Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Out of Character by Jenna Miller

4 reviews

sam_pocketrockbooks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An easy read with enough tension to keep the plot flying along. Interpersonal struggles and miscommunication reign until the end. Teen me would have cherished this book, especially to see how online roleplay fandoms were represented.
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bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

I adored Jenna Miller’s other book “We Got The Beat,” and I highly recommend it. A friend let me borrow the physical copy of this book, and I am so delighted I read this too. Jenna Miller is easily becoming a favorite YA contemporary author for me!!!! 

This book follows Cass, a fat lesbian teenager who navigates her mom’s abandonment, and begins to dive deep into her online role playing game and community. Cass is carrying a lot in this book (teenagers carry a lot, I will die on this hill): 
  • Classwork and grades
  • College applications
  • The book series she is fixated on, which translates into finding fandom and found family online 
  • Online friendships (which I can attest to, just like offline relationships, it takes a lot of effort to maintain sometimes)
  • A new girlfriend/romance! 
  • The aftermath of her mom up and leaving, and ghosting Cass & her dad for a few months (like, not even a phone call, wtf) 
  • ^^^ the above is what I would say is a huge mindfuck & would rock anyone’s world (my world at sixteen or seventeen would have absolutely been rocked, so I am not speaking for everyone, but holy shit)

I appreciated that Cass made selfish, messy decisions. I think we all do, and I think it’s authentic to how we would have handled things as a young adult too. I can’t say for certain I would’ve made different choices than her, and I appreciate this vulnerability in showing this fallibility. 

Overall, I knew who Cass would end up with, but I enjoyed the journey to get there! :D 
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evelynyle_88's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

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pandora_rose_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

If you have ever done any online roleplaying, Cass is very relatable. I loved seeing an MC who is different to the average person but is comfortable in her own skin. I adored her, and the relationships. It felt so genuine and honest. 
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