housecatstewart's Reviews (114)

A beautiful, complex, surreal story written in simple, digestible language. I loved it. If you don’t like it without an explanation, you won’t like it with an explanation. Also, the plot really picks up around page 400 lol.

Much stronger writing in this than in “Nick and Charlie,”and I was happy to see more of Tori’s perspective.

I genuinely don’t understand the author’s reasoning for keeping the main points of the story in the dark for so long. Like, why does it need to take so long to learn that they’re clones? Why do we get essentially 0 background information on the donation program until the last 10% of the book? It didn’t feel like a suspenseful mystery - it felt like we were being taunted with some great reveal that ultimately fell flat for me. Maybe his other books are stronger but this one did not make me want to try any others.

And on top of that, why does Kathy just accept that everything is how it is and nothing can change? Why does she tolerate Ruth’s behavior? Why does she even want to be with Tommy when all she ever thinks about him is that he’s immature and embarrassing? This story and these characters and this writing style just weren’t for me.

This book way surpassed my expectations! The humor in it is not to my personal taste - a little too corny, a little too referential - but the depictions of love and personal growth and developing a sexual identity were really beautiful. My heart was touched more than once and I would read it again.