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jaduhluhdabooks's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
cynka's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
i love me some chaotic bisexual representation and it was a great one! mix that with high school dramas, heartbreaks, childhood friends to lovers? and just a slight undertone of being a cinematography freak slash filmmaking one. it all adds up to a perfect chill-out book. i devoured it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
catha1na's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
krhe's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Muy rápido de leer pero algo frustrante cuando al protagonista le daba la pájara (badumtss porque se apellida Bird). Me ha asesinado a plena luz del día en la calle con algunas cosas que se han dicho en el libro porque ouch.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
sapphicreaderlucy's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I am a big Kacen Callendar fan and have read lots of their books already because of how much I love their writing style. That definitely shined through for me in this book. I love how Callendar writes plot and moves across time, it's just really pleasant to read and follow. The Seattle/Capitol Hill setting was so fun to read and done really well. However, I can tell this is their first YA novel. I love that Callendar writes flawed characters, but there wasn't enough development here to make the character likeable even when they make questionable decisions. My favorite character was Florence and I found myself wishing the story was from her point of view. I did really appreciate the deaf representation in the book. I have limited knowledge on the deaf community and really appreciate the insight that Ollie's communicating/experience brought to my knowledge. Something else I have come to realize that I like about the book is that it feels pretty accurate to high school as far as the social dynamics go. For example, there was rapid constant change in Nate's friend group which I feel is very characteristic of high school, big growing pains and growth, and friends taking turns dating (or attempting to date) each other over the years. It was funny and reminded me of what it is like to be a teenager. The reasons I disliked Nathan was because it seemed that he was often mean to his loved ones out of a defense, but it was hard to root for him when he created so much hurt with his words to the people trying to help him. I understand he has abandonment issues and that is why he was doing that, but I just wasn't attached to him enough to still be rooting for him. He took Ollie on such an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end, and I felt bad for Ollie. This story was good and I liked the writing style but the character development just wasn't there enough to keep the reader rooting for the character despite their flaws.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
2busyreading's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Grief
insanelyfruity's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked this book up and almost read it entirely in one go. it had me with the name of Flo's dog being Tobey Maguire, I mean cmon absolute gold. it was funny but because it was a kind of fast read, it felt a little rushed at times. there was quite a bit of back and forth and so I didn't like Nate too much. to be honest, I think his character was very realistic and maybe I saw some parts of me in him-parts that I'm not very proud of- and so being faced with those flaws felt a little personal. the way it was a little messy at times felt perfectly representative of what high school relationships are like. very very realistic.
and I love the way the author described certain ASL signs before loosely translating them too. it absolutely helped me learn a couple simple signs. it was a very sweet book and I loved it. absolutely devoured it in one night. def would recommend for a fun, lighthearted read!
and I love the way the author described certain ASL signs before loosely translating them too. it absolutely helped me learn a couple simple signs. it was a very sweet book and I loved it. absolutely devoured it in one night. def would recommend for a fun, lighthearted read!
"Maybe the way you love changes from person to person."
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
slugpony412's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I don't read YA but this was shelved with the romance and I saw lambda and the diverse characters and gave it a go, while I appreciate the diverse identities of the characters as represented here in ways that feel both real and important I was disappointed with both the story and the writing was dull, repetitive and sparse for what I like in romance. Finished it quite fast and feel it was and most effective as a really horny teen wish fulfillment fantasy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Sexual content
discomfort during sex, virginity,ridesthesun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I honestly wanted to like this book so much more than I did. Unfortunately... the story just wasn't very good. All of Nate's friends were manipulative assholes tbh, especially Flo, who he kept insisting was such a good best friend like???? dude???? I get yall are in high school so things are a mess but come on. The will they/won't they that kept going back and forth with so many characters just wasn't convincing enough to get me invested. And at the risk of sounding like a Boring Adult™, this book felt way too explicit to be a YA. The themes and characters felt very YA, but the graphic sex was - while convincingly awkward for teens doing the deed for the first time - was pretty damn graphic for the target age group. (also my pet peeve of "character is hesitant about sex and doesn't really want to do it that much but has sex anyways and the moment is used as an example of Character and Relationship Growth" was v much there. let people - ESPECIALLY TEENS!! - be virgins and let them be ok with that).
One thing I DID love about this book is how it seems like all these kids are so so unapologetically queer. It was never even a topic of interest; no one even mentioned being gay or queer, they were all just comfortably having crushes on whatever gender suited them at the moment. No one questioned it or discussed it. No one's parents were shitty about it, no one was bullied about it. It was unrealistic, but a really nice unrealism. It was a fun thing to see :)
I also really enjoyed the Deaf rep here, especially for a teen. Ollie was honestly really good Deaf rep, and surprisingly realistic. It was refreshing for a Deaf character to be shown not magically being a good lip reader, and actually having the communication struggles Deaf kids in a hearing world have. (though the constant descriptions of his signs got grating after a while. They were mostly accurate, but just..... unnecessary. you can just say the character signs, guys, you don't have to describe every sign I promise)
I think I was spoiled by reading Felix Ever After and absolutely adoring it; I came into this with Expectations that made it more of a bummer when those expectations weren't met.
I think this story had a LOT of potential, but the execution just wasn't there. The family dynamics and relationship struggles could have gone in a lot of great directions, but things just fell flat, which is an honest bummer :(
(also Oliver-James is the dumbest hyphenated name I have ever seen tbh. no)
One thing I DID love about this book is how it seems like all these kids are so so unapologetically queer. It was never even a topic of interest; no one even mentioned being gay or queer, they were all just comfortably having crushes on whatever gender suited them at the moment. No one questioned it or discussed it. No one's parents were shitty about it, no one was bullied about it. It was unrealistic, but a really nice unrealism. It was a fun thing to see :)
I also really enjoyed the Deaf rep here, especially for a teen. Ollie was honestly really good Deaf rep, and surprisingly realistic. It was refreshing for a Deaf character to be shown not magically being a good lip reader, and actually having the communication struggles Deaf kids in a hearing world have. (though the constant descriptions of his signs got grating after a while. They were mostly accurate, but just..... unnecessary. you can just say the character signs, guys, you don't have to describe every sign I promise)
I think I was spoiled by reading Felix Ever After and absolutely adoring it; I came into this with Expectations that made it more of a bummer when those expectations weren't met.
I think this story had a LOT of potential, but the execution just wasn't there. The family dynamics and relationship struggles could have gone in a lot of great directions, but things just fell flat, which is an honest bummer :(
(also Oliver-James is the dumbest hyphenated name I have ever seen tbh. no)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
quasinaut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Cute! Some awkward character interactions (and, like, gaslighting?) that didn't sit well with me, but overall I liked the romance -- and the Deaf and ASL representation!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Death of parent