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yagirlgeo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
sssophie's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide, Transphobia, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Self harm
farrahgarland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm, Vomit, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Drug use, Blood, and Suicide attempt
raythecatlover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
tiredreader51's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
Moderate: Self harm and Transphobia
emileesbooks's review against another edition
Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, and Medical content
selahmichelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Eating disorder and Homophobia
carlyjb16's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
sprucewillow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I appreciate the reviews that said the book was funny and depicted mental health issues without being depressing, which holds true. The humor wasn't super ha-ha funny but instead witty. The tone of writing felt accurate to the voice of a 15 year-old boy. Craig's relation to his peers were also accurate to his age. As much as I hated reading it, his innermost thoughts about school, girls, and other characters in the book also felt realistic. Particularly his worries about school hit hard because I know I had some of those same thoughts when I was 15.
I have several gripes about this book that kept me from enjoying it. Spoilers from now on:
- The characters were flat, particularly the women. There is no difference in Nia and Noelle besides their names, described appearances, and their relation to Craig (hot girl who goes to his school versus other hot girl who is also in the hospital). I hate that I read several pages worth of descriptions of what they were wearing, their tits, their thighs, etc. I don't think Craig's mother and sister ever shared a significant interaction. This book does not pass the Bechdel test, lol. All the prominent female characters were there to serve Craig in some way. Again, main-character syndrome.
- Noelle seemed particularly useless. Her only use in the plot was to be the next love interest once Nia was out of the picture. Craig and Noelle's relationship was in general just annoying to read about. It was a terribly convenient romance.
- The depiction of mental illness, disordered eating, etc. was very compelling in the first two parts of the book (why those were my favorite sections). Once Craig gets into the hospital, all his symptoms seem to disappear. All that happens while he's in the hospital is fussing over girls and talking to the other hospital residents. I suppose it makes sense, because once his primary stressor cannot bother him (school) then of course his symptoms would lessen.
- Overall this story could have been condensed. 400+ pages was a drag to get through.
RIP Ned Vizzini
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage, Racism, and Alcohol
kimrice992's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: War
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail