This book... Is interesting. For the majority of it, I had no clue what was happening, but the last 40 pages explains it all. It's not a bad quick read. I don't think I'll read it again, but I don't regret reading it.

Such a good story. It is written so well, and really transports you to the setting. It was heartbreaking, and it made it more heartbreaking because all of the characters felt real (even the merpeople). Also, yes, it is gay. It's a baby gay (as in I guess I like men... Oh wait), and it's so relatable to anyone who has had to come out to themselves.

This is also written with multiple books in mind. I didn't know this was a series, but the next time I get books, I'll be getting the other two.

This story is heartbreaking. I think if a parent were to read this story, they'd be able to relate better, but I got it. The foreshadowed ending was no real secret, but didn't hurt any less. For how short it was, I'm amazed at the impact it brought, and honestly I wouldn't mind reading another one of Laurel's books, even if I will have trouble sleeping tonight.

This was such a good short read. I’d heard about this manga for years, but only recently felt not embarrassed to pick it up. It is so relatable, especially for queer and mentally ill people.

It’s also interesting from a society perspective. Here in Canada, sex work is tabboo, so it’s a crazy idea that agencies like the one mentioned actually exists. The topic of how sex crazed our society is as well. The pressure to have sex is a big one, especially the older you get. This story is just so real (because it is) and relatable.

I know there is a sequal, and I’m so excited to get my hands on it!

This book is definitely the weakest book in the series. I think what saved this book from being a 2.5/5 is I read Fifty Shades, and that book was worse than this. The best way I can describe New Moon is that episode arc that lasts for 3 episodes where nothing really important in the moment and context of that arc happens, but it's really important to watch those episodes since it sets up future story points. I'm also not a Jacob person, so that probably is why I feel like this as well.

Re-reading this when I'm not a teen also makes me realize how not great of a person Jacob is. Don't get me wrong, Edward also isn't a great person (especially in this novel), but holy crap is Jacob just not that cool of a dude once he goes into wolf mode.

I will say an interesting callback from Midnight Sun is that Edward mentions as long as he burns, Bella is safe, while in this book it mentions how Bella feels like she's burning. Not really anything to do with this one, but a cool thing I noticed.

I'd say just read the SparkNotes if you aren't super interested in this one. You just really need the context for future stuff, as the majority of this book really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of the saga.

Nice quick memoir. Good book to get you out of a reading slump. It’s really cool to see how her art has evolved. I actually follow her on twitter and for a while I didn’t connect that she was the same person. It’s also cool to know she worked on Lumberjanes (a comic I really enjoy) since I had no clue she worked on it.

A couple of quick things before I dive in. Yes, this book deserves the hype it got. I was going to rate this a 4.5/5, but the last couple of chapters (tbh, after chapter 31 they blended together from reading too fast and not paying attention to the chapter number) and the tears that flowed made me bump it up to a 5/5.

I see why it gets the love that it does, and it is well deserved. This is a retelling of Achilles and Patroclus. Throughout the whole story, even knowing how it ended, it felt comfortable. A blanket on a cold day, a hug after a long week, a good cry after a bunch of stress. I honestly can't say that I have ever felt that while reading a book. In my opinion this is due to the writing. Madeline Miller could've written this how I find a lot of gay males are written, where thoughts when they look at the male body are extremely sexual. I'm very happy to report that this isn't the case. From the very beginning Patroclus describes Achilles like how Hozier, WLW, or NBLW describe women, with such a poetic tone. It was refreshing.

I like the addition at the back of this particular edition which includes names and backstories of the characters featured in this book (I'm assuming taken from the Iliad). I didn't feel the need to read these, as I was honestly just here for the gay stuff.

On that note of names, the reason I was originally going to give this book a 4.5 is two of my main issues.
1) I don't know how to pronounce anyone's names aside from Achilles. Could I have looked it up like I did for The Witch's Heart? Yes. I though thought that the pronunciation would be included with the outline of the characters at the back, but weren't. I'm fine having to look up how to say one name (Angrboda was the only one I had to in TWH), but there was about 20 characters I had to keep track of.
2) Time jumps around a lot. Near the end of the book, we get told what the ages of Achilles and Patroclus are, but unless you're keeping track of weeks and years that get skipped over, it can be hard to track.

I will say I also thought that Madeline Miller had written other novels beforehand. Her writing is really skilled (even more than authors I've read who've been in the industry for 20+ years) that I was surprised to learn this novel was her first. It will be interesting if she sticks with Greek Mythology, moves to different mythologies, or branches out.

Update 5/30/2021: I forgot to post this update a while back, so I'm posting it now. This review was written before I learned of her alleged racist and bullying remarks/actions. I do not support her stance and actions. While the book is a really good story, I felt I needed to point this out. If you want to read Wilder Girls, please get a second hand copy or borrow it from your local library.

I won't go into too much detail. I went into this book blind, and I think you should to. All I knew is that it took place on an island, and was a sapphic horror.

I honestly couldn't put this book down. It was such an amazing read, and probably a brand new favourite of mine. I love how it is intense, but has its soft moments. The characters feel real (even though you don't get to know them a whole lot), and the relationship that develops feels natural. I also like the focus on the sapphic relationship, but it doesn't take over the plot. It also feels deserved instead of the token lesbian couple.

Also, if your copy includes the extra scene from Reese's perspective, make sure to read it. You will be missing out if you don't!

I'm going to be perfectly honest, the ending of a book makes or breaks it for me.
Originally I was going to give this book a 4 or 4.5/5. The writing does sometimes feel like it's one more edit and re-write away from being finished. It does take a while to get into, but by the end, you can feel for this characters like they are your own. The twist near the end is done so well, and honestly if I re-read the book, a lot of tiny details that add up to the revealed at the end would probably be screaming foreshadow as I read them again. That and the final paragraph of the book is what pushed this over the edge to be a 5/5.

I mentioned this while reading, but if you enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, Wilder Girls, and The Crucible, you will like this book. It has a mix of all of these set for a YA audience.

It was easy to pick out some pieces of the puzzle, but other theories I came up with ended up being false, which was 100% fine. Do I think there could've been more time developing Ryker as a character? Yes, but at the same time no. There's this complicated feeling with this book where I feel some sections could've been more fleshed out, but I'm actually fine with them being how they are in the end. It's been a bit since I've read an enemies to lovers trope that was this well done.

This is a book you read the first time for the story, and you read again for things to be clearer and another story to unfold within the hidden details.

For the record, I think he was solid and didn't pass through her.