Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Thirsty

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Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Thirsty by Jas Hammonds

44 reviews

arireadsitall's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad fast-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

I haven’t been left speechless from a book in a long time. This one is peer pressure and wanting to belong at its finest. It’s so raw and to be in the head of the protagonist while she’s hitting rock bottom made me feel so sad/worried. As someone that in college did her fair share of the wanting to belong and drinking to fit in, I really really felt this one hard. It was beautiful and devastating and I’m glad a book like this exists!

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cici1722's review

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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lettuce_read's review against another edition

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4.0

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imstephtacular's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow this book is a kick in the teeth! It absolutely wrecked me and slowly pieced me back together. It’s hard but it’s beautiful

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dvliyvh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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bibliomich's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

I was only a few chapters into Thirsty when I realized that this book would likely become one of my favorite reads of 2024, and that feeling stuck with me for the remainder of the book. Jas Hammonds is such a talented writer, and one whose work I've been meaning to read for a long time. This book was truly unputdownable, and I devoured it, which was particularly surprising given the heavy nature of the content and themes (including alcoholism, peer pressure, transphobia, classism, and racism).

What I loved:
- The writing style: Jas Hammonds writes in a way that is both beautifully lyrical and also so, so readable. There was a slow-building tension throughout the first three-quarters of the book that made me feel like I couldn't put the book down for even a minute. I absolutely needed to find out where Blake, Ella, and Annetta's stories would take them.
- The relationships: It's so challenging to have such a large cast of characters who all have different, complicated relationships with each other, but this was one of my favorite parts of Thirsty. I especially enjoyed the depiction of Blake's evolving relationships outside of her romantic partnership with Ella.
- The resolution: There were so many directions Jas Hammonds could have taken the story, and (without giving away any spoilers) I appreciated the ending that we were given. It may not have been neat and tidy, but it provided the believable closure I needed.
- The setting: There's just something about a "summer story", and as a former lifeguard who spent whole summers poolside, I was immediately sucked into the story.
- The audiobook narration: This is the first book I've listened to narrated by Alaska Jackson, but certainly won't be my last. The narration was EXCELLENT. Each character had a distinct voice, and the acting was emotionally resonant.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced listener copy!

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shereadytoread's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the most striking YA novels I’ve ever read. It deals with mental health, addiction, toxic relationships, self-esteem and identity issues. It is a sapphic story and there is also nonbinary rep.

I don’t think I’ve seen alcohol addiction written with such depth in YA without coming across as shock content before. I thought every piece of this story was handled with such complexity and respect.

Disclaimer: I participated in a paid partnership with the publisher but a review was not a requirement, and all thoughts about the book are my own. My full video review is available here: https://www.tiktok.com/@shereadytoread/video/7368836676992486699

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laurenabayne's review against another edition

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emotional 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

I could NOT put this down. The depiction of alcoholism? The depiction of hazing? The toxic relationship and the anxiety and the EVERYTHING? Flawless. No notes. I read this after not reading for a while, and I am so glad I did. It was like a brain reset for how good writing should be.

Thank you to BookishFirst for a (SIGNED) copy!! I am so grateful!!

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jnsonney's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring tense 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

4.5

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dhatislandbookworm's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

How far would you go to be accepted, even if it’s self-destructive? Once again, Jas Hammonds is disrupting the young adult genre with their sophomore effort, Thirsty. It’s the summer before freshman year and we’re following 18-year-old Blake (aka Big Baddie Bee) as she tries to join the exclusive Serena Society — and the limits she’s willing to push herself to do so.

Reading this was like watching a wreck in slow motion — and I mean that as a good thing.

From the jump, we understand Blake’s motivation to join the Serenas and why she drinks so heavily. Her inner monologue is characterized so effectively that you do empathize with her and all the shit she’s going through. However,Hammonds ensures you’re still aware that Blake won’t find validation and the answers she’s seeking at the bottom of a bottle. As a result, you’re rooting for Blake (and cussing her ass out at the same time tbh) to make wiser decisions, drop the toxic people around her, and get on the track to sobriety.

Blake is one of the most complex teenage protagonists I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and Hammonds did an excellent job on making her feel genuine. And not only are there poignant conversations about alcohol addiction, but classism, racism, gender, peer pressure, and emotionally abusive relationships as well, which are handled with so much care. By the end of the book, tears were shed.

I loved We Deserve Monuments, but Thirsty cemented Hammonds as an auto-buy author for me. It’s been a week since I’ve read it and it’s STILL on my mind. I also want to give my kudos to the narrator who did an excellent job at bringing this cast of characters to life.

I’m excited to see what Hammonds has up their sleeve next.

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