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scoobierubie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To explain first, I think that Summer Sons was a 4 for me namely because it took a while to build up steam. The author really enjoyed languishing in their own metaphor, and while it worked most of the time and led to some beautiful descriptions and visuals, in the beginning they felt the need to describe a lot of the minutia of interactions to the point where it slowed down, in my eyes, both the characterization progress and the progress of the mystery. I can’t fully explain where this book clicked for me? But about halfway through it really sharply picked up steam and I was hooked from there to the end. The ending portion was truly so good and so emotionally cathartic and interesting that I can’t give this book below a 4, but at the same time the struggle I experienced getting into it in the beginning isn’t erased simply because the author stuck the landing. I would recommend this book? But recommendations will always come with the caveat of “give it time to get going.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Suicide
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
To explain the injury detail:c_alexander's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
loved this - loved the complex characters and relationships, the imagery, tone, and the pacing!
was disappointed side characters weren't further developed - especially in terms of the bipoc characters; racism is a theme explored in the book but in a really brief capacity considering its relevance
took a little while to 'pick up' but had me hooked in the second half
was disappointed side characters weren't further developed - especially in terms of the bipoc characters; racism is a theme explored in the book but in a really brief capacity considering its relevance
took a little while to 'pick up' but had me hooked in the second half
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Death, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Violence, Homophobia, Racism, and Vomit
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Car accident
btaylorb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
😭
The comparisons to The Raven Cycle are very accurate. There were some occasional descriptive moments that were confusing and I would have to re-read, but overall I loved this. Spooky shit, southern gothic, magic that is a stand-in for something else, a hint of dark academia and ending that is a glimmer of hope while also guaranteeing nothing, hurts so good, satisfyingly unsatisfying.
The comparisons to The Raven Cycle are very accurate. There were some occasional descriptive moments that were confusing and I would have to re-read, but overall I loved this. Spooky shit, southern gothic, magic that is a stand-in for something else, a hint of dark academia and ending that is a glimmer of hope while also guaranteeing nothing, hurts so good, satisfyingly unsatisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Blood, Suicide, Body horror, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
Minor: Classism, Toxic friendship, and Racism
lblackburn04's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
I overall really enjoyed the book and its general vibe, however it had a few flaws that stopped it being rated higher.
The first half of the book is super slow and I nearly gave up on it; I’m glad I didn’t because the 2nd half was super captivating.
I did find the random street races off putting and out of place, and I felt as though the book could have benefitted from less of those and an extended ending.
The first half of the book is super slow and I nearly gave up on it; I’m glad I didn’t because the 2nd half was super captivating.
I did find the random street races off putting and out of place, and I felt as though the book could have benefitted from less of those and an extended ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Racism
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This was a really fascinating horror / mystery / coming-of-age story about Andrew, who had decided to join his best friend Eddie at his graduate program. However, before Andrew arrives, Eddie dies by suicide, and Andrew is left with Eddie's inheritance, house, and so many unanswered questions about how Eddie got to that point of despair. Andrew begins to question the motives of the folks who were in Eddie's life, wonders if there was more to Eddie's death than what appears, and is thrust into this life of fast cars (I guess this is marketed as Fast & the Furious, but make it southern gothic? I guess I co-sign that?), drugs, sex, and suspicious relationship dynamics.
Overall, this was a deeply atmospheric book, and I could easily visualize the setting. The author did a wonderful job in the setup and creating an eerie setting. The pace is incredibly slow, so just be mindful of that. I had to come back to this multiple times because I kept falling asleep *cries in "I'm sorry!"* As far as the characters, I didn't particularly love or root for any of them, but I appreciated the authenticity in which they display anger, callousness, carelessness, and defensiveness. Andrew is grieving his best friend, he is confused about it, and he is getting to know an entirely new group of people, which can often be disorienting on its own. Throw in a dark academia southern gothic setting of universities where there may be hexes afoot and certainly are systemically oppressive structures at play? Sheesh. That sounds like a nightmare to navigate. I get it. However, I didn't feel particularly pulled to Andrew in the way I should have as a main character, at least not until the very end.
Overall, I think this is an impressive debut, and I will absolutely read more from the author in the future, but I deeply struggled to maintain interest in this slow-paced novel.
This was a really fascinating horror / mystery / coming-of-age story about Andrew, who had decided to join his best friend Eddie at his graduate program. However, before Andrew arrives, Eddie dies by suicide, and Andrew is left with Eddie's inheritance, house, and so many unanswered questions about how Eddie got to that point of despair. Andrew begins to question the motives of the folks who were in Eddie's life, wonders if there was more to Eddie's death than what appears, and is thrust into this life of fast cars (I guess this is marketed as Fast & the Furious, but make it southern gothic? I guess I co-sign that?), drugs, sex, and suspicious relationship dynamics.
Overall, this was a deeply atmospheric book, and I could easily visualize the setting. The author did a wonderful job in the setup and creating an eerie setting. The pace is incredibly slow, so just be mindful of that. I had to come back to this multiple times because I kept falling asleep *cries in "I'm sorry!"* As far as the characters, I didn't particularly love or root for any of them, but I appreciated the authenticity in which they display anger, callousness, carelessness, and defensiveness. Andrew is grieving his best friend, he is confused about it, and he is getting to know an entirely new group of people, which can often be disorienting on its own. Throw in a dark academia southern gothic setting of universities where there may be hexes afoot and certainly are systemically oppressive structures at play? Sheesh. That sounds like a nightmare to navigate. I get it. However, I didn't feel particularly pulled to Andrew in the way I should have as a main character, at least not until the very end.
Overall, I think this is an impressive debut, and I will absolutely read more from the author in the future, but I deeply struggled to maintain interest in this slow-paced novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Alcohol, Homophobia, Suicide, Drug use, Blood, Murder, and Physical abuse
nikoops's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Really great read for fans of a good old ghost story. Definitely leaves you wanting to know more about the fates of these characters, and there were definitely parts that had me wishing the author would have delved a bit deeper.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Drug use, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying
eliotadrift's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Drug use
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism
jojothefool's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had a lot of fun with this audiobook. The supernatural stuff was a bit confusing via audio for me, I think I may have followed some scenes a lot better if I were reading instead of listening, but I got enough of it to get the haunting feelings of the scary scenes. I will say that this book has representation of a queer community I am so not familiar with which was interesting lol there’s a lot of drag racing and not the kind that I’m used to. Car stuff is just not for me, I don’t understand it and I don’t want to, so those parts were kinda hard to get through. I liked the overall mystery and ookiness of the novel. There’s a small yet remarkable romance that I found myself shipping far before I thought the book would do anything with it, so when it happened I was very pleased. Overall a fun time, especially for the toxic codependency queer ship enjoyers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Suicide, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Drug use
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Vomit, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Murder, and Homophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Cannibalism, and Car accident
ckelley101's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
kyra_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Though I loved this book, I did find the beginning a little slow and the end came very quickly. But the characters were great a the mystery held up till close to the end. But overall I really enjoyed this read especially once I got a bit into it and I didn’t want to put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, and Self harm