Firstly, I want to say this book is incredibly powerful and it makes you FEEL every emotion going.  Stuart's ability to write stunning visualisation for his readers is once again on point. A quality I love about his work. It’s prodigious faultless writing.  No I certainly didn't think Young Mungo could be more heartbreaking than Shuggie yet it certainly was. For the first 100 pages as a reader Stuart had me teetering through a growing anxiety for Mungo In fact that did not let up at all as the book reached its conclusion.  

Furthermore I thought Stuart’s character development for the two evil characters  Gallowgate and St Christopher was incredible. They are the MOST chilling evil characters I've ever read.   

I have to talk about what I struggled with.  Struggled at the beginning as it felt far too similar to Shuggie. Almost like Stuart had Shuggie and had a sliding doors moment and decided to write an alternative coming of age story for him.    A gay protagonist. The same setting an time period. An alcoholic mother and absent father. Two siblings both same sexs as Shuggie’s  That's what has made me feel initially uncertain of my feelings towards the book overall. (And stopped me from giving it five stars.)  I love Shaggy so much.  Those characters are so real to me. Fresh in my mind and always will be. Mungo’s family setting took the edge of enjoyment off for me. I didn't enjoy reading about such similar characters especially as it was still set in Glasgow in the same time period too.  

That said he STILL managed to smash it out the park with some full on trauma. As I said  it was more heartbreaking than Shuggie and he had me feeling ALL the emotions.   

This book is about falling in love. Its about sibling love and loyalty. It’s about sacrifice and going against the grain.    Can't say I'd read it ever again. Way too traumatic but so glad I have and enjoyed it for the immense talent that is Stuart as a storyteller.   That ending though. Perfect.  

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