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gabs93'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
annabananareads81'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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Abortion, and Alcohol
dianlyyaliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Rape, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Vomit and Dysphoria
Minor: Drug use
3amonline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
thejuliette's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol
ivulikkivulik's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
Moderate: Violence and Suicide attempt
glass123banan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Pregnancy
horsefamous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Outing
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic friendship
ivegotyourpaperback'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? It's complicated
5.0
The complexity of the story lies in the fact that Max is intersex (of which there are variations, which I didn’t know) and is violated by a trusted person, which has a ripple effect, altering Max’s life and the lives of those closest to him.
The story is multi-POV, being told from the following points of view:
* Max
* Max’s mum
* Max’s brother
* Max’s dad
* Max’s doctor
* Max’s girlfriend
It was important to me that each POV was explored, rather than having the whole story told solely from Max’s perspective. It made the story feel more real.
One of the biggest themes of the book by far, was bodily autonomy. What right did Max’s offender have to violate Max? How much information about Max’s condition should the Dr/ his parents have volunteered? What is the appropriate way to handle a teen pregnancy and who should be handling those decisions?
I think it’s incredibly fitting that I wrote this review on the day that the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v Wade decision. If I were a less cynical person, I’d believe those Justice’s and the ‘pro-lifers’ would be more compassionate towards Max. Come to think of it, it’s probably a good thing the story is set in the UK.
Content warnings:
⚠️Rape
⚠️Abortion
⚠️Attempted suicide
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Abortion and Suicide attempt
majahultqvist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship