falling on old tropes to cause the conclusion; trigger warning.

Riley is pretty awesome and determined to be as true to themselves as possible with a parent running for office and a new school because the Catholic school they were at before did not have uniforms that felt right and stayed right for external representing Riley. Riley makes friends and tries to be true but has a lot of self doubt and outside sensorship to deal with. Thank goodness for good friends.

snazz07's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

4.25


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mehsi's review against another edition

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I have decided to put this one in my DNF shelf for multiple reasons.

-Riley is the biggest reason. I just couldn't connect with that character, nor did I feel sorry about them that much. I know, their life is a big rollercoaster, but sorry, instead of feeling sorry for them I just was annoyed with them. Seeking deliberate provocation.
That blog was also one thing, I loved the things they wrote there. However, the way the went with commenting on people who asked questions that apparently to Riley weren't nice, or the way they commented on haters... I just was shaking my head. Yes, people are dicks at times, but no need to provoke them even further. Just delete the comment, and laugh about their silliness. Done.
I also didn't like how they were towards their parents. Yes, they have no clue about you, yes, they push you, but hey, if you never share any of what goes on in that head of you, then why are you so angry at times with them. Just be upfront with them. Maybe take that therapist of yours with you.
Also stop being so whiny/bratty. :|

-It read like an encyclopaedia/text book. I don't mind reading encyclopaedias at times, I love to do that, but if I am reading fiction I don't want an encyclopaedia as well in it. Information dump is nice, but is generally a reason why I am going to drop a book. There was just so much information on gender, gender fluidity and other stuff, and so little story. :| The whole story can be summed up to this: Riley wakes up > Riley's inner dial points to female or male > Riley dresses/acts accordingly > Riley goes to school > Is on the watch for anyone making comments > Seeks Bec > Studies > Blogs about genders > Comments on people > Has arguments with parents > Sleep > Repeat.
I really had to push myself to read this book, and halfway through I decided it wasn't my thing, I decided to just read another book.

-I think that after 2 books I read about gender/gender queer/fluidity, and both of them being not good, I am just going to step away from this topic. Until there is a book with a good story + some information + a likeable character. This book wasn't good, that other book was also not too good. And once again it was the character that was thinking about their gender that ruined the book for me. The side characters (in this case Bec and Solo) were great and I kept pushing to read the book because of them. Once again, as I also said in that review, I have nothing against people who are thinking about their gender, who are confused about it, who are wondering what they are. I am totally fine with everyone. But it seems the way they are written, the way the books are written is just not for me. Maybe one day I will find a book about this topic that I will love. I would love to find one. But for now? I am just going to skip the book if it is about gender problems/gender stuff.

-I also read on reviews there is going to be a rape scene/assault scene, and I am just not comfortable with those, so that is also a reason why I am just saying no to this book at this point.

Phew, I think I posted everything I wanted, all my thoughts and feelings on the book. It is a shame, this was one of the books I was really looking forward to this year, and it turned out to be a dud. So many friends loved it, so I was even more hopeful, but it seems it was not meant to be.

And again, I am fine with everyone being what they want to be. Just so no one comes to me calling me all kinds of names or saying I am discriminating. I am not. I am just not happy with how the books and characters are written.

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

erdeannika's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

+ impressive for a not-own-voice book, really like the main characters, Riley's assigned gender isn't revealed which is nice
- I don't like it when words like "bipolar" are misused to describe a room aesthetic like it's done in the book, I would also have liked a detailed content warning because there's a lot of quite detailed violence described, I also think it's questionable if it's necessary for a YA book to contain these scenes at all

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