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A review by thebakersbooks
Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
You don't have to be a creator of online content to know that any comments section past a certain size will be a cesspool. Don't Read the Comments, a story about the harassment and doxxing of a teen streamer named D1V (real name Divya) by a faction of trolls who think she, as a girl and a person of color, is "taking up space" meant for a "more deserving" streamer. The other MC is a boy named Aaron whose game-developer boss undervalues his labor and continually puts off paying him for the storywriting he's done for an upcoming release. At one point, a woman-centered con panel consists of three men, a male moderator, and one woman. Chef's kiss; very true to life, however unfortunate.
This book gripped me in the first chapter and didn't let go until the end; I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading it before making myself go to sleep and save the climax and ending for morning. Author Eric Smith's teenagers don't necessarily read as their correct age in all regards (increasingly an issue in YA books), but the friendships ring true for what I remember of being a teen, as does the emotional immediacy. I enjoyed how it brought up financial insecurity with Divya and her mom and parents projecting their dreams onto their kids with Aaron and *his* mom. Overall, this book deals well with a number of heavy issues.
I do, however, question the validity of making police the "good guys" in this plot. Particularly when juxtaposed with one of the MCs' parents being Palestinian, it's both unrealistic and not a good look. (For those who might be unaware, occupied Palestine is a testing ground for a lot of the weapons, gear, and tactics that U.S. cops use, often for police brutality against protestors and BIPOC.) Also, the book starts out mentioning how Divya's friend was assaulted and harassed yet the police couldn't/wouldn't do anything about her attackers, so it's weird to me that the same set of cops not only believe Divya and take her online harassment seriously, but take major steps to keep her safe.
Although the ending is slightly bittersweet because Divya ultimately decides to give up her streaming career, I found the resolution satisfying. All the antagonists get some form of comeuppance, and while I would've liked to see Aaron's boss get "canceled" on-page, it's implied that his career is in serious jeopardy as a result of his theft of employees' intellectual property. Largely due to the tone of the book (and a bit because I follow Smith on Twitter and know what he's about), I felt like I could expect a happy ending even during the worst lows for each character, which is something I really appreciate in YA contemporary novels.
Don't Read the Comments was a wonderful book; its few flaws didn't prevent me from enjoying it at all. It does feel a bit like it was written for adults rather than teens, but I think the older YA set would still find it enjoyable. Finally, the mention of the Desi Geek Girls podcast made my heart grow a million sizes and I'd rec this book based on that alone.
Content notes: mention of sexual assault, the perpetrators sharing a video of it publicly, and the victim's resulting trauma; sexual harassment; online harassment; doxxing and real-life threats; attempted harm by deliberately trying to induce a seizure
This book gripped me in the first chapter and didn't let go until the end; I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading it before making myself go to sleep and save the climax and ending for morning. Author Eric Smith's teenagers don't necessarily read as their correct age in all regards (increasingly an issue in YA books), but the friendships ring true for what I remember of being a teen, as does the emotional immediacy. I enjoyed how it brought up financial insecurity with Divya and her mom and parents projecting their dreams onto their kids with Aaron and *his* mom. Overall, this book deals well with a number of heavy issues.
I do, however, question the validity of making police the "good guys" in this plot. Particularly when juxtaposed with one of the MCs' parents being Palestinian, it's both unrealistic and not a good look. (For those who might be unaware, occupied Palestine is a testing ground for a lot of the weapons, gear, and tactics that U.S. cops use, often for police brutality against protestors and BIPOC.) Also, the book starts out mentioning how Divya's friend was assaulted and harassed yet the police couldn't/wouldn't do anything about her attackers, so it's weird to me that the same set of cops not only believe Divya and take her online harassment seriously, but take major steps to keep her safe.
Don't Read the Comments was a wonderful book; its few flaws didn't prevent me from enjoying it at all. It does feel a bit like it was written for adults rather than teens, but I think the older YA set would still find it enjoyable. Finally, the mention of the Desi Geek Girls podcast made my heart grow a million sizes and I'd rec this book based on that alone.
Content notes: mention of sexual assault, the perpetrators sharing a video of it publicly, and the victim's resulting trauma; sexual harassment; online harassment; doxxing and real-life threats; attempted harm by deliberately trying to induce a seizure
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault