Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

3 reviews

grumpyreading's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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: No

---

📚 Review: Ugh. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Sonora Reyes. They are such a great writer. You fall in love with the characters, feel the pain they feel, and feel all the joy with them. This book was so timely, and dealt with some really tough topics, but still left me feeling so hopeful and happy at the end. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a queer romance with three dimensional conflict and characters you will get to know and love. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation

louisekf's review against another edition

2.5

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

This book should have worked better for me than it did. I enjoyed the characters of Han (Alejandro) and Kenny and thought their long-term friendship was excellent. But somehow this never really pulled me in fully. 

 

Han has lived in the US (New Mexico) for most of his life, having been sent there to live with extended family after a near-disaster with his drug-addicted mother in Mexico. But he’s undocumented and so his life is pretty precarious - jobs are hard to get and keep, he doesn’t have a driver’s license, he worries every time he’s near a police officer, etc. He and Kenny are roommates and have been friends since they were very young. Kenny helps Han as best he can, driving him places, etc. Kenny has a girlfriend, Jackie, who I absolutely hated. She was abusive to Kenny and I hated that he felt he couldn’t stand up to her. When he broke up with her, I was so relieved. I guess i just didn’t buy that whole relationship. Jackie was so incredibly evil and Kenny was a real sweetie. 

 

Kenny then figures the best thing he can do for Han is to get him his citizenship by marrying him. (Kenny is bisexual and Han believes he’s straight, but isn’t interested in women at all.) 

 

The topic of possible deportation and all the struggles Han was experiencing were well done and are important topics for people to read about in this personal way. 

 

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook has two distinct narrators who both do a wonderful job: André Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz. 

 

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read  a review copy of this book and for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Deportation

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy

notsobinaryart's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Trafficking, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail

Other content warning: ICE, anti-immigrant hate, threat of deportation The abuse is *not* from the main relationship but instead from a toxic, abusive ex to Kenny, one the MCs