Reviews

Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

joeldrama's review

3.0

perhaps if I had finished it close to when I started this book I may have connected better with it, but I just found myself slightly disconnected with the book being so clearly about a time and place not relevant to me, with characters quite a bit younger.

but still, some very beautiful, touching moments and I would definitely have devoured this had I read it as a teen

thienanh's review

slow-paced

2.0

Genuinely appalled at how terrible the pacing and dialogue is. The massacre and erasure of Dante Quintana's character is not something I can forgive so easily. 

emmasbookplace's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

atlasaurora's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I will always have so much love in my heart for Aristotle, Dante, and their loved ones. Although I was not as gripped by this book as I was its predecessor, I truly believe it is a beautiful conclusion to their story and one that they both deserved. BAS does not reward the hardships of the first book by shying away from them in this one, and it is wonderful to see how his characters have grown over the years in how they now respond to the obstacles of life. It took me a while to read this book, but I'm very glad I finished it.

pukutuke's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

haley_coe's review

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

cm06's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

mikeydp's review

4.0

Wow I finally finished this book.

Just like the first book in this duology, the writing was absolutely beautiful (I will add some of my favourite quotes at the end of this).

However, in my opinion the first book is a finished story in and of itself. So this was a beautiful addition to Ari and Dante’s story.

“You’re every street I’ve ever walked. You’re the tree outside my window, you’re a sparrow as he flies. You’re the book that I am reading. You’re every poem I’ve ever loved.”

“But the one thing that I’m not confused about is that I love you. I’m not a f*****. And neither are you. I won’t label myself with an ugly word when what I feel for you is so fucking beautiful.”

“Hate is a decision. Hate is an emotional pandemic we have never found a cure for. Choose to love.”

modrockz's review

dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

3.0

haileypassmoree's review

3.0

“don’t ever let anybody make you ashamed of who you are. not anybody.”

honestly, i enjoyed this book more than i thought i would after seeing some reviews of it. the character growth in the book and ‘coming of age’ feeling that went with it were both so beautifully done. however, i think there’s something to be said how the author chooses to include lgbtq+ issues in the novel, i’m not sure if it’s the best way and something about it just bugs me. but i still love aristotle and dante with my whole heart.