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It Looks Like This
In spare, understated prose heightened by a keen lyricism, a debut author will take your breath away.
A new state, a new city, a new high school. Mike’s father has already found a new evangelical church for the family to attend, even if Mike and his plainspoken little sister, Toby, don’t want to go. Dad wants Mike to ditch art for sports, to toughen up, but there’s something uneasy behind his demands. Then Mike meets Sean, the new kid, and “hey” becomes games of basketball, partnering on a French project, hanging out after school. A night at the beach. The fierce colors of sunrise. But Mike’s father is always watching. And so is Victor from school, cell phone in hand. In guarded, Carveresque prose that propels you forward with a sense of stomach-dropping inevitability, Rafi Mittlefehldt tells a wrenching tale of first love and loss that exposes the undercurrents of a tidy suburban world. Heartbreaking and ultimately life-affirming, It Looks Like This is a novel of love and family and forgiveness—not just of others, but of yourself.
A new state, a new city, a new high school. Mike’s father has already found a new evangelical church for the family to attend, even if Mike and his plainspoken little sister, Toby, don’t want to go. Dad wants Mike to ditch art for sports, to toughen up, but there’s something uneasy behind his demands. Then Mike meets Sean, the new kid, and “hey” becomes games of basketball, partnering on a French project, hanging out after school. A night at the beach. The fierce colors of sunrise. But Mike’s father is always watching. And so is Victor from school, cell phone in hand. In guarded, Carveresque prose that propels you forward with a sense of stomach-dropping inevitability, Rafi Mittlefehldt tells a wrenching tale of first love and loss that exposes the undercurrents of a tidy suburban world. Heartbreaking and ultimately life-affirming, It Looks Like This is a novel of love and family and forgiveness—not just of others, but of yourself.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2016
70 people are currently reading
3846 people want to read
About the author
Rafi Mittlefehldt
3 books104 followersRafi Mittlefehldt is the author of two young adult novels, What Makes Us, releasing Oct. 15, 2019, and It Looks Like This, published in 2016.
When he's not writing, Rafi works in instructional design and volunteers for I'm From Driftwood, a non-profit that collects and posts LGBTQ stories from around the world. Raised in Houston, he worked briefly as a reporter for a small-town newspaper in Central Texas before settling in New York. He now lives in Philadelphia with his husband Damien and dog Betty.
Follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@rafimitt for both), and visit his website at rafimitt.com.
When he's not writing, Rafi works in instructional design and volunteers for I'm From Driftwood, a non-profit that collects and posts LGBTQ stories from around the world. Raised in Houston, he worked briefly as a reporter for a small-town newspaper in Central Texas before settling in New York. He now lives in Philadelphia with his husband Damien and dog Betty.
Follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@rafimitt for both), and visit his website at rafimitt.com.
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January 11, 2018A copy of this novel was provided by Walker Books Australia for review.
My Thoughts
I honestly can’t give It Looks Like This a rating because my thoughts on the book are far too complicated to whittle down to a number out of five. And ratings often correlate with recommending a book, and in all honestly I cannot recommend It Looks Like This to LGBTQIA+ teens.
It Looks Like This is a Tragic Queer Story. And by that I mean a terribly tragic thing happens in this story for everyone who is a horrible asshole to turn a sudden new leaf. I mean that a terribly tragic thing happens in this story for things to start to look okay for the main character. I mean that a terribly tragic thing happens in this story that LGBTQIA+ teens don’t need to read about.
I am not denying the need for sad stories. I know that they are important, but these kinds of sad stories have been done before. Hell, for a long time the only LGBTQIA+ books that anyone could get their hands on were these sad stories. So if someone really wants to find one then by all means it’s not a difficult feat. But right now? Right now LGBTQIA+ teens don’t need this sad story.
I had to mentally prepare myself to start reading It Looks Like This, and then I stopped reading it for about a month after 100 pages because I knew what was coming up and I just did not want to read it. And then when I did decide to finish it I read it one sitting because I wasn’t sure if I could pick it up again. If, at 23, it took me over a month to read this, to prepare to read this, then I hope it’s clear why I would never recommend this to a teen.
It Looks Like This centres around a fourteen year old gay boy who has his first semi-relationship with another boy. A bully films them making out, tells the parents of both of the boys, and posts it online. Everything pretty much goes to shit from here in a lot of different ways. The difficult thing with this story is that this happens. LGBTQIA+ teens go through this, their friends go through this. But do they really need to read about it? My answer is: not really. And I know that people’s answers may be different. But I could not willingly recommend this book to any of the LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults I work with. I would not want them reading this book where the only light at the end of the tunnel comes from a terribly tragic thing happening to them.
If I had to classify It Looks Like This beyond the Tragic Queer Story I would liken it to an acceptance narrative. Parents hate their gay son, send him to a ‘pray away the gay' camp, and only begin or try to accept him once the terribly tragic thing happens. So, in all, It Looks Like This says: shit gets better only after it gets worse. It says: acceptance only comes after they see what they could lose. It says: you’re going to have to go through hell for acceptance to even step foot in your life.
I have to say it terrifies me a bit to see allocishet reviewers recommending this book and giving it glowing ratings because it’s a “beautiful and heartbreaking book”. I just want you to think for a minute about an actual fourteen year old gay boy picking this up and reading this and getting the message that life will only look better if you go through hell first. Because that’s not the message a fourteen year old gay boy needs. That’s not the message that any LGBTQIA+ teen needs. It’s not the message that anyone needs.
If I was going to give this book to anyone it might possibly be the parents who would willingly reject their child and send them to a camp like the one in this book. Or someone else who needs to realise that loving your child, loving anyone, means goddamn loving them.
© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: bullying, domestic violence, emotional abuse, death of a partner (drink driving), forced attendance to "conversion therapy" camp, and homophobia in this novel
My Thoughts
I honestly can’t give It Looks Like This a rating because my thoughts on the book are far too complicated to whittle down to a number out of five. And ratings often correlate with recommending a book, and in all honestly I cannot recommend It Looks Like This to LGBTQIA+ teens.
It Looks Like This is a Tragic Queer Story. And by that I mean a terribly tragic thing happens in this story for everyone who is a horrible asshole to turn a sudden new leaf. I mean that a terribly tragic thing happens in this story for things to start to look okay for the main character. I mean that a terribly tragic thing happens in this story that LGBTQIA+ teens don’t need to read about.
I am not denying the need for sad stories. I know that they are important, but these kinds of sad stories have been done before. Hell, for a long time the only LGBTQIA+ books that anyone could get their hands on were these sad stories. So if someone really wants to find one then by all means it’s not a difficult feat. But right now? Right now LGBTQIA+ teens don’t need this sad story.
I had to mentally prepare myself to start reading It Looks Like This, and then I stopped reading it for about a month after 100 pages because I knew what was coming up and I just did not want to read it. And then when I did decide to finish it I read it one sitting because I wasn’t sure if I could pick it up again. If, at 23, it took me over a month to read this, to prepare to read this, then I hope it’s clear why I would never recommend this to a teen.
It Looks Like This centres around a fourteen year old gay boy who has his first semi-relationship with another boy. A bully films them making out, tells the parents of both of the boys, and posts it online. Everything pretty much goes to shit from here in a lot of different ways. The difficult thing with this story is that this happens. LGBTQIA+ teens go through this, their friends go through this. But do they really need to read about it? My answer is: not really. And I know that people’s answers may be different. But I could not willingly recommend this book to any of the LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults I work with. I would not want them reading this book where the only light at the end of the tunnel comes from a terribly tragic thing happening to them.
If I had to classify It Looks Like This beyond the Tragic Queer Story I would liken it to an acceptance narrative. Parents hate their gay son, send him to a ‘pray away the gay' camp, and only begin or try to accept him once the terribly tragic thing happens. So, in all, It Looks Like This says: shit gets better only after it gets worse. It says: acceptance only comes after they see what they could lose. It says: you’re going to have to go through hell for acceptance to even step foot in your life.
I have to say it terrifies me a bit to see allocishet reviewers recommending this book and giving it glowing ratings because it’s a “beautiful and heartbreaking book”. I just want you to think for a minute about an actual fourteen year old gay boy picking this up and reading this and getting the message that life will only look better if you go through hell first. Because that’s not the message a fourteen year old gay boy needs. That’s not the message that any LGBTQIA+ teen needs. It’s not the message that anyone needs.
If I was going to give this book to anyone it might possibly be the parents who would willingly reject their child and send them to a camp like the one in this book. Or someone else who needs to realise that loving your child, loving anyone, means goddamn loving them.
© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: bullying, domestic violence, emotional abuse, death of a partner (drink driving), forced attendance to "conversion therapy" camp, and homophobia in this novel
July 25, 2016
I'm bothered by a lot of things about this book.
The complete lack of quotation marks with the dialogue so annoying and I didn't see how it benefited the story. It made the entire story seem very flat and didn't have any emotion. I didn't find this book to be particularly different from a bunch of other books that I've read. The plot was very similar to other LBGTQ+ books that I've read and I was kind of bored by it.
The complete lack of quotation marks with the dialogue so annoying and I didn't see how it benefited the story. It made the entire story seem very flat and didn't have any emotion. I didn't find this book to be particularly different from a bunch of other books that I've read. The plot was very similar to other LBGTQ+ books that I've read and I was kind of bored by it.
November 17, 2016
It Looks Like This is phenomenal, rage inducing and absolutely heartbreaking. Having only just turned the final page, I was compelled to gather my thoughts and emotions, frantically, passionately through tears and sorrow.
The narrative is told from almost fifteen year old Michael's point of view. Although young, he's a mature young man that finds himself taking an interest in the same sex. Mike never identifies himself to the reader as being gay, but finds himself attracted to boys. He's intelligent and sensitive, passionate about his art and despite his lack of enthusiasm, indulges in his father's strong religious beliefs. His only ally is his younger sister Toby, who herself is intuitive and wise beyond her years. The accusatory whisper queer of his peers are echoed by his father, a tense relationship of unrealistic expectations.
Sean is attractive and charismatic, capturing Mike's attention when the two teens are assigned to collaborate on a media project. The boys develop a blossoming friendship and start to explore their feelings for one another. Even as Mike and Sean explore their sexuality, their relationship was defined by gentle touches without labels. It was exquisite and quietly beautiful.
The Grace Fellowship are adamant in their view towards same sex relationships, impure thoughts are not only forbidden but punishable. I can't even begin to articulate how infuriating and intolerant Michael's parents were, especially his father. He allowed the church to dictate and impede on his relationship with his son and through his own prejudice, he seemed to believe Michael was ill with a cure that only faith could provide. I felt irate. So fucking irate. Sexuality is not an illness nor a condition that requires remedying. Our sexuality doesn't equate to being insignificant and although I'm not a religious person, the church seems to define being queer with being impure. Oh. Fuck. No. It Looks Like This highlights the influence of the church and their intolerant and outdated judgement.
While Sean is being physically punished, Michael is consigned to Inner Peace, a wellness program for teens with impure thoughts which is not only uncomfortable but alludes to indecency within the parish.
It's the same bullshit argument in which the church uses to platform against same sex marriage, which still is yet to be legalised in Australia. Any individual or organisation who seeks to deny marriage equality has no fucking right to dictate who we can and cannot love. Click here to learn more about marriage equality and to lend your support.
It Looks Like This is ultimately a cautionary depiction, emphasising the brave and often heartbreaking reality of prejudice and bigotry. Beautifully written and all consuming, debut author Rafi Mittlefehldt has composed a compelling narrative with veracity and compassion. Just phenomenal
The narrative is told from almost fifteen year old Michael's point of view. Although young, he's a mature young man that finds himself taking an interest in the same sex. Mike never identifies himself to the reader as being gay, but finds himself attracted to boys. He's intelligent and sensitive, passionate about his art and despite his lack of enthusiasm, indulges in his father's strong religious beliefs. His only ally is his younger sister Toby, who herself is intuitive and wise beyond her years. The accusatory whisper queer of his peers are echoed by his father, a tense relationship of unrealistic expectations.
Sean is attractive and charismatic, capturing Mike's attention when the two teens are assigned to collaborate on a media project. The boys develop a blossoming friendship and start to explore their feelings for one another. Even as Mike and Sean explore their sexuality, their relationship was defined by gentle touches without labels. It was exquisite and quietly beautiful.
I stare back because I don't know what else to do and all I can think about is how green those eyes are. Then the corner of his mouth turns up, just barely. He says, I'm Sean. I Say, Yeah. Mike. And then people start coming inside the classroom.
The Grace Fellowship are adamant in their view towards same sex relationships, impure thoughts are not only forbidden but punishable. I can't even begin to articulate how infuriating and intolerant Michael's parents were, especially his father. He allowed the church to dictate and impede on his relationship with his son and through his own prejudice, he seemed to believe Michael was ill with a cure that only faith could provide. I felt irate. So fucking irate. Sexuality is not an illness nor a condition that requires remedying. Our sexuality doesn't equate to being insignificant and although I'm not a religious person, the church seems to define being queer with being impure. Oh. Fuck. No. It Looks Like This highlights the influence of the church and their intolerant and outdated judgement.
While Sean is being physically punished, Michael is consigned to Inner Peace, a wellness program for teens with impure thoughts which is not only uncomfortable but alludes to indecency within the parish.
Timothy says, The harm is that you're more likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases, Practising homosexuals are also more likely to suffer from depression and drug abuse, and their relationships are at least twice as likely to fail as heterosexual relationships. According to studies, it's also not an ideal environment in which to raise children.
It's the same bullshit argument in which the church uses to platform against same sex marriage, which still is yet to be legalised in Australia. Any individual or organisation who seeks to deny marriage equality has no fucking right to dictate who we can and cannot love. Click here to learn more about marriage equality and to lend your support.
It Looks Like This is ultimately a cautionary depiction, emphasising the brave and often heartbreaking reality of prejudice and bigotry. Beautifully written and all consuming, debut author Rafi Mittlefehldt has composed a compelling narrative with veracity and compassion. Just phenomenal
May 11, 2017
I'm gonna say this up front: I would not give this book to queer teens. I thought it was heartbreaking, and captivating, and a vital thing for people to read and understand, but I would not put it in the hands of vulnerable queer teens looking for literature that they can see themselves in. I would absolutely give it to teens who are looking to understand an aspect of the queer experience; I'm a librarian in a very conservative community, and I can see giving this book to parents or teens as a tool to educate.
I wish there weren't so many books about teens dying and people coming to understand their struggle through tragedy; I wish everything could be like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, or What We Left Behind, or Aristotle & Dante - but I DO think there's a place for books like this, and as long as people need to read them, I hope that they are as well-crafted as this one.
I wish there weren't so many books about teens dying and people coming to understand their struggle through tragedy; I wish everything could be like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, or What We Left Behind, or Aristotle & Dante - but I DO think there's a place for books like this, and as long as people need to read them, I hope that they are as well-crafted as this one.
February 7, 2017
actual rating: 3.5
one of my goals this year is to read more books with diverse characters and stories and i'm hoping to get this goal done for 2017.
This book deals with LGBT issues and the struggles that comes with it being in a very christian heavy family. This story did open up my mind and eyes to what it must feel like for any lesbian or gay or even bisexual person would go through living with this and how a family all reacts in different ways.
The story follows Mike who is a 'closeted' gay teenager who actually doesn't know that he is until he meets a fellow kid from his school Sean, they soon strike up a friendship that later starts to develop into something more but as they both have strict parents they keep it a secret without anyone finding out until one night on Mike's birthday they are caught by Sean's father and that results in Mike being sent away to a christian camp. I liked the pace of the story and how Rafi fleshed the story out so i got to see Mike's story from beginning to end. Rafi got all of the characters down pretty well and it was interesting to see how heavily Christian families act and deal with this issue.
My favourite character in this book would have to be Toby she was hilarious and i found i enjoyed every time she showed up in the book because she brought the funny and more light hearted moments
I didn't enjoy the writing style of this book and how it was set out because with conversations and how the story was written. There was a lack of quotation marks while characters were having a conversation in the book which got on my nerves a bit and i'm not sure if anyone else found this an issue while reading it.
Overall i did enjoy the book and it had its moments that i enjoyed, i think this book would be good for anyone who enjoys books with LGBT themes in it.
one of my goals this year is to read more books with diverse characters and stories and i'm hoping to get this goal done for 2017.
This book deals with LGBT issues and the struggles that comes with it being in a very christian heavy family. This story did open up my mind and eyes to what it must feel like for any lesbian or gay or even bisexual person would go through living with this and how a family all reacts in different ways.
The story follows Mike who is a 'closeted' gay teenager who actually doesn't know that he is until he meets a fellow kid from his school Sean, they soon strike up a friendship that later starts to develop into something more but as they both have strict parents they keep it a secret without anyone finding out until one night on Mike's birthday they are caught by Sean's father and that results in Mike being sent away to a christian camp. I liked the pace of the story and how Rafi fleshed the story out so i got to see Mike's story from beginning to end. Rafi got all of the characters down pretty well and it was interesting to see how heavily Christian families act and deal with this issue.
My favourite character in this book would have to be Toby she was hilarious and i found i enjoyed every time she showed up in the book because she brought the funny and more light hearted moments
I didn't enjoy the writing style of this book and how it was set out because with conversations and how the story was written. There was a lack of quotation marks while characters were having a conversation in the book which got on my nerves a bit and i'm not sure if anyone else found this an issue while reading it.
Overall i did enjoy the book and it had its moments that i enjoyed, i think this book would be good for anyone who enjoys books with LGBT themes in it.
June 9, 2018
This book was very hard to rate. It is one of those books in which two thirds are OK but then the ending has a major impact on you – shatters you. The way how the dialogues were presented (no quotations marks) made a very unedited, repetitive impression; this disrupted my reading flow on more than one occasion. Admittedly, the book’s title is It Looks like this; however, the descriptive passages were too dominant for my liking. Moreover, I had wished for the author to fully take advantage of the first-person perspective and give us more insight into Mike’s inner life. Yes, he might repress aspects, but this could have been indicated by interrupted trains of thought. As for the topics, the author covers bullying, abuse and other elements (which cannot be mentioned here to prevent spoilers) which all seem familiar and are not presented in any new way that would stand out from other books. So far, the book would receive a 3 star rating, were it not for the ending.
The last 67 (out of 336) pages finally made an emotional impact on me. It was mostly due to the behaviour of Mrs. Pilsner, the mother of Mike’s friend Ronald, and the display of loyalty of his friends that touched me. The question of guilt made the ending more complex. Also Mike’s sister Toby was my favourite character of the book – I love a character with a backbone who is not afraid to call out wrongs, despite the consequences. I most likely will not re-read this book but will give it a 3.5 star rating.
The last 67 (out of 336) pages finally made an emotional impact on me. It was mostly due to the behaviour of Mrs. Pilsner, the mother of Mike’s friend Ronald, and the display of loyalty of his friends that touched me. The question of guilt made the ending more complex. Also Mike’s sister Toby was my favourite character of the book – I love a character with a backbone who is not afraid to call out wrongs, despite the consequences. I most likely will not re-read this book but will give it a 3.5 star rating.
December 31, 2018
Holy FUCK I was not expecting this book to hit me as hard as it did. I’m stunned but also impressed. Writing style can be a bit odd (there’s no quotes for the dialogue which is confusing as all hell) but other than that I thought it was an amazing book.
This story is sad in many aspects, as it reflects the cruel reality of homophobia. I was heartbroken and furious so many times. But there are tender moments too. Mike’s got friends in his corner, and adults who give a shit, and a kickass little sister. I love Toby.
I also kinda like how even the more villainous characters have their moments of humanity. Like Victor, and Mike’s dad. Or Sean’s parents.
I freaking adore Mike, like he’s really quiet but he’s got an inner strength. He’s a good kid and I like his honest, calls it like he sees it, style of narration. And my heart broke so many times for him.
That ending was super open and I appreciate how things were looking up, that there was hope but it wasn’t a tidy happy ending. There’s loose ends for the reader to imagine, and I think it works well to the story.
Also random side note but I really appreciate that Mike’s dog Charlie is a beagle. My dog is a beagle mix, they’re super cute aren’t they? Haha.
Tl;dr version- Total surprise but it was an amazing read. Made me feel all the feels, but that’s exactly what a great book does.
This story is sad in many aspects, as it reflects the cruel reality of homophobia. I was heartbroken and furious so many times. But there are tender moments too. Mike’s got friends in his corner, and adults who give a shit, and a kickass little sister. I love Toby.
I also kinda like how even the more villainous characters have their moments of humanity. Like Victor, and Mike’s dad. Or Sean’s parents.
I freaking adore Mike, like he’s really quiet but he’s got an inner strength. He’s a good kid and I like his honest, calls it like he sees it, style of narration. And my heart broke so many times for him.
That ending was super open and I appreciate how things were looking up, that there was hope but it wasn’t a tidy happy ending. There’s loose ends for the reader to imagine, and I think it works well to the story.
Also random side note but I really appreciate that Mike’s dog Charlie is a beagle. My dog is a beagle mix, they’re super cute aren’t they? Haha.
Tl;dr version- Total surprise but it was an amazing read. Made me feel all the feels, but that’s exactly what a great book does.
December 2, 2017
This book was kind of disappointing, and predictable. I basically skimmed the last 100 or so pages. Both Sean and Mike have stereotypically religious families, so their relationship is doomed almost from the start. I did like Mike’s little sister Toby, and when his mom finally stood up to his dad at the end. It’s a slow read so I wouldn’t recommend it for someone looking to get into books with m/m romance.
March 9, 2017
This is a very important book. It shook me to my core. I felt as if I was actually living the events in this story; possibly because my life echoed it once. It's a story about self acceptance and the pressures of unsupportive family, also friendship and first loves. Beautiful book. A new favorite. 5/5 stars.
April 20, 2016
While it uses a trope I'd rather hoped we'd done away with by now, 'It Looks Like This' is so beautifully realised and moved me to tears on several occasions (a feat achieved by VERY few books) that I forgive it. Read it and be moved.
September 18, 2019
It looks like this:
Sadness, mostly.
Tints of hope, hidden somewhere.
The warmth of happiness not here in this moment, only tears.
This is one that's tale won't leave me any time soon.
Sadness, mostly.
Tints of hope, hidden somewhere.
The warmth of happiness not here in this moment, only tears.
This is one that's tale won't leave me any time soon.
February 8, 2017
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Thanks to Walker Books Australia for providing a review copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It Looks Like This is a heartbreaking story about identity and the painful experience of being a disappointment to your parents because of who you are. It’s a fantastic but emotional LGTBQ+ story and it definitely hit me hard.
This novel is about Mike, who is 14 or 15 years old, and just discovering his sexuality and that he may be attracted to his classmate, Sean. The two enter into a secret relationship but both come from deeply religious families. Neither of their parents would approve of them being gay and they have to go to great lengths to hiding who they really are, not only at home but also at school where the bullies are ready to expose them at every turn. That’s probably all you need to know going into the book because it’ll be a much more emotional ride if you just go with the story. I found it to be extremely hard-hitting and I was ugly crying and actually sobbing without warning. I deeply connected with the themes of the book and the feeling of being a disappointment to your parents. While I’ve never really been in a situation where my parents were disappointed with me because of my identity or my lifestyle, it’s always been one of my biggest fears to be a disappointment to others or to myself. This novel captured that feeling exceedingly well and the story felt very real to me.
I loved Mike as the main character of the book. However, it didn’t click for me that Mike was only 14 or 15 and for a good portion of the book, I felt like he seemed a bit juvenile. When I finally figured out he was much younger than I thought he was, it all made sense and I appreciated him and his story even more. I really liked how Mike handled himself in the book, in the face of his oppressive parents and his bullies at school. Mike was really easy to connect with and I loved reading from his perspective. I also thought the side characters were really realistic too. There wasn’t a point in the book where I couldn’t relate with the story.
My only criticism of the books is that I didn’t really like the writing style. I found it to be a bit too simplistic and I would’ve liked a bit more description here and there and for the writing to be more sophisticated. However, I got used to the writing pretty quickly and appreciated it a little bit more once I’d realised that Mike was younger than I thought he actually was.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into It Looks Like This but it blew me away with its emotional plot and realistic characters. If you’re looking for a really great LGBTQ+ story, I would recommend checking this one out because it will tug at your heartstrings.
Thanks to Walker Books Australia for providing a review copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It Looks Like This is a heartbreaking story about identity and the painful experience of being a disappointment to your parents because of who you are. It’s a fantastic but emotional LGTBQ+ story and it definitely hit me hard.
This novel is about Mike, who is 14 or 15 years old, and just discovering his sexuality and that he may be attracted to his classmate, Sean. The two enter into a secret relationship but both come from deeply religious families. Neither of their parents would approve of them being gay and they have to go to great lengths to hiding who they really are, not only at home but also at school where the bullies are ready to expose them at every turn. That’s probably all you need to know going into the book because it’ll be a much more emotional ride if you just go with the story. I found it to be extremely hard-hitting and I was ugly crying and actually sobbing without warning. I deeply connected with the themes of the book and the feeling of being a disappointment to your parents. While I’ve never really been in a situation where my parents were disappointed with me because of my identity or my lifestyle, it’s always been one of my biggest fears to be a disappointment to others or to myself. This novel captured that feeling exceedingly well and the story felt very real to me.
I loved Mike as the main character of the book. However, it didn’t click for me that Mike was only 14 or 15 and for a good portion of the book, I felt like he seemed a bit juvenile. When I finally figured out he was much younger than I thought he was, it all made sense and I appreciated him and his story even more. I really liked how Mike handled himself in the book, in the face of his oppressive parents and his bullies at school. Mike was really easy to connect with and I loved reading from his perspective. I also thought the side characters were really realistic too. There wasn’t a point in the book where I couldn’t relate with the story.
My only criticism of the books is that I didn’t really like the writing style. I found it to be a bit too simplistic and I would’ve liked a bit more description here and there and for the writing to be more sophisticated. However, I got used to the writing pretty quickly and appreciated it a little bit more once I’d realised that Mike was younger than I thought he actually was.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into It Looks Like This but it blew me away with its emotional plot and realistic characters. If you’re looking for a really great LGBTQ+ story, I would recommend checking this one out because it will tug at your heartstrings.
August 3, 2016
Wow. This book was an emotional roller-coaster, and I absolutely loved (almost) every minute of it. "It Looks Like This" is an important book with an important message that I think should be read by all.
Let’s start with Mike, our narrator. He’s was extremely likable, and super relatable. I loved being inside his head, hearing his thoughts on his family, school, and love. He was interesting in the way most wallflowers are, introspective and observant, and I couldn’t stop rooting for him along his journey. He was a quiet, calm guy put in a difficult situation, struggling with his sexuality in a home filled with religion and hate. I can see many readers identifying with his struggle.
This is one of those YA novels that incorporates family perfectly. I loved the element of family in this novel. So many YA books feature a teenager where they don’t interact much with their parents or siblings. I think that’s unrealistic. The family dynamic is this book was authentic. Flawed, like all families, but authentic. I loved how Mike always had his little sister’s back, and how she always had his. They were a united front against their dad. Their sibling relationship was sweet and strong.
I absolutely adored Sean, the love interest. What I appreciated about his relationship with Mike was that they didn’t have a case of instalove. Their chemistry was electric, jumping off the page, building slowly and carefully. Reading about their relationship gave me soooo many feels. So. Many. Feels.
And the prose in this book was superb!! I really loved Mr. Mittlefehldt's writing style. At first, I was concerned it was too simple/plain for my taste, but the way he described things like the settings and the way people dressed or looked was on point. In a way, this book almost read like a poem.
The plot was layered perfectly. The tension creeps up on you, building unexpectedly and when you reach the climax, you’re gripping your book in fear and anticipation. Like I said, an emotional read for sure.
So yes, there is a lot to appreciate about ILLT, but I have to let you know about my one compliant.
THIS BOOK DOESN’T USE QUOTATION MARKS! Do you know how frustrating that was to read?!? I can’t stand when this cardinal rule of writing is broken! I simply do not understand why we didn’t have quotation marks. It certainly didn’t improve or help the story in any way. In fact, the absence of “” was distracting!
End rant.
So, aside from the very frustrating fact this book forgoes certain rules of the trade, I still recommend picking it up. I know some elements of this story may sound cliché or overdone, but it never felt that way while reading. Every coming out story is unique and precious, they just so happen to share many of the same universal truths.
Overall, well done to Mr. Mittlefehldt. I can't wait to read what he writes next.
Let’s start with Mike, our narrator. He’s was extremely likable, and super relatable. I loved being inside his head, hearing his thoughts on his family, school, and love. He was interesting in the way most wallflowers are, introspective and observant, and I couldn’t stop rooting for him along his journey. He was a quiet, calm guy put in a difficult situation, struggling with his sexuality in a home filled with religion and hate. I can see many readers identifying with his struggle.
This is one of those YA novels that incorporates family perfectly. I loved the element of family in this novel. So many YA books feature a teenager where they don’t interact much with their parents or siblings. I think that’s unrealistic. The family dynamic is this book was authentic. Flawed, like all families, but authentic. I loved how Mike always had his little sister’s back, and how she always had his. They were a united front against their dad. Their sibling relationship was sweet and strong.
I absolutely adored Sean, the love interest. What I appreciated about his relationship with Mike was that they didn’t have a case of instalove. Their chemistry was electric, jumping off the page, building slowly and carefully. Reading about their relationship gave me soooo many feels. So. Many. Feels.
And the prose in this book was superb!! I really loved Mr. Mittlefehldt's writing style. At first, I was concerned it was too simple/plain for my taste, but the way he described things like the settings and the way people dressed or looked was on point. In a way, this book almost read like a poem.
The plot was layered perfectly. The tension creeps up on you, building unexpectedly and when you reach the climax, you’re gripping your book in fear and anticipation. Like I said, an emotional read for sure.
So yes, there is a lot to appreciate about ILLT, but I have to let you know about my one compliant.
THIS BOOK DOESN’T USE QUOTATION MARKS! Do you know how frustrating that was to read?!? I can’t stand when this cardinal rule of writing is broken! I simply do not understand why we didn’t have quotation marks. It certainly didn’t improve or help the story in any way. In fact, the absence of “” was distracting!
End rant.
So, aside from the very frustrating fact this book forgoes certain rules of the trade, I still recommend picking it up. I know some elements of this story may sound cliché or overdone, but it never felt that way while reading. Every coming out story is unique and precious, they just so happen to share many of the same universal truths.
Overall, well done to Mr. Mittlefehldt. I can't wait to read what he writes next.
October 14, 2016
3 and half stars
A sad but ultimately somewhat uplifting book which deals with the consequences of not accepting your children unconditionally. It's told from the perspective of the MC, Mike, a 14 year old who moves to Virginia right before freshman year in High School. The writing is very good, mirroring realistically the thoughts and moods of a shy, immature teenager confused by his sexuality. This is strictly YA so there's no sex at all, at least not explicit, and very few expletives. We find Mike dealing with a very religious family that seems unable to show any emotions toward their son other than " How's school?" or alternativily lashing out at him violently. There's a severe case of bullying that leads to an enormous tragedy and how Mike has to learn to navigate the terrible aftermath of a humiliating, public, forced coming out that lands him in Conversion Camp, of all places. So overall, pretty heavy on the tragic elements of the story, something that writers are going to have to accept sooner or later is not necessarily benefitial to all gay kids reading their books. I mean, sure, things get better...but does it always have to be after a tragedy???
One thing that bothered me to no end was the lack of quotation marks...it really made the dialogue hard, stilted and difficult to follow. It really doesn't add anything to the story, why would an author choose it?
Overall, I guess it's a good book from which many gay kids and their parents may benefit, as long as they remember that this doesn't have to be the norm, that being gay doesn't equal being bullied and/or personal tragedies.
A sad but ultimately somewhat uplifting book which deals with the consequences of not accepting your children unconditionally. It's told from the perspective of the MC, Mike, a 14 year old who moves to Virginia right before freshman year in High School. The writing is very good, mirroring realistically the thoughts and moods of a shy, immature teenager confused by his sexuality. This is strictly YA so there's no sex at all, at least not explicit, and very few expletives. We find Mike dealing with a very religious family that seems unable to show any emotions toward their son other than " How's school?" or alternativily lashing out at him violently. There's a severe case of bullying that leads to an enormous tragedy and how Mike has to learn to navigate the terrible aftermath of a humiliating, public, forced coming out that lands him in Conversion Camp, of all places. So overall, pretty heavy on the tragic elements of the story, something that writers are going to have to accept sooner or later is not necessarily benefitial to all gay kids reading their books. I mean, sure, things get better...but does it always have to be after a tragedy???
One thing that bothered me to no end was the lack of quotation marks...it really made the dialogue hard, stilted and difficult to follow. It really doesn't add anything to the story, why would an author choose it?
Overall, I guess it's a good book from which many gay kids and their parents may benefit, as long as they remember that this doesn't have to be the norm, that being gay doesn't equal being bullied and/or personal tragedies.
June 7, 2019
TOTAL READING TIME: 3 hours, 39 minutes.
My first book for Pride Month 2019!
I want to start by saying that this is not a fluffy, romantic LGBTQ+ book, so if you don't like tragic stories about LGBTQ+ youth, this book is not for you and you probably shouldn't recommend it to a young person wanting to read happy stories about LGBTQ+ teenagers. With that said, the book is OwnVoices, so I understand why this book was written.
The main character and his voice reminds me of The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis. Both books also feature abusive or unsupportive households. The story also reminds me of The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth, in that it also features the main character going to a religious conversion therapy camp.
Honestly, I wasn't a fan of the narrative style since it doesn't use quotation marks when a character is speaking. It was a bit uncomfortable to read at first but I got used to it.
The book ends on a hopeful note, some of the adults learn their lesson, and I found the ending to be satisfying on the main character's behalf since there is closure and he got what he needed.
Again, this book is not what you're looking for if you want to read a cute, fluffy LGBTQ+ book. This book is tragic. This book is sad. This book--unfortunately--portrays the realities that a lot of queer young people still face today. But this book, like all OwnVoices books, needed to be written.
My first book for Pride Month 2019!
I want to start by saying that this is not a fluffy, romantic LGBTQ+ book, so if you don't like tragic stories about LGBTQ+ youth, this book is not for you and you probably shouldn't recommend it to a young person wanting to read happy stories about LGBTQ+ teenagers. With that said, the book is OwnVoices, so I understand why this book was written.
The main character and his voice reminds me of The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis. Both books also feature abusive or unsupportive households. The story also reminds me of The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth, in that it also features the main character going to a religious conversion therapy camp.
Honestly, I wasn't a fan of the narrative style since it doesn't use quotation marks when a character is speaking. It was a bit uncomfortable to read at first but I got used to it.
The book ends on a hopeful note, some of the adults learn their lesson, and I found the ending to be satisfying on the main character's behalf since there is closure and he got what he needed.
Again, this book is not what you're looking for if you want to read a cute, fluffy LGBTQ+ book. This book is tragic. This book is sad. This book--unfortunately--portrays the realities that a lot of queer young people still face today. But this book, like all OwnVoices books, needed to be written.
March 31, 2017
This book is just so, so …bland.
Here we have friendships built on the word, “hey”. That’s a whole lot of chemistry right there.
We get scenes where he goes to pick up his sister at choir, but she’s not there, and two seconds later he finds her. Then they go home, and - what was the point of these events?? There was no dialogue to make any of this relevant.
We also get paragraphs of descriptions for background characters all the way down to the colour of their hair roots …and I just can’t make myself care.
Meanwhile nothing actually happened.
I might’ve forgiven it if there was personality to the delivery. Humor? Emotion? Anything. I’d even take rage angst. Just flavor it somehow.
It’s one of those slice-of-life books that probably fun to write …but not exactly fun to read.
After learning this was about a conversion camp, I’m glad I quit when I did. Not in the mood for queer tragedy, thanks.
Here we have friendships built on the word, “hey”. That’s a whole lot of chemistry right there.
We get scenes where he goes to pick up his sister at choir, but she’s not there, and two seconds later he finds her. Then they go home, and - what was the point of these events?? There was no dialogue to make any of this relevant.
We also get paragraphs of descriptions for background characters all the way down to the colour of their hair roots …and I just can’t make myself care.
Meanwhile nothing actually happened.
I might’ve forgiven it if there was personality to the delivery. Humor? Emotion? Anything. I’d even take rage angst. Just flavor it somehow.
It’s one of those slice-of-life books that probably fun to write …but not exactly fun to read.
After learning this was about a conversion camp, I’m glad I quit when I did. Not in the mood for queer tragedy, thanks.
May 16, 2018
I was fairly skeptical of this book at first. I had read some less-than-enthusiastic reviews on Good Reads and was wary about the lack of quotation marks in the book, which I found unique having never seen a book without them. But once I started the story, I really got pulled in.
It Looks Like This is a very simplistic story that’s told with grace and personality. The characters are realistic - some are angering, and some I am thankful for.
It’s a story that shows the importance of using your voice to do what’s right, it’s a story about the unspoken power that parents have in their children’s lives and it’s a story about holding onto what you have because those things aren’t guaranteed.
I enjoyed this book very much and it’s a story that will stick with me.
It Looks Like This is a very simplistic story that’s told with grace and personality. The characters are realistic - some are angering, and some I am thankful for.
It’s a story that shows the importance of using your voice to do what’s right, it’s a story about the unspoken power that parents have in their children’s lives and it’s a story about holding onto what you have because those things aren’t guaranteed.
I enjoyed this book very much and it’s a story that will stick with me.
December 13, 2017
Possibly 3 1/2 VERY SAD stars for this one. This book was a heart breaker, its told from Mike's POV, he is a 14 year old who moved to Virginia within a year or two. His family dynamic is really difficult, overbearing, cold, and unhappy father and for most of the story a pushover for a mom. The only one with some sort of a brain appears to be the younger sister. Due to this dated family structure Mike is extremely sheltered, his thoughts are so simple and naive - yet I think its due to his parents keeping him so protected as well as the strong family religious beliefs. When he does begin to think for himself the book takes a harsh turn. I did not like the writing style "he said" mom said" I said" continuously through the story, yet I see it as a possibly way of the authors message of Mikes innocence to awakening?
January 14, 2017
I honestly don't think I have read a book that has left me so emotionally distraught and disheveled before, and yes I will admit that I actually cried. I have read numerous LGBT+ stories over the scope of my life with topics ranging from the stereotypical coming out story, to love stories set in Los Angeles and futuristic New York. However, not since reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe has a book in any genre left me feeling so moved. I have never read a book about conversion therapy before and my heart broke over how misguided and close minded people can be. Rafi's writing style went hand in hand with the main character Mikey's POV and his struggles of growing up in a religious family from the midwest. I found Mikey's growth to be strong and realistic. I especially loved his relationship with his sister Toby and the unspoken trust and love between them. I truly loved this book to the highest degree! EXTREMELY important to read as well, given the current political climate.
September 10, 2016
Bitterly sad LGBT teen fiction - I see it's getting flack for having tragic elements, which I do get - but it's not only tragic or wallowing in its tragicness, I didn't think - it turned into a bit of a PARENTS, LOVE YOUR GAY CHILDREN OR ELSE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU! psa for a while, but it also did some nice things in the end that made me choke up a bit. I don't know. And the prose is so stark and stilted that it's kind of interesting, for a YA problem novel. Also, I was super fascinated by the whole conversion camp thing, which isn't something I've read about before and actually made me shout OH MY GOD, NO WAY, OH NO WHAAAAT out loud at the book at one point. I am left with lingering sadness, though, even beyond the satisfaction of things looking better for the protagonist in the end.
I'm still thinking about it, but I'm okay with three stars. I think.
I'm still thinking about it, but I'm okay with three stars. I think.
October 2, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Be kind to yourself and your kids. Also fuck conversion therapy. I did finish it in waiting for a flight + the flight so thank you Hannah for the book <3.
September 23, 2016
Review originally posted at
All Books Considered: 3 STARS
This is such a hard book for me to review. I don't generally set out to read books that are devastating emotionally but this one did make me so sad with its intolerance. Mike's parents and some of the kids at school were so awful that it was hard to get past their actions and find any joy in reading this book, even if it is telling a very necessary story. The writing is very simple; I believe that it is meant to be a conversation/diary form from 15 year old Mike and it fits but there were times when I found myself longing for this story to be told with a bit more finesse or awareness. On one hand, there is such need for a story like this from the 15 year old's perspective and language but, on the other hand, the lack of context leave me reeling. This was well done but something was missing for me -- I feel such empathy for Mike and his situation but I cannot articulate why I didn't fully connect with him or his story.
For a realistic take on growing up gay without parental support, I highly recommend this. While my heart may not have fit exactly with this one, it was well done and is certainly a documentation of a tragedy that goes on every day for gay children and teenagers. It Looks Like This came out earlier this month on September 6, 2016, and you can purchase HERE.
This is such a hard book for me to review. I don't generally set out to read books that are devastating emotionally but this one did make me so sad with its intolerance. Mike's parents and some of the kids at school were so awful that it was hard to get past their actions and find any joy in reading this book, even if it is telling a very necessary story. The writing is very simple; I believe that it is meant to be a conversation/diary form from 15 year old Mike and it fits but there were times when I found myself longing for this story to be told with a bit more finesse or awareness. On one hand, there is such need for a story like this from the 15 year old's perspective and language but, on the other hand, the lack of context leave me reeling. This was well done but something was missing for me -- I feel such empathy for Mike and his situation but I cannot articulate why I didn't fully connect with him or his story.
For a realistic take on growing up gay without parental support, I highly recommend this. While my heart may not have fit exactly with this one, it was well done and is certainly a documentation of a tragedy that goes on every day for gay children and teenagers. It Looks Like This came out earlier this month on September 6, 2016, and you can purchase HERE.
I turn back and Sean is looking at me. For the first time I notice little flecks of orange in his eyes, around the inside of the irises. Only a few but they're there, like the first gold leaves in a brilliant green forest, the first gold leaves of fall. I watch the orange flecks disappear as his pupils dilate, just a little. All at once I realize how close he is.
September 8, 2016
Mike and his family move from Wisconsin to Virginia for his father's new job. Mike isn't thrilled, as he's in high school, but the family is used to doing what Mike's overbearing father desires. Quiet Mike, who loves art more than sports, doesn't fit in well with his religious family, or with a lot of the boys at his school. Quickly, he finds himself being bullied by several kids at school and pressured by his father to join a school sports team. But Mike finds comfort when he meets Sean, another kid at school, and the two become fast friends. However, other people at school have an eye on the pair's friendship, too.
This book is heartbreaking in many ways, but hard to describe without completely ruining the entire plot. It's a lovely gem of a LGBT book. It's difficult to read: the dialogue is all jammed together (no quotation marks, for example) and in my ARC, there wasn't even a space between the start of a new section of thought. Once you get used to that, it's easier to read, and you get into the flow of Mike's thoughts. Tension builds slowly, as you learn more about Mike, his life, and his inner thoughts and desires.
I wish this book could be standard reading for gay youth--and their parents. It's poignant and truthful, albeit it hurt my heart in many places. I don't typically seem to read a lot of YA novels with male narrators, but this is the second I've picked up recently, and it blew the other one out of the water. I quickly grew fond of Mike, whom I wanted to take in, and I loved his spunky younger sister, Toby. Mike's never-ending need for detail grows old at times (just get on with story already), but this is still a worthy read, and certainly a great tale for LGBT youth. It definitely affected me deeply.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 9/13/2016.
This book is heartbreaking in many ways, but hard to describe without completely ruining the entire plot. It's a lovely gem of a LGBT book. It's difficult to read: the dialogue is all jammed together (no quotation marks, for example) and in my ARC, there wasn't even a space between the start of a new section of thought. Once you get used to that, it's easier to read, and you get into the flow of Mike's thoughts. Tension builds slowly, as you learn more about Mike, his life, and his inner thoughts and desires.
I wish this book could be standard reading for gay youth--and their parents. It's poignant and truthful, albeit it hurt my heart in many places. I don't typically seem to read a lot of YA novels with male narrators, but this is the second I've picked up recently, and it blew the other one out of the water. I quickly grew fond of Mike, whom I wanted to take in, and I loved his spunky younger sister, Toby. Mike's never-ending need for detail grows old at times (just get on with story already), but this is still a worthy read, and certainly a great tale for LGBT youth. It definitely affected me deeply.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 9/13/2016.
August 3, 2019
🌈Pride Month readathon #2
✔️43. an "own voices" book
🌟🌟🌟💫 3.5 stars
This book started off very slow so it took me a hundred or so pages to really get into it. The writing style is distinct and reads differently emotionally, which I wasn't quite a fan of until the crux of the story. The story was bittersweet and made me really thankful that whilst I have my own personal struggles in the LGBTQ+ community, I'm able to be in a relationship with a girl and a lot of people in my life are accepting. It was hard to read at times, knowing that the events and issues in this book are a reality for people. Even today, no matter how 'progressive' we seem as a society, we've still got a long ways to go.
Thinking of the queer community with every LGBTQ+ read, those out and those not.
✔️43. an "own voices" book
🌟🌟🌟💫 3.5 stars
This book started off very slow so it took me a hundred or so pages to really get into it. The writing style is distinct and reads differently emotionally, which I wasn't quite a fan of until the crux of the story. The story was bittersweet and made me really thankful that whilst I have my own personal struggles in the LGBTQ+ community, I'm able to be in a relationship with a girl and a lot of people in my life are accepting. It was hard to read at times, knowing that the events and issues in this book are a reality for people. Even today, no matter how 'progressive' we seem as a society, we've still got a long ways to go.
Thinking of the queer community with every LGBTQ+ read, those out and those not.
Read
August 26, 2016The story is compelling, but I would not want to put it in the hands of a gay teen. Bury Your Gays is a trope I have seen a few too many times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2016
So fucking sad. I excuse it because it's written by an LGBT person and he's probably writing it from experience. But, still, it was so fucking sad.
December 24, 2018
my heart hurts. I can't say I "enjoyed" my reading experience, but I think this was an important read. It impacted me the way it should. Really great characters, even the minimal ones. Proper RTC
December 27, 2017
Une bonne histoire qui prend de l'épaisseur au fil des chapitres.
J'ai trouvé le rythme du début du livre un peu lent. Les choses ont mis du temps à se mettre en place. Par contre dans la deuxième partie, j'ai trouvé que l'histoire gagnait en profondeur. J'aurais même aimé qu'on approfondisse certaines choses et certains liens entre les personnages.
Un autre élément qui m'a un peu gêné c'est la syntaxe. La structure des phrases est un peu déroutante. L'auteur met des majuscules à certains mots en milieu de phrase, ne met pas tel ou tel élément de ponctuation... mais bon on s'y fait.
Je mets 5 étoiles car j'ai vraiment été totalement immergé dans l'histoire et dans ce que le personnage principal traverse. Ce qui au départ se présente comme un simple amour entre 2 adolescents permet en fait d'aborder plein de sujets notamment le point de vue de la religion sur l'homosexualité.
J'ai trouvé le rythme du début du livre un peu lent. Les choses ont mis du temps à se mettre en place. Par contre dans la deuxième partie, j'ai trouvé que l'histoire gagnait en profondeur. J'aurais même aimé qu'on approfondisse certaines choses et certains liens entre les personnages.
Un autre élément qui m'a un peu gêné c'est la syntaxe. La structure des phrases est un peu déroutante. L'auteur met des majuscules à certains mots en milieu de phrase, ne met pas tel ou tel élément de ponctuation... mais bon on s'y fait.
Je mets 5 étoiles car j'ai vraiment été totalement immergé dans l'histoire et dans ce que le personnage principal traverse. Ce qui au départ se présente comme un simple amour entre 2 adolescents permet en fait d'aborder plein de sujets notamment le point de vue de la religion sur l'homosexualité.
May 21, 2022
I'm angry, I'm sad. God, I'm so sad. This book is beautifully written. It's brutal. It made me cry so hard. My heart will be forever broken for Mike and Sean, my tragic children.
It looks like this:
Pink, mostly.
Puffs of orange just below.
The fiercest yellow way ahead, far, far ahead.
Red slashes all across.
All of it fading to blue, getting deeper and deeper as you go out.
...
We only saw it once because there wasn't much after that, and now we can't ever go again.
This is what I see when I want to remember the good parts. This is what I see when I think of him, when I let myself think of him.
It looks like this:
Pink, mostly.
Puffs of orange just below.
The fiercest yellow way ahead, far, far ahead.
Red slashes all across.
All of it fading to blue, getting deeper and deeper as you go out.
...
We only saw it once because there wasn't much after that, and now we can't ever go again.
This is what I see when I want to remember the good parts. This is what I see when I think of him, when I let myself think of him.
April 9, 2017
This was one of the most uninteresting books I've ever read in my life. The lack of quotation marks adds to the flatness of the story. There's a generic thing going on here where the kids play video games but for some reason aren't a part of video game culture, so it has a weird timelessness to it that keeps it from feeling real.
Also, it had the most awkward, depthless "romance" I've read in any book. And creepy grooming, not only from the pastor but the love interest himself. Yuck.
Also, it had the most awkward, depthless "romance" I've read in any book. And creepy grooming, not only from the pastor but the love interest himself. Yuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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