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bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This book broke my heart in so many ways, yeah Big Mac/Wes wasn’t the best behaved high schooler, but sometimes when no one believes in you, you stop believing in yourself, how sad it is that because someone put the bad boy level he carried that for so long, and sadly his mom didn’t help much, and then how he tried to fit this image buy when someone showed him it was ok not to be someone different, maybe even better, he finally did, even if reluctantly at the beginning.
I really have a hard time reading books now, I normally prefer audiobooks this book is the first time in a long while that I stayed late to finish it I was so into it. I highly recommend it.
I really have a hard time reading books now, I normally prefer audiobooks this book is the first time in a long while that I stayed late to finish it I was so into it. I highly recommend it.
luvey_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racism
claire_melanie's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
run_like_a_river's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
blakeleyreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
finished this in one sitting!!
ladyheroj's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
vagaybond's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Classism
The protagonist's abusive father (who was/is a cop) chased the protagonist and his mother in a car, bumping the fender multiple times and driving the two of them off a cliff. The protagonist was 7 and was disabled by it, both with a leg issue and with PTSD triggered once in the book, by driving at night.serina19's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
roygbiv_books's review against another edition
4.0
He was a punk and he did ballet.
A genuine heartfelt romantic read. Highly highly recommend!!
This story follows Wes, a skater punk with a well deserved bad rep, as he navigates his senior year of high school. After being forced to attend the local production of the Nutcracker, Wes can’t seem to keep his mind of the handsome ballet dancer who player THE nutcracker. As Wes and Tristian, said ballet dancer, begin to get to know each other, Wes struggles with how to tell his two best friends that he is gay. The continued secrecy forms a wedge in all of his relationships and he is forced to consider what kind of person he wants to be and what he wants to do in the future.
From the moment I read the dedication I knew this would be a favorite book of mine! The characters were incredibly authentic, teenage angst and all! I really enjoyed the chapter titles and the references to popular rock songs and appreciated the not so subtle Ticketmaster price gouging mention!
It was incredibly satisfying watching each of the characters grow in their own ways and I am impressed with Anthony Nerada’s ability to get so much story and feelings into one book!
I had the opportunity to listen to this as an audiobook and absolutely loved the narration by Michael Crouch. The accent, inflections, and general tone of his voice embodied the characters so well. I highly recommend the audiobook!
I cannot wait for my physical copy for my bookshelf and to see what Nerada writes in the future!!
A genuine heartfelt romantic read. Highly highly recommend!!
This story follows Wes, a skater punk with a well deserved bad rep, as he navigates his senior year of high school. After being forced to attend the local production of the Nutcracker, Wes can’t seem to keep his mind of the handsome ballet dancer who player THE nutcracker. As Wes and Tristian, said ballet dancer, begin to get to know each other, Wes struggles with how to tell his two best friends that he is gay. The continued secrecy forms a wedge in all of his relationships and he is forced to consider what kind of person he wants to be and what he wants to do in the future.
From the moment I read the dedication I knew this would be a favorite book of mine! The characters were incredibly authentic, teenage angst and all! I really enjoyed the chapter titles and the references to popular rock songs and appreciated the not so subtle Ticketmaster price gouging mention!
It was incredibly satisfying watching each of the characters grow in their own ways and I am impressed with Anthony Nerada’s ability to get so much story and feelings into one book!
I had the opportunity to listen to this as an audiobook and absolutely loved the narration by Michael Crouch. The accent, inflections, and general tone of his voice embodied the characters so well. I highly recommend the audiobook!
I cannot wait for my physical copy for my bookshelf and to see what Nerada writes in the future!!