Reviews with content warning for Bullying - The Prettiest Star

I think AIDS crisis narratives are tricky, because unless the character was one of the exceedingly lucky ones that managed to survive until treatments became widely available, the story is more than likely to end in one way. So then the question becomes, what is the audience meant to get out of watching a character slowly die due to governmental neglect and homophobia? Some narratives answer that question in spades; "A Normal Heart" and "It's A Sin" immediately come to mind. This book, I found to be a big 'why?

Brian, a gay man with AIDS, returns home to Appalachia as he's dying to face rampant homophobia within his family and community until he eventually succumbs to his illness. It felt like his character had irresponsibly little agency. He simply existed as a mirror for the cis het characters around him to eventually understand their bigotry (through the martyrdom of his death.

I wanted to like it. It's written by a queer and trans author. But I just found myself getting angrier and angrier about what I felt was the irresponsibility of the narrative as the story went on

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dianacarmel's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Although this is fiction, it’s so raw and real. It’s heartbreaking to know this exact scenario played out in many families across North America in the 80s.

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mothumn's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

4.75

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maiahhtratchh's review

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book. Holy f*ck. It might be one of the saddest most upsetting but beautiful books I’ve ever read. I swear I haven’t cried as much reading a book as I did with this one. The characters each elicited such strong reactions from me. I’ve read a few comments saying that the point of view of the family made it harder to connect with Brian and I would disagree. I think that the altering points of view accomplished what they were supposed to, show the realities and complexities of family relationships and queerness during the early days of the AIDS crisis. And I was still able to connect with and understand Brian through his video diaries, his actions, and the love his family felt for him despite their ignorance. This book should be read with the understanding that the primary points of view are told through the mother and sister and feature a TON of familial homophobia in the prose. Would I read this book again? Good question. I would definitely recommend it but I would have to be in the right headspace to read it again because it’s just so intense.

I’m SO upset with how it ended with Travis and Brian. I kept expecting and hoping he would BE THERE and he would tell Brian he loved him at the end ANYTHING. I did love how the last point of view was from Travis as I was thinking throughout it that I wanted to know what was going on in his mind and while the last chapter finally shed light it did not absolve his actions. The small poem at the end also hurt as it showed all Brian wanted was that love and acceptance from his parents- as every child does, specifically those who have been shunned. I understand why it happened that way. It was realistic of the time and story that not everyone would be able to put aside their ignorance or complex feelings at the end. I did find it interesting the similarities between Travis reacting to Brian throughout the book and how Brian recounted his reaction in Shaun’s last days.

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paperknotbooks's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

5.0

My eyes would well up with tears whenever one of Bens chapters would appear. 💔

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devanisreading's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

A beautifully heartbreaking story. It is both difficult to read but extremely necessary to read. You can see the lives of so many reflected in this story.

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menomica's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

This book was probably the most depressing one that I’ve read all year, if not, definitely the most intense. There’s so many themes explored here. While reading I thought the writing was a smidge melodramatic (especially with jess’ chapters; no teen ~~talks~~ thinks like that), but I think it’s honestly deserved. I don’t really have much to say, but I do definitely recommend it

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justacowboy's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

A friend begged me to read this book and I hate that I put it off for as long as I did, because this book amazing.
It's honest and real, with no backing down to the world. I often found myself reading with tears of anger and other times tears of sadness. It's an emotinally raw experience that I will not forget for a long time.

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