So yeah I don't really know what to say about this. I wanted to listen to a cute little queer highschool story, but what I got was a very confused teenager (which is of course not a problem itself) who through the entire plot did not figure out what he wants. I really did not like the ending since it was really abrupt. It was okay to listen to on my way to work but nothing more.

Before reading the book, I was warned about how the language was upsetting. I completely get it if reading sexist, homophobic, and ableist material can upset someone, but I do think it was used in a way to highlight just how horrible people can be and how it can affect someone’s view of themselves. This book really dives deep into how toxic high school can be and really highlights how social structures can affect a person especially when they’re still discovering themselves. I like that I didn’t find myself rooting for Nandan. He’s in that horrible phase where he’s trying to figure himself out but lets the people around him control who he is at the moment. Although, it made the read a little less immersive. I went back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, but I settled on 2 because I really don’t like Nandan.

So yeah I don't really know what to say about this. I wanted to listen to a cute little queer highschool story, but what I got was a very confused teenager (which is of course not a problem itself) who through the entire plot did not figure out what he wants. I really did not like the ending since it was really abrupt. It was okay to listen to on my way to work but nothing more.

I understand the intention, I do, but this was so problematic and poorly written, I couldn't enjoy the thought behind it. I felt like I didn't know or understand the characters or the story itself... Who really is Nandan? What defines him as a person? I have no connection to him at all and maybe (if I think about it) don't want to have. Nearly read this in one sitting but not because it was good, I just hoped for it to get better. SPOILER, it didn't.