eloise_bradbooks's reviews
765 reviews

(whoops, I'm not used to writing long ass reviews but I feel the need to explain all that was good but also why I personally wasn't into it as much as I wanted to be) : 3.5 / 5.
.
What's this book about?
A YA coming of age about a young Latino boy's last year of high school, dealing with accidentally coming out and how it affects (positively and negatively) people around him whilst also dealing with figuring out what to do after high school AND keeping a long distance relationship.
.
It deals with great topics I feel particularly drawn to, and which were altogether well developed:
- Last year of high school, making the most of the time you've got left with friends while figuring out what's next = this is the subject that will always and forever make me cry and this was no exception. The friendships were perfect. Special hugs to Jordan and Lou.
- First love, online long distance relationship = I think maybe I'm not a fan of long distance relationships? They were cute I guess? But I didn't feel connected to them and their romance as much as I wanted to.
- DECIDING TO MOVE AWAY FROM AN ABUSIVE PARENT : this is what, to me, was the most touching and important element in this story.
- A sibling endorsing the role of gardian and making sure their little brother gets to live the life he wants = YAS!!! But Xo clearly didn't get the recognition she deserved...
.
Despite dealing with issues I hold close to my heart, this book didn't quite manage to end up as a fave five star read.
And I believe that two small, very personal, things were to blame:
- at times, I felt "too old for this". Language and thoughts and mannerisms that obviously come with the age of the main characters but simply didn't make me click with them like I might have done when I was younger + the romance didn't move me so much;
- i felt tired reading about how everyone was constantly thinking about sex and so little else when it came to the couples in this book... Like anytime they were left alone everyone around them HAD to make a comment about them having sex. I appreciate sex being part of most people's lives and appreciate when it's discussed in YA books, but this was over the top almost abusive for me. #AsexualProblems?

Ugh

4.5 ? Very good! I was invested, the world is interesting though it's very clearly just Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games with Mexican elements.
Can't say I looove the characters, they're okay, but I'm hoping book two will make me love them more.
The way the people in this universe view trans people was perfect and felt so refreshing (the norm is to accepting of all genders and transitioning whenever you feel like it)!

OK So this is an enjoyable winter double romance, wholesome and sweet.
I'm not sure having two (only slightly related) seperate stories in one book works for me. I just wanted to follow one at a time and have them be developed a little more. What I also did find a little off at first was how both characters arrived in a new town, and automatically fell in love very quickly with one of the first people they meet... Once again, that's about personal taste.
But I admit I did really appreciate that this ended up being wholesome stories about lovely people who learn to love themselves and make sure they stand up for themselves once and for all.

3 Heartstopper updates per month wasn't filling my need for these guys so look what I ended up reading after swaring I wouldn't...
Oh well.
I love theeeeem.

If I were to ignore a few things, I really enjoyed this romance. It was hot and fast paced and it felt nice to see the REAL Astrid Parker come in to herself, find love and stand up to her mother.
The sex scenes were... HOT. It sometimes felt like there was more sex than actual romance if i'm honest...

Anyways, there are a few things that kinda bugged me, 'small' things that just made me a little uncomfortable :
- "Just enough shadows under her dark brown eyes to make her interesting" ... What's that supposed to mean? If you're healthy, without bags under your eyes, you're not interesting?
- Always adding "and non-binary people" every single time the word "women" is used. Like... I understand the inclusiveness, but there IS a difference between women and non-binary people and you can't just ALWAYS put them in the same box...
- Other phrases like : "Astrid knew some people weren't all that interested sex, and that was totally fine. It also didn't describe her at all." (acknowledging ace people) or even: "She knew [kicking kids out of their homes or sending them to conversation camps] still happened and hit kids of color and trans kids a lot harder than anyone else.", along with the "women and non-binary people" comment, made it seem like the author was trying reeeally hard to get all the brownie points...

C'est incroyable comment Lou Lubie arrive à faire à la fois un témoignage et un documentaire, tout ça de façon très drôle et pédagogique sur la cyclothymie (un type de bipolarité), représenté par un renard. Fantastique !

This story was soft and deep and comforting at the same time.
You get a bit of lovely sweet romance, but mostly you get family dynamics, abusive parents, a rekindling of a sibling relationship, friendship, dealing with anxiety and depression, and most importantly finding people with whom you can live your true self without fear.

At times I kind of wanted a little more out of a few things. If I'm being completely honest, I almost felt like the gender identity wasn't developed enough? But at the same time I think I appreciate the fact that not everything had to be explained like a textbook. Things just were. There is no need for pages of explanation about their feelings and how they express their identity.
It is clearly a book written by a non binary person about a non binary person written first and foremost for non binary people to give them their own story and to show that they can find their happiness and their family, they can be who they are without being forced into silence and discretion.

I was personally extremely touched by the relationship between Ben and their sister. Seeing how they dealt with their parents was, particularly at the moment, very touching to me on a personal level.
Blood doesn't mean you have to forgive everything. You are allowed to seperate yourself from toxic people with whom you cannot live your full self. You can choose your real family.
Thank you.

Very cute book to have I'd you want to to learn a little more about Heartstopper and Alice's timeline.
I'd say that for someone like me who's been there since the beginning and who's followed everything Osemanverse, you really don't learn anything new. I felt almost a little disappointed when I finished it in less than an hour.
But it's probably great for newer readers, and it's always fun to have this type of information and pretty art in one object.

Bon, je suis énervée parce que cette série aurait pu être superbe. L'art est à couper le souffle et les personnages sont intéressants, on veut savoir comment ils vont évoluer et ce qu'il va se passer entre eux.
Mais bordel vous prenez un trouble dissociatif de l'identité et vous faites du sensationnalisme dessus, tourner ça presque sur de la science fiction, alors qu'il n'y a pas besoin !!! Qu'est ce que ça vous coûterait de rester fidèle à ce trouble qui est déjà méconnu, rempli de préjugés sur lequel vous n'êtes pas foutu de bien le représenter ?
C'est incroyable... Alors qu'on voit qu'il y a de la recherche. On voit que plusieurs éléments du trouble sont joliment imagés. Mais vous pouviez pas juste faire une jolie histoire qui représente réellement ce que c'est d'avoir un trouble dissociatif et pourquoi ça peut survenir chez une personne.