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kays_reading_journal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-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
5.0
5⭐️
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to love this book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read any sort of alternate timeline or political heavy books, and I didn’t think I’d get into it, but I absolutely loved this. I had a whole convo with my mom (who doesn’t even read) because I needed to talk about this novel and all the thoughts it was provoking. It forced me to re-examine some of my views about things happening in my city right now as well, and I’m really glad for it.
The main character is very close to me identity wise, and I think personality wise as well. She’s imperfect, she’s flawed, but she’s trying to become better and that’s what makes this novel so great. This book held a lot of realism and I think it was a breath of fresh air.
Despite the whole novel being single pov, the other characters were still strongly developed. There was foreshadowing for the end throughout the entire book, and I was constantly on a rollercoaster of feeling hopeful vs. pessimistic. Every time the characters experienced a win, I was excited with them and turning to the next page enthusiastically. Every time they experienced a drawback, I was dreading what would come next.
While this book definitely won’t be for everyone, if you enjoy alternate realities, social justice, or want to branch out from your usual genre, I think you’ll enjoy this book!
Thank you to NetGallley, Levine Querido, and Sim Kern for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Police brutality, Transphobia, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Addiction, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Deadnaming, Grief, Classism, Mass/school shootings, Rape, and Suicide attempt
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