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emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
Jay Bell sets up a fun cast of flawed-but-lovable characters, then intricately builds up their relationships as an intricate web of secrets and miscommunications. The larger, more diverse set of POV characters serves him well.
Bonus points for having multiple music nerd characters with detailed record collections. Bell's use of contemporary (early 90s) music feels genuine and earned, like he's really writing what he knows. In one scene a character specifically puts on Information Society's Hack to gauge another character's music taste. That's much more of a deep cut album than most authors would go for. Self-indulgent it may be, but as a fellow music nerd, I love it.
Bonus points for having multiple music nerd characters with detailed record collections. Bell's use of contemporary (early 90s) music feels genuine and earned, like he's really writing what he knows. In one scene a character specifically puts on Information Society's Hack to gauge another character's music taste. That's much more of a deep cut album than most authors would go for. Self-indulgent it may be, but as a fellow music nerd, I love it.
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia