Scan barcode
secre's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
This is one of those books that I really wish I had liked more than I actually did. It's a heavy book that deals with important topics, and by and large it handles them sensitively. Nathan's brother Al took his own life and Nathan is now struggling to comprehend a world without his brilliant brother in it. In his quest for answers, he finds that Nathan was hiding some troubling secrets. The novel is clearly trying to educate on how damaging bullying - even cyber bullying - can be and the long term effects it can have. It also depicts the effects of suicide on those closest to the individual.
With the topic matter being so raw, I almost feel guilty picking it apart, but I did find that the narrative dragged a bit and was slower than it needed to be suggesting that the book really could have done with being edited down. The first hundred and fifty pages just dragged and whilst things did click together as Nathan discovers more about Al's life and his final days, it took a long time to go anywhere. The message when it finally comes is important, but it's not as impactful as it could have been given tighter pacing and framing.
The writing style also didn't really work for me. The two character perspectives had the same 'voice', which is always problematic when they are meant to be very different characters. I also struggled with the dialects used; the overuse of 'wot' and 'summat' for example just grated on me. The characterisations felt fairly thin with few of the characters really leaping off the page at you. Nathan is perhaps the strongest character, but everybody else felt fairly lack lustre.
So in some ways an important book, but it's also one that didn't click with me the way I thought it would.
With the topic matter being so raw, I almost feel guilty picking it apart, but I did find that the narrative dragged a bit and was slower than it needed to be suggesting that the book really could have done with being edited down. The first hundred and fifty pages just dragged and whilst things did click together as Nathan discovers more about Al's life and his final days, it took a long time to go anywhere. The message when it finally comes is important, but it's not as impactful as it could have been given tighter pacing and framing.
The writing style also didn't really work for me. The two character perspectives had the same 'voice', which is always problematic when they are meant to be very different characters. I also struggled with the dialects used; the overuse of 'wot' and 'summat' for example just grated on me. The characterisations felt fairly thin with few of the characters really leaping off the page at you. Nathan is perhaps the strongest character, but everybody else felt fairly lack lustre.
So in some ways an important book, but it's also one that didn't click with me the way I thought it would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Toxic friendship
cutepatzie's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
So glad we have a book to show how hard is to face suicide from the perspective of a family that never expects this hard situation. Many characters are amazing. Love the dynamic. Such a sad story but with an amazing massage. Just beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Cursing, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Self harm, Racial slurs, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Suicide attempt
u2u's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.25
I would like to warn people before reading this, it’s a very dark read with lots of talks about suicide
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Toxic friendship, Homophobia, and Alcohol
More...