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bec54321's review against another edition
3.0
Could have done with half as many pop culture references but I did like this one.
resolutelyrick's review
5.0
I love when an author can weave their narrative with equal parts humor, wit, and vulnerability. O’Connell uses equal parts of all three and makes you laugh out loud one minute, contemplate the next, and tear up. The timeliness of my reading this book and the way I needed to read some of these words is eerie. The idea that some relationships allow us to escape our bodies and some relationships allow us to inhabit our bodies is one I am using as a lens to evaluate my past and I’ll take it with me to parse through what the future has in store. A truly remarkable read.
mateoth's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ellemaddy's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Every conversations Elly had with his Dad make my heart throb and ache. I think this book’s a journey, it’s a moment of change and changes hurt. It was written in this candid, very upfront way. At times it was funny, another time it made me question the writing. But moments of unpolished sentences get interrupted by a surprisingly genuine and relatable musings about life, relationship, and what it’s like being an adult. I think it was charming and sad and wonderful, and again I really love his relationship with his dad, I think those are some of the best part of this book.
daniellearider's review against another edition
5.0
Gonna go ahead and give this 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. Ummm this isn’t my usual read and it isn’t for everyone but it was hugely entertaining and I kinda loved how freaking messed up Elliot was. His relationship with his dad was the cutest. Starting the year watching someone spectacularly blow up their life with booze and hookers to grapple with his identity was kind of poignant.
Lots (and lots) of sex if that isn’t your thing.
Lots (and lots) of sex if that isn’t your thing.
corms's review
4.0
*rounded down from 4.5
Usually, when I’m midway through a book, I skim the negative reviews to see if I agree with them. I definitely understand some of the criticism here — this book isn’t for everyone, the narrator has numerous flaws, there’s a few too many Twitter’d lines to call it flawless — but that said, there’s only a couple books I can think of that can match O’Connell’s storytelling.
The plot’s fast moving, each scene packed with the kind of needle-dropping details you’d notice in your own experience, but leave out when you’re talking to someone else. Like, the unashamed judgement towards people, being awkwardly attracted to strangers, the convoluted nature of a relationship between two people. I don’t know who I’d recommend this book to — it’s the sort of story you stumble into on your own. If you do find yourself reading it, though, it’s probably going to resonate.
Usually, when I’m midway through a book, I skim the negative reviews to see if I agree with them. I definitely understand some of the criticism here — this book isn’t for everyone, the narrator has numerous flaws, there’s a few too many Twitter’d lines to call it flawless — but that said, there’s only a couple books I can think of that can match O’Connell’s storytelling.
The plot’s fast moving, each scene packed with the kind of needle-dropping details you’d notice in your own experience, but leave out when you’re talking to someone else. Like, the unashamed judgement towards people, being awkwardly attracted to strangers, the convoluted nature of a relationship between two people. I don’t know who I’d recommend this book to — it’s the sort of story you stumble into on your own. If you do find yourself reading it, though, it’s probably going to resonate.
tyklingbiel's review
3.0
As RuPaul once said If you can’t love yourself how the hell you gunna love somebody else. Can I get an amen up in here?!? Elliott has some good points but doubles back a lot because of his own insecurities with himself and how the world views people with disabilities/gay men specifically cis white men. Feels a lot like his other book but sometimes you gotta write what you know. Lot of pop references so if you love Bravo Entertainment and light gay dialogue enjoy.
annicanns's review
4.0
4??
just by looking at him covers such important topics of self love, toxic relationships, disabilities, and addiction. it could’ve been amazing and it very well bordered that line of almost perfect.
this book is filled with sex scenes, emotions, thoughts, and tough times that almost everyone will relate too. unfortunately for me i got lost in the modern references and heavy “lingo” that it became a sort of tasteless piece to me. overall the entirety of the book has a bold story and i wish we could see a little deeper into the main character, more of who he is and why. even when we do get to some of those parts, it’s quickly covered with jokes and then brushed away.
rated highly because the story is good, the book read so fast (literally once i was reading it i never put it down), and for the most part i wanted to see a happy ending for the mc. it’s hard to put comedy in a book that covers such sad topics, and maybe that’s where it lost me. said a lot of deep things, but surrounded by none sense words.
just by looking at him covers such important topics of self love, toxic relationships, disabilities, and addiction. it could’ve been amazing and it very well bordered that line of almost perfect.
this book is filled with sex scenes, emotions, thoughts, and tough times that almost everyone will relate too. unfortunately for me i got lost in the modern references and heavy “lingo” that it became a sort of tasteless piece to me. overall the entirety of the book has a bold story and i wish we could see a little deeper into the main character, more of who he is and why. even when we do get to some of those parts, it’s quickly covered with jokes and then brushed away.
rated highly because the story is good, the book read so fast (literally once i was reading it i never put it down), and for the most part i wanted to see a happy ending for the mc. it’s hard to put comedy in a book that covers such sad topics, and maybe that’s where it lost me. said a lot of deep things, but surrounded by none sense words.
tokrnis's review
2.0
I don’t even know what I just read tbh. The take on disabilities and ableism is formidable, and some opinions should definitely be more? I don’t have the right word for it. But something that should be talked about more often. Honestly, there were parts in the book wherein I thought “oh the writing is great”, “the author has a way with words”, and all that shit
But the reason why I rated this 2 stars is because I found Elliot annoying. That’s it. He thinks he’s entitled to certain things, his double standards, his personality, his constant whining—literally just everything about him? Was downright horrendous. A book can have good writing and can make me laugh, and I would still dislike it
Oh and the cover is gorgeous
But the reason why I rated this 2 stars is because I found Elliot annoying. That’s it. He thinks he’s entitled to certain things, his double standards, his personality, his constant whining—literally just everything about him? Was downright horrendous. A book can have good writing and can make me laugh, and I would still dislike it
Oh and the cover is gorgeous