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foxblood's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
This book was a little hard for me to push through in the last third - definitely check TWs prior. Regardless, I really enjoyed certain aspects of this book, and it will certainly stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder
garlicgrl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual violence
nicola4e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Rape
notbrhymes's review against another edition
3.5
I have never been so unsure how to rate or review a book but I have a lot of thoughts and found this to be very engaging and our protagonist very nuanced so it’ll get something good.
Just label the whole review as a spoiler at this point.
I found the first 20%-25% to be difficult to get into and I almost DNFd it, but I’m glad I didn’t. I found the later chunk to be deeply engaging. I listened via audio and did not want to stop.
I found every single person in this novel to be insufferable, confusing, or both. Most of the side characters only existed to be horrible to our protagonist, Wallace.
Wallace’s entire friend group is awful. His whole education department is awful. His advisor is awful. Everyone is awful!
I so desperately wanted better for Wallace. He basically NEVER said anything he was thinking throughout this entire novel. I understand that in many instances he would be seen as the problem in the situation for making something (ie: someone being horribly racist to him) a “big deal”, but oftentimes this was also just during general conversations with those he calls his friends (god knows why)
Wallace early on develops a relationship with Miller. He then spends the rest of the book being entirely inconsiderate of the way his actions will make Miller feel. He even continuously goes out of his way to poke and poke and poke Miller to get under his skin. I CANNOT understand this more than any other thing in this book. He takes no consideration for Miller’s feeling unless it’s so that he can irritate him. WHY?!
That all being said, Wallace was easily the best and most fleshed out character in this book. I felt so deeply for him and wanted for him to be able to express himself or stand up for himself without being met with immediate backlash. I was so angry in so many instances throughout this book at the things said/done to him. And for his “friends” to just sit by while horrible things are said to him was truly heartbreaking. Wallace deserved better from EVERY single person in this book.
Additionally, don’t think I liked miller’s ass because of what I said earlier. This man seemingly directly assaulted Wallace and we just moved on from it. What??? They just…continue the relationship.
I really, really wish Brandon Taylor would have addressed this and some of the other deeply problematic things done/said to Wallace a bit more. I also really wish we got to see Wallace stand up for himself more towards the end of this book. But hey, that’s real life.
Just label the whole review as a spoiler at this point.
I found the first 20%-25% to be difficult to get into and I almost DNFd it, but I’m glad I didn’t. I found the later chunk to be deeply engaging. I listened via audio and did not want to stop.
I found every single person in this novel to be insufferable, confusing, or both. Most of the side characters only existed to be horrible to our protagonist, Wallace.
Wallace’s entire friend group is awful. His whole education department is awful. His advisor is awful. Everyone is awful!
I so desperately wanted better for Wallace. He basically NEVER said anything he was thinking throughout this entire novel. I understand that in many instances he would be seen as the problem in the situation for making something (ie: someone being horribly racist to him) a “big deal”, but oftentimes this was also just during general conversations with those he calls his friends (god knows why)
That all being said, Wallace was easily the best and most fleshed out character in this book. I felt so deeply for him and wanted for him to be able to express himself or stand up for himself without being met with immediate backlash. I was so angry in so many instances throughout this book at the things said/done to him. And for his “friends” to just sit by while horrible things are said to him was truly heartbreaking. Wallace deserved better from EVERY single person in this book.
I really, really wish Brandon Taylor would have addressed this and some of the other deeply problematic things done/said to Wallace a bit more. I also really wish we got to see Wallace stand up for himself more towards the end of this book. But hey, that’s real life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
levc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
ashleyj_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This gets very intense at some parts, but it’s so good. Wallace’s story is gut-wrenching in the best and worst ways. Some pieces are very relatable for me too. The reflection that comes from reading this (as a white woman) is exceptionally deep.
I recommend this book for everyone who can handle the content!
I recommend this book for everyone who can handle the content!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship
ejanephillips's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence and Vomit
megpotter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I have never read a book quite like this. Taylor's prose is beautiful and visceral, and I feel like this will be a classic in the not to far off future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
bitsandbobsdivination's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I’m not huge into literally fiction, but I do read a few of them and it’s typically a hit or miss for me. In this case, it’s more difficult to explain how I feel.
On one side, I felt the writing itself was done really well and if their writing was winning awards on creating a visceral and ‘real life’ response from you, then it definitely done it’s job.
On the other hand, this story didn’t really go anywhere in that there was no resolution and just was kinda faltering from one subject to another. Not all stories have to have a resolution, but usually even then there is a bit of a development in the story or character growth in at least one of the characters. In this story, I felt no one grew, only explored more of their pain in an unhealthy way or lost themselves more to it.
To me, this story showed us some very important, difficult, and painful topics that deserve to be shared... This I don’t disagree with and again, was done very well in expressing them, and at the same time they were shown and felt by us the readers, but never explored to show any way of challenging these topics…
No way of showing the reader any hope, any growth, or to show the that the narrative of Wallace’s life could improve or deviate from the snowball event it has been and seems to continue to be. Also the side white characters never growing either which is not on Wallace to fix, but them (myself included) to learn and do better.
I suppose for some, ‘real life’ really can be and is that painful and this story shows that, and I respect that. We all live life with our own array of pain and trauma and heartache and suffering and it’s difficult to compare or ever really understand, and this story shows one voice in one ‘real life’.
I think for me it was pretty painful to see Wallace continue to suffer and never get any real help, resolve, or real support, only more to add to his already painful list, including the other character’s lists as well.
Overall, this story left me feeling like I learned from his perspective as well as the others, but also left me a bit at odds with my feelings towards it as my personal view of life is quite an optimistic or hopeful one! This although is coming from my own personal perspective with heartaches and challenges as someone who is a woman and lgbt+, but also a cis, white, and lower middle class Midwestern.
I want to hope that his life does improve with the right people and support around him in time beyond this one weekend, and that that can be ‘real life’ as well.
3.75 / 5 Stars
On one side, I felt the writing itself was done really well and if their writing was winning awards on creating a visceral and ‘real life’ response from you, then it definitely done it’s job.
On the other hand, this story didn’t really go anywhere in that there was no resolution and just was kinda faltering from one subject to another. Not all stories have to have a resolution, but usually even then there is a bit of a development in the story or character growth in at least one of the characters. In this story, I felt no one grew, only explored more of their pain in an unhealthy way or lost themselves more to it.
To me, this story showed us some very important, difficult, and painful topics that deserve to be shared... This I don’t disagree with and again, was done very well in expressing them, and at the same time they were shown and felt by us the readers, but never explored to show any way of challenging these topics…
No way of showing the reader any hope, any growth, or to show the that the narrative of Wallace’s life could improve or deviate from the snowball event it has been and seems to continue to be. Also the side white characters never growing either which is not on Wallace to fix, but them (myself included) to learn and do better.
I suppose for some, ‘real life’ really can be and is that painful and this story shows that, and I respect that. We all live life with our own array of pain and trauma and heartache and suffering and it’s difficult to compare or ever really understand, and this story shows one voice in one ‘real life’.
I think for me it was pretty painful to see Wallace continue to suffer and never get any real help, resolve, or real support, only more to add to his already painful list, including the other character’s lists as well.
Overall, this story left me feeling like I learned from his perspective as well as the others, but also left me a bit at odds with my feelings towards it as my personal view of life is quite an optimistic or hopeful one! This although is coming from my own personal perspective with heartaches and challenges as someone who is a woman and lgbt+, but also a cis, white, and lower middle class Midwestern.
I want to hope that his life does improve with the right people and support around him in time beyond this one weekend, and that that can be ‘real life’ as well.
3.75 / 5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ecn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This book was very triggering and emotionally exhausting but the overall premise was interesting. Maybe not my thing? But I wanted more of an exploration than explicit trauma
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism