Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

24 reviews

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

totallypandacoffee's review against another edition

1.5

challenging slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Are you interested in reading a book where a victim of both physical and emotional abuse gets terrorized by his homophobic and abusive ex for 300 pages and then said ex receives exactly zero consequences? If so, pick this one up. Maybe you’ll like it more than I did. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

---

I loved the Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic Schools but this one didn't quite hit for me. The story itself was good! And I love seeing physically affectionate "bros" (and the cringe and callout about hiding behind that "bro" label!) and the development of trust and vulnerability. But the writing didn't seem to support the story as well as I would have liked. And I wouldn't consider it a romcom — definitely more of a romdram with sprinkles of cute character-based humor (

Thornelius 4 Eva!

).  I'm admittedly bad at liking angsty* romances, though, so your mileage may vary! 

*Not meant to downplay the emotional stress and distress of the situations discussed in the book, which were represented very well.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Abortion, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail

blackmailing, threat of deportation

thenameslus's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny sad 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

---

This wrecked me. I almost cries so many times. The friendship between Kenny and Han is so precious. The way they both overcame their weaknesses (or are on their way to overcome them) in order to be together is amazing. The depiction of racism in the US is sadly extremely accurate and my heart broke for Han over and over again.

The scene where they get pulled over by the cops made me cry and the racist manager just made me want to scream. And obviously Jackie‘s whole character made me want to scream as well.

There are a lot of heavy themes, but I will probably read this again (and again) 
5*

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Deportation

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Transphobia

kaschaller's review against another edition

3.75

emotional sad

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcohol

Minor: Drug abuse

n_heraty's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective sad fast-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

---

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook- timely debuting on January 21,2025. Broposal is the epitome of don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a heavy emotional and serious best friends to lovers adult romance. The triggers given by the author’s note on abusive relationships and immigration issues are significant in the story. Left you fighting for and supporting the MCs Kenny and Hans throughout the story. The character development of all the characters throughout the story (except Jackie) is very well done and the narration of the audiobook I feel really added to the depth of your compassion for each and everyone. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Deportation

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

alittlebitheather's review against another edition

3.0

---

I read this in the midst of the 2025 inauguration, so you'll have to forgive me for being a mood reader and not rating this higher. I think it's well written. I think it addresses timely issues like immigration and deportation in a sensitive and considerate manner. I just didn't realize I wasn't in the right mood for it. That being said, I think this book has a place and an audience - it's just not me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism, Death of parent

brulereads's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Such an adorable, yet heartwrenching story. Lots of heart & love (platonic, familial, romantic) yet also grief, fear & abuse. Various queer rep here with a cast of characters like Heartstopper to fall in love with. Except Jackie, fuck her!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcohol, Deportation

the_queer_bibliophile's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

---

Thank you to Sonora for having me on their team for this book. All thoughts are my own and are not influenced in any way.
Oh. My. Gosh. I just gobbled this up in less than 24 hours. I decided to read the ARC (thanks Forever!) and listen to the audiobook (thanks Sonora!) at the same time, which was a first for me, but did not disappoint. I genuinely couldn't put it down. Before I get more into it (no spoilers), I would just like to say there are serious topics talked about in this book. I advice looking at the trigger warnings AND the Author's Note mentioned in the beginning of book before reading it. I could relate to different aspects of both Han and Kenny, from the people pleasing to the fear of commitment. But these boys stole my heart with their words and actions. This book isn't just packed with romance either. I was cackling up a storm at some points, while tears streamed down my face at others. The side characters were all so diverse and gave an extra layer to the already well-written story. Sonora does a great job highlighting everyone's diversity, while still making it all come together in a neatly wrapped story, full of what the world needs a lot of right now: hope. Hope for a better and more diverse, accepting future. That's what this book gave me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction, Racism, Grief, Abortion