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cecilielaugesen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
However this book did not need to be that long, a lot of the book was name-dropping in relation to food, clothes, jewelry and cars. It felt unnecessary.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Car accident, Classism, Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical content, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Stalking
cnjg88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The format was also fun. Kwan rotates the conversation medium in addition to the POV in a way that I personally enjoy. It's like if the emails, texts, and news bits from 50 Shades was done well.
That said, there were some topics that I think could have been handled better. I'm not Jewish, so I don't know if the use of the term "Nazi" being used to describe loyal employees is okay when a character you are meant to loathe uses it. I am autistic though, so I do feel comfortable saying that I wish the conversation about r-slur babies had either gone differently or if other characters that we are supposed to like had one discussing eugenics and ableism. I think that the author's goal was to make them seem out of touch and shitty, similar to how he uses classism and racism, but I think it could have been executed better. The were also some casually ableist comments from the MCs about schizophrenia and OCD that felt weird.
All in all, 3 out of 5. It's overall a good book, political/social commentary is almost always my jam, the format was very unique in the best possible way. My main issues were pacing and some questionable handling of sensitive topics
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Classism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Ableism, and Misogyny
Minor: Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Drug use, Blood, Child abuse, Vomit, and Alcoholism
sop17hie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Medical trauma, Violence, Medical content, and Car accident
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder
laurajordensharris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, Medical trauma, Car accident, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Domestic abuse
parasolcrafter's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Infidelity, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Alcohol
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity
limina's review against another edition
Moderate: Classism