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markcastaneda's review against another edition
4.0
honestly an extremely pleasant surprise. picked up at a used book store, and was expecting very little (esp with the cheesy gimmicky cover art and the title), but got a really great reflection on reflecting on trauma, growth, and working through queerness.
few points docked for the ending feeling a little too hallmark for me
few points docked for the ending feeling a little too hallmark for me
littlespookysmut's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-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
3.5
tcu_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book because I thought it would be great fun gay horror, but in reality it turned out to be intense gay trauma so it completely destroyed me. I probably won’t ever be able to read it again cause it was HEAVY but I’m glad I took the chance with it in the first place.
kylepotter's review against another edition
5.0
The protagonist considers how a traumatic summer relates to his family history as well as his future.
starlitstorm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
inkstndfngrs's review against another edition
2.0
First, let me preface by saying: I almost didn't finish this book. I got it from Overdrive (via my local library --thanks libraries!) and I always feel guilty when I request in books and then...forget about them and they get returned before I read them. Because some of those are "metered access", and...I just wasted a check out, you know?
It was also severe boredom that I was like, "Well...I'm half-way through. Might as well finish. It can't be any worse, right?"
It's kind of annoying how the characters and the ideas stick to you. I slept on finishing this, and there are still some nagging points in my head. It's not a new concept for a book. I think it could have been better, but it could have been worse too. I'm not a fan of non-linear storytelling. This reminds of one of those Family Circus cartoons, where one of the kids makes track marks all over the page, weaving back and forth until they finally get to the punchline.
So irritating.
That being said, I also don't think this particular story would have been nearly as "sticky" if it hadn't been told in such a disjointed way. I am also leery of it's dialog at times. Lines like, "I replied that...". I noticed it particularly in the last third or so of the book in particular, like the author wanted to wrap up quickly and not bother with pesky punctuation.
Over all, the book is fine. I don't think I'd have call to tell someone, "Oh man, you should read this one!" but I guess that it wasn't a complete and utter waste of time to finish it? It got some closure at the very least. And to be honest, the accident at camp it wasn't nearly as dramatic an incident as I felt it was hyped up to be. Just proof that we all live in our own heads, I suppose, making things seem like a bigger deal than they truly are.
It was also severe boredom that I was like, "Well...I'm half-way through. Might as well finish. It can't be any worse, right?"
It's kind of annoying how the characters and the ideas stick to you. I slept on finishing this, and there are still some nagging points in my head. It's not a new concept for a book. I think it could have been better, but it could have been worse too. I'm not a fan of non-linear storytelling. This reminds of one of those Family Circus cartoons, where one of the kids makes track marks all over the page, weaving back and forth until they finally get to the punchline.
So irritating.
That being said, I also don't think this particular story would have been nearly as "sticky" if it hadn't been told in such a disjointed way. I am also leery of it's dialog at times. Lines like, "I replied that...". I noticed it particularly in the last third or so of the book in particular, like the author wanted to wrap up quickly and not bother with pesky punctuation.
Over all, the book is fine. I don't think I'd have call to tell someone, "Oh man, you should read this one!" but I guess that it wasn't a complete and utter waste of time to finish it? It got some closure at the very least. And to be honest, the accident at camp it wasn't nearly as dramatic an incident as I felt it was hyped up to be. Just proof that we all live in our own heads, I suppose, making things seem like a bigger deal than they truly are.
kaybae32's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
nina_rod's review against another edition
2.0
This book started out so promising. A gay guy finds out his time in a gay conversion camp was written into a book. A camper even died! After a bunch of liberties were taken, the book was eventually turned into a slasher movie, which him playing the slasher! I was riveted. But by the time the book backtracked to his time at the camp, I felt no sympathy for him or the other boys in the gay conversion camp. I had only two chapters left, but I just couldn't make myself finish it before the ebook expired for the second time from the library.
dianametzger's review against another edition
2.0
This book really didn’t pick up steam and narrative intention until the last section—about the camp itself. But that section was excellent. The present day moments felt much less interesting or focused.
liklak's review against another edition
slow-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
3.25
The pacing is strange - the first half very slow and the second faster. I personally liked both halves but for different reasons - the meandering first half was without much direction but that felt fitting for this sort of story about trauma. I wanted to hear everything about Will's mother and her stories. The second half I liked because I like a tense, depressing story with added violence, what can I say? The ending was quite weak imo and the book could've stopped as soon as Will went to see his father. I blasted through it in under a day so it clearly held my attention enough!