Review: And They Lived...
So officially, our book club server's official reading contest has started and this time I am hell bent on making out team win. Like literally, nothing can stop me from reading like a storm, Like baby, this bad boy is locked and loaded and ready to read like a god freaking damn hurricane.
Chase Arthur is a budding animator and hopeless romantic obsessed with Disney films and finding his true love, but he's plagued with the belief that he's not enough for anyone: he's recovering from an eating disorder and suffers from body dysmorphia fueled by his father, and can't quite figure out his gender identity. When Chase starts his freshman year of college, he has to navigate being away from home and missing his sister, finding his squad, and contending with his ex-best friend Leila who is gunning for the same exclusive mentorship. If only he can pull together a short for the freshman animation showcase at the end of the semester.
Then Chase meets Jack Reid, a pragmatic poet who worships words and longs to experience life outside of his sheltered world. But Chase throws everything into question for Jack, who is still discovering his sexual identity, having grown up in close-knit conservative family. Jack internalized a lot of homophobia from his parents and childhood best friend, who unexpectedly visit campus, which threatens to destroy their relationship. Chase will have to learn to love--and be enough for--himself, while discovering what it means to truly live.
Then Chase meets Jack Reid, a pragmatic poet who worships words and longs to experience life outside of his sheltered world. But Chase throws everything into question for Jack, who is still discovering his sexual identity, having grown up in close-knit conservative family. Jack internalized a lot of homophobia from his parents and childhood best friend, who unexpectedly visit campus, which threatens to destroy their relationship. Chase will have to learn to love--and be enough for--himself, while discovering what it means to truly live.
QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 4/5, I REALLY LOVED THE STORY, ESPECIALLY HOW CHASE WORKS THEMSELF OUT.
Possible Trigger Tags:
1. Mentions of homophobia
2. Misgendering
3. Mentions of eating disorders
4. Mentions of mental health problems
5. Body dysmorphia
6. Mentions of thoughts regarding self harm
7. Use of homophobic slurs
8. R-18 scenes
WHAT DID I FEEL ABOUT THE BOOK'S:
1. Writing Quality: The story is narrated in Chase's point of view, and it strays from the usual first person POV because it feels personal. Chase makes some really quirky comments in the middle of tough situations and same, I'd make those same comments if I was in Chase's position. Chase is an unreliable narrator when it comes to his surroundings or describing what is around him but one can see that he's actually living in the moment and his internal monologue just SLAPS. Y'all better sit your ass down and read this book.
2. Character Development: Personally I really felt like Chase Arthur is me. For years, literal years I have struggled with body dysphoria, body dysmorphia, depression, eating disorders, self harming thoughts and what not. And I really understand what is going on inside his mind because my own parents have poked fun at me regarding my body [I really am not the skinniest, you know, I'm a floofy bear] and it hurts. It eats at your self confidence and literally prevents you from loving yourself. Man I can't even look at the mirror, not even after years of people telling me that I am beautiful, I struggle to look at it because just like Chase, I'm struggling to find parts to love myself. I just want to give Chase a big hug because he deserves the world. I want to tell him that he's enough and that he's a wonderful person just for existing and there is nothing to be ashamed about just because you've got a jiggly body. The jiggly parts are easier to hug and love. I love a good jiggly body, they're so cuddly.
Jack Reid, mate you really need to get your shit together. Like seriously. You have some serious shit going on inside your mind and you need to get through it. Please get a therapist.
Rae, girl I love you so fucking much because she's been there for Chase no matter the fucking what. She literally radiates tiny little feral shit energy except that she's 6ft tall, which I absolutely dig. I just love the energy that she's radiating, like "gurl, I ain't got time for yo' shit so you better back yo ass up before I whoop yo ass in such a way you ain't ever walking again". Please, I just want her.
BENNY, BENNY BENNY BENNY BENNY, Chaos Italian Gay. What more do you want from him? He's literally gay defined right down to the Y. And I love him. I see myself acting like Benny when I'm off to college. I'm prolly supposed to be in college right now but who the heck cares? I'm still alive and kicking. And he's just so gay, man I aspire to be that out of the closet. Like so out of the closet, my closet will be ashamed of my fashion sense. BENNY I LOVE U.
3. Couldn't put it down- Ness: 9/10, I was dead tired yesterday because my mother dragged me out of the house but it finishes quicklyyyyyyyyyyyy.
4. Intellectual Depth: I think the main lesson that can come out of this book is loving and accepting yourself. Sometimes, it's hard to love yourself. Because there is always stuff, more like people that are always holding you back from being you. People are always trying to change you, taking out parts of yourself that they don't like and try to turn you into a version of yourself that they had thought themselves in their minds. But you don't have to be the version that people want. You can be yourself and still shine and fuck everyone else. Wow, I really don't know where I'm going with this, am I? Point is, I am angry and want to throw everything away because I'm sick and tired of being another person's version [cough family cough] and I love Chase so damn much that I see myself in him a whole lot. He's suffered through so much and just, ugh, I wanna hug him.
5. Plot: The plot didn't feel much to me. Because compared to the synopsis, nothing interesting happens. The dynamic between Jack and Chase might be understandable on some level but happens too quick. Also Leila and Chase enmity, I know they had some bad blood in the past, but nothing happens to show their enmity. Or their past is not much worked upon, that was an arc that should have been explored more instead of the romance I think. Like the story was about the Leila X Chase dynamic of being enemies and I just wanted to see more of it happening.
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