Scan barcode
amyzaza's review against another edition
3.0
dnf'd the last story.
bugsy and like & subscribe were absolute standouts to me
bugsy and like & subscribe were absolute standouts to me
bookslut89's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.75
sittingwishingreading's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
alexandriaslibrary's review
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Five short stories on the longer side (around 45-50 pages each) about mental health, queerness, sex work, and the modern condition.
I wish I would’ve liked these a bit more, the scenes are well built out and the dialogue is nice, but I think for me, personally I was turned off by the premise and plots. While some might like more “taboo” or “edgey” stories I think they aren’t necessarily for me. In one story a character drops out of college and finds solace working production in a Dominatrix porn dungeon. Another follows a newly 18-year old Twitch streamer whose obsessive fan plans to surprise her with diamond earrings.
I wish I would’ve liked these a bit more, the scenes are well built out and the dialogue is nice, but I think for me, personally I was turned off by the premise and plots. While some might like more “taboo” or “edgey” stories I think they aren’t necessarily for me. In one story a character drops out of college and finds solace working production in a Dominatrix porn dungeon. Another follows a newly 18-year old Twitch streamer whose obsessive fan plans to surprise her with diamond earrings.
hedgehogbookreviews's review
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
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
The titular story "Bugsy" was probably the story that stood out the most to me, and the one that viscerally impacted me. Bugsy drops out of college, is not welcome back home with her parents, and begins working part-time to try to move forward. This was a tough read, because I really felt for Bugsy, whose birth name we never learn (the nickname Bugsy is given to them by her new employers/chosen family and she just accepts it, because she notes that so many people have said her name is "horrible").
Bugsy navigates depression, isolation, and generally feeling deeply misunderstood. She finds Vanessa, who inducts her into their sex work family/house , with Bugsy eventually moving in and falling in love with Stella, one of the other sex workers/producers. Bugsy explores her identity a bit, but mostly falls head over heels for Stella, while not recognizing how naive and sheltered she looks in others' eyes. I was so devastated for Bugsy's self harm and suicide attempt; it was again, very hard to read.
The other story that pulled me in was "On the Inside," which includes a short author's note at the very beginning with Frumkin sharing that as a neurodivergent person, he wanted to expose the harmful practices that impact the autistic community, especially children. I appreciated this note, and this story ends with a hopeful note of Lina, the POV we receive, in naming her humanity, rather than being a test subject or "other".
This is my first read of Rafael Frumkin (nonbinary trans man) and I will definitely seek out more of their work!
The titular story "Bugsy" was probably the story that stood out the most to me, and the one that viscerally impacted me. Bugsy drops out of college, is not welcome back home with her parents, and begins working part-time to try to move forward. This was a tough read, because I really felt for Bugsy, whose birth name we never learn (the nickname Bugsy is given to them by her new employers/chosen family and she just accepts it, because she notes that so many people have said her name is "horrible").
Bugsy navigates depression, isolation, and generally feeling deeply misunderstood. She finds Vanessa, who inducts her into their sex work family/house , with Bugsy eventually moving in and falling in love with Stella, one of the other sex workers/producers. Bugsy explores her identity a bit, but mostly falls head over heels for Stella, while not recognizing how naive and sheltered she looks in others' eyes. I was so devastated for Bugsy's self harm and suicide attempt; it was again, very hard to read.
The other story that pulled me in was "On the Inside," which includes a short author's note at the very beginning with Frumkin sharing that as a neurodivergent person, he wanted to expose the harmful practices that impact the autistic community, especially children. I appreciated this note, and this story ends with a hopeful note of Lina, the POV we receive, in naming her humanity, rather than being a test subject or "other".
This is my first read of Rafael Frumkin (nonbinary trans man) and I will definitely seek out more of their work!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, Cursing, and Body shaming
sapphic_lit_atl's review against another edition
3.0
"Bugsby & Other Stories" is a fun compilation of emotionally powerful, raw and honest short stories that will have you hooked. I also really appreciated the honesty and unapologetic nature of the author to "go there" in a variety of topics that most people would shy away from.
No topic was too taboo to not be explored, and this collection offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the human experience. The nuanced exploration of mental health, specifically addressing bipolar disorder and mania also blew me away. The author handled these themes with impressive depth, contributing to a broader conversation on the complexities of mental health in today's society.
It was definitely a departure for me, and something that involved me stepping outside of my comfort zone, and I would highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley, Rafael Frumkin, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
No topic was too taboo to not be explored, and this collection offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the human experience. The nuanced exploration of mental health, specifically addressing bipolar disorder and mania also blew me away. The author handled these themes with impressive depth, contributing to a broader conversation on the complexities of mental health in today's society.
It was definitely a departure for me, and something that involved me stepping outside of my comfort zone, and I would highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley, Rafael Frumkin, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
coffeedrool's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ARC