Reviews with content warning for Outing - Thirsty

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Reviews tagging 'Outing'

imstephtacular's review

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

Content Warnings

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

Content Warnings

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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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

Content Warnings

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.

Content Warnings

spinesinaline's review against another edition

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challenging emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Jas Hammonds does it again. Big thanks to the publisher for an e-ARC to review!

Loads of content warnings which the author details in a note at the start, including alcohol addiction, self-hatred, racial microaggressions, and transphobic rhetoric.

I was a little apprehensive when I saw that this release is about drinking as that’s not particularly relevant to me so I wasn’t sure how my reading experience would go but I shouldn’t have been worried. Hammonds continues to write impressive, intense stories about teens and their emotions that can reach you whether or not you have directly comparable experiences with the characters. I'm loving the continued bittersweet nature of their books and will continue to seek them out.

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booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

4.5

Imagine the vibes of Euphoria intertwined with an exclusive college society for women of color. Blake, her girlfriend Ella, and her best friend Annetta are trying to navigate the challenges of pledging into this society, all while Blake struggles with her excessive drinking. Thirsty delves into themes of alcohol abuse, toxic relationships, family bonds, and the transition from high school to college. Alaska Jackson's narration is exceptional, truly bringing the story to life. This is a must-read book that everyone should pick up.

cw
alcohol
hazing
toxic relationship
gaslighting
bullying

Content Warnings

justinekorson's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

4.25

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

This was such a good story. I was first intrigued by the title and the cover. I knew it might be a coming-of-age type of story so I was wondering why it was called thirsty until I read the synopsis. I really related to Blake because I also drink when I get nervous (not the the extent that Blake does though) and her self-deprecating thoughts were very relatable. I could understand her anxiety and self-hate so I really felt for her when she was having such a hard time and pushing herself to great lengths to try to get into the Serena Society.

My favorite character was probably Annetta though because they were so caring, kind, and loyal. I loved that they were trying to hard to help Blake and kept trying despite how many times Blake pushed them away. I was glad the two of them were able to make up in the end and stay friends.

I was a little surprised that the story kept going after Blake and Ella had their break-up conversation but the chapters afterwards were really important to the plot and Blake's recovery overall. I really enjoyed how the story ends on a very hopeful note.

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ems_book_shelf's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was really good and touched on a lot of heart-heavy topics. There were many jaw dropping “what the fuck” moments and the hazing from the society was insane to read about. I thought it touched on alcoholism in college kids REALLY well. As well as the peer pressure to “keep up” and be cool around people you’re trying to impress, and especially the internal monologue of “do I have a problem or don’t I have a problem” when it came to drinking.

I really liked the ending, and I thought the way Ella was portrayed was so well done. Like a very emotionally abusive S/O but in such a subtle way that by the end you’re like “holy fuck this bitch is terrible”

I wished we had a little more personal growth for Bree, especially when her drinking centered around her self hatred. When did those thoughts about herself start? Why did we never see them in everyday thoughts? I think some parts of the MC feel flat because of this, but overall I really liked Bree and I thought her ending was really great

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warnings