I read this book two summers ago and I don’t lie when I say that I still think about this book daily. “How could I have ever been ashamed of loving Dante Quintana?” Still breaks me to this day. The inexplicable logic of my life and Sammy and juliana in Hollywood are also some of my favorite books from Benjamin alire saenz and these left just as much of an impact on me. He’s an amazing writer
You didn’t mention a very important thing, the protagonists are Mexican-American, this book is so important because it gives two mexican boys a voice and a love story, which never happens. And I’m very very happy that you like it💕
I mean, I think that is the least important thing in the whole book, but it was still a good point and it could've been mentioned. But I really don't think race should make a book more important and acclaimed.
Tofu Bunny It's actually very important in the book. Dante' s feelings towards his culture and his extended family are a serious point, and shouldn't be treated as anything less. It even mentions both of the boys skin and heritage in the synopsis on the back BECAUSE it's such an important point. So yeah.
I mean, I read the book back in December of last year, so pardon me if I remember anything wrong, but from what is most noticeable in the book, I wouldn't call our their ethnicity or different cultures as a substantial point to the story. BUT, I can tell it really brought out the contrast between Ari and Dante's life, how each of their households function and how their ethnicity influences their lives and understanding. I like how Ari's implementation of Mexican culture was more visible, (in my opinion, if you beg to differ it's fine), while Dante's home was influenced a lot by the American household and family, so it just shows that clash between the characters and how their development throughout the story relies on par with that. But I feel like the whole Mexican-American thing is treated on a larger scale than it should be, yet your point is relevant and true in the story, so good job for that. Sorry if I offended anyone, I'm here to have a civil conversation. Thank you.
Ari's narration is one of the strongest ones I have ever read and both Ari and dante have such a distinct voice. Their relationship was so pure even though for the most part it was platonic and aah the representation was amazing put wasn't something that was given a lot of attention I think, it was just there. Other than that this was a beautiful book and one of my most fav LGBTQ+ book's and I am so bloody glad that you loved it.💕
I can’t convince you to read it or to NOT read it ; but I will say , I got into this book with no expectations (just another YA book and let’s see how it goes) , but after I read the last sentence I felt empty yet somehow completely content (it wasn’t a typical book hangover not they aren’t hard as hell to deal with) it was more about the fact that the book was a part of me (if that made sense) it was peaceful
when i first got this book, because of the title i thought it was going to be something regarding greek mythology. but i was very pleasantly surprised !! i could relate heavily with the two main characters, myself being a hispanic who identifies as lgbtq+ and like aristotle, it took me a really long time to accept that i was trans and went through this intense period of self hatred at one point. rereading it now theres several just little things that i can connect to or have done/experienced. like u mentioned how his parents knew he was gay and while i was able to come out to my parents on my own terms, they also mentioned how growing up they noticed signs of my being trans. i rlly love benjamin's writing style and i totally agree with you-his poetic form makes it rlly easy to binge read. he also mentioned he's working on a sequal titled "There Will Be Other Summers" and it's suppose to pick up where AADDTSOTU left off. there's been word in February on AADDTSOTU being adopted into a movie as well!! i'm just so happy that a gay hispanic man could write such a lovely story this is the representation that's needed and it was done so well!!
i love the way he talks about mexican american culture and slang and stuff cause that's really what it's like here in el paso. even the swimming pool they meet at is an actual place i've been there and my cousin went to austin high school (where aristotle goes in the book) like it's really cool seeing a story in a setting you know.
henry alberto (i think that's his name) is directing the movie you can check out his twitter he posted some things from the script he's writing, also check Benjamin Alire Saenz twitter and he has pics with the director but there's no other news other than they're working on casting and writing a script.
this book took my feelings, stepped on them, gave them back to me and then stepped on them again, fellas. I think I cried about 3 times while reading it.
Ari feeling confused about his identity and who he is as a person hit so deep with me. I felt like aristotal as a character made me feel more understood than anyone has ever then before. I could cry just thinking about it
It's also one of my favorite books I'm so happy that you liked it too! For me it's has "summer vibes". Maybe it's because I've read it for the first time in summer but it has that typical summer nostalgia if that makes sense I 100% agree that it's refreshing to have sexuality be one of the struggles a character is facing because it's usually impossible to separate from the rest The part of the aunt and how she was treated by Ari's family made me very emotional personally.
This is one of my all time favorite books even though the characters and their experiences could not have been more different from mine. Still I found them to be incredibly easy to relate to. I just loved all these people so much. I also loved your thoughts on it and am so happy you got to read it
Yes I agree I feel like no matter what you’re going through or where you’re coming from that characters struggles and stories are very easy to relate to.
I absolutely love this book! When I recommended it to my Mexican-American, bisexual friend last year, she also fell in love with it. Dealing with her ignorant family must be difficult for her, so I'm glad she gets to read about LGBT Mexican-American characters that she can relate to. Great review, by the way
I remember when I read this book a couple of years ago, I reread the ending way too many times, it gave (gives) me the same warm feeling I get when I reread the last scenes of HP (not the epilogue, like the actual final scenes of the battle).
I love what you said about his parents telling him he was in love with Dante. A lot of reviews I saw on goodreads thought that it cheapened the revelation and that it should have been Ari’s discovery, but it’s not just about him, it’s about his entire family and all the people in his sphere! The presence of families/parents in this book was so refreshing considering parents don’t usually do anything in teen books, and I love that they were in his life and growing with him.
Another book by the same author of TSoA (Madeline Miller) is "Circe" which is in the same style and if you like weird poetic stream of consciousness type novels "Girl Meets Boy" is a good shout. But it is quite an adjustment to read that and that's not really for everyone
I love that throughout the book you Catch Ari start to use some of the phrases that Dante uses. As Ari's view on life changes he starts to use Dante's phrases and he didn't even realize it.
The writing is beautifully done, the story is smooth and it goes along really well without pushing anything or slowing down. It was interesting in its own sense. I also agree, the ending was a total tear jerker and I couldn't stop breaking down in the last 50 pages. I related to this book awfully well. I also read it in one sitting, it was just... beautiful. Recommendations, if I may- Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic are a big yes. They aren't like this book at all, but the writing is excellent and have very underlying themes. Thank you for this review, Casey!
Hey we finally read the same book! I personally found the book okay, I don't usually go for contemporary and it was good for one. I agree though I enjoyed the writing and couldn't put it down. I related to main the main character because we both live in Texas and can't swim 😂 I am glad you loved the book after reading so much cruddy stories.
I watched the first part of this video three days ago and i went to my local bookstore and bought the book. I just finished reading it and i'd just like to thank you for reviewing it and introducing it to me. I just couldn't put it down, and it was so beautiful. I'm crying right now, i wish it wasn't over. This is one of my favorite books now, tysm
This is one of my favourite stand-alone books that I have ever read and it makes me so happy that you liked it! Also originally I did not think I would love it this much as the writing style definitely threw me off at first but Saenz just blew me away. ALSO I love your videos!
This book- IS SO GOOD. Like I know the writing style is so simple, so If you're a beginner it's definitely recommended to you! I invest so much of my time in reading this book. Absolutely loved it so much.
yup!! if u go on the author's twitter he posts sometimes about it. he posted like a year ago about how a screenwriter was writing it. and a pic was released early this year of the actors running lines. I don't keep up with it but I haven't heard much news since
If you haven’t read anything by Adam silvera yet I’d hiiiiighly recommend More Happy than Not :3 it’s a pretty incredible book! And as a Hispanic gay boi myself I’m glad you enjoyed it ❤️❤️
As a child of Mexican immigrants, I had never ever read a book where a Hispanic person was the main character. It made me feel so special and the fact that he was a part or the lgbtq+ community as well just made it even better, I'm so thankful for this book because it made me really analyze the representation of Latinex people in media. I will never ever get tired of reading this is book.
I first read this book when I was in tenth grade (I'm a sophomore in university now so it's been a little while since I first read it) and I still love this book as much as I did when I first read it to the point where I make it a habit to reread it at least once a year! When I first read this book I connected with Ari so much, during that time of my life I had much the same anger in me (not for the same reasons as Ari tho) and I felt completely disconnected from my siblings because they were also so much older than me (by the time I was born both my half-brother and half-sister were adults with their own lives) I felt so much like an only child and I felt I had to deal with so much just by myself so I loved reading this story from Ari's point of view and seeing someone who felt very much the same as I did! I also loved that it featured two Hispanic-American characters which I loved because I'm also Hispanic-American (Cuban tho not Mexican) and when I first read this book I didn't see a lot of representation for people like me. I, also, loved and connected with Dante so much especially whenever he spoke about how he felt he wasn't a real Mexican because I often feel like that myself about being Cuban because sure I speak Spanish at home and with all my family but I've never gone back to visit the home of my parents like some of my other American born cousins have and I don't know the language perfectly despite it being my first language and the language I've spoken the longest in my life, so being able to read about a Hispanic-American character who also felt that way sort of calmed me down and made me think that maybe I'm not the only one who feels like this about their heritage. Overall, I loved this book and these characters so much! Benjamin Alire Saenz just took my heart and ran away with it and I'm super excited for the sequel but I'm also really happy with just what we have now with Aristotle and Dante. P.S. Super glad you read and reviewed this book and that you liked it! I love watching your videos and I'm super glad you liked one of my favorite books (my heart probably couldn't have taken it if you didn't like it lol but I still would've respected your opinion of course!)
Oof sorry for the super long comment! It's just this is my favorite book of all time and even tho I tried to condense my thoughts I guess it didn't go so well lol
Ari was an interesting character to read about. I loved the part when he beat the guy who beat Dante up, I was rooting!!! I related to Ari by how he feels disconnected from his dad, because I feel disconnected from my dad even tho we talk to every day. My emotions were from loving him to kinda disliking him when he had his outbursts and he ended up hurting the people he yelled at. I love him tho because it's rare for a character to change my emotions as quick as Aristotle Mendoza. *"There are worse things in the world than a boy who likes to kiss other boys."*
I'm so glad that you liked the book!! I remember reading it years ago when I was trying to figure out some parts of my life, and it always makes me smile and cry. Your review was complex and lovely, and a pleasure to hear 💓
Absolutely adored this book. I read it two or three years ago when I was in a book club and I loved it so much that I would highlight passages and quotes that spoke to me
i read this book in one day i was so obsessed w it (and cuz of the hurricane) it’s one of my favorite books and i cant get over the impact it left on me :)
While I was reading the first section I almost gave up on it. I then realized that I absolutely loved the writing style. My older sister gave me the book years ago and I had lost it. I got it again for Christmas. I am so happy that I read this book. It actually helped me with my own writing style. It’s a gorgeous book and I would definitely recommend it to everyone. It’s like way better then Simon vs the Homo sapiens agenda (the love Simon book). I don’t know how to explain it other then beautiful.
I know that it's quite late for me to be commenting on this video, but I really love this book so much. I myself am a British Indian teenager so whilst I have no idea what they're saying sometimes when they speak in Spanish, I relate to their struggles with being second generation children. I especially relate to Dante when he says that he isn't a 'true Mexican' due to his struggles to relate to his extended family. I myself have relatives that live in India, England and America and I find it hard to relate to some of them and vice versa. It's especially hard when you are in the situation that both boys are in, because sometimes you feel like you are trapped between two worlds, neither one truly accepting you. In their case, they probably feel like they are trapped between the American world and the Mexican world. It feels like in the book, Ari feels this the most for some reason. It's really awkward when you can't relate to your friends who are outside of your ethnic community and vice versa. Anyway, I'm glad that you like the book so much, it shocked when I first listened to it on audiobook.
This book was extraordinary. I loved every moment of it, and I actually teared up a bit. Also, I really identified with Dante's struggle with his racial identity and not matching with what he thought was expected of a Mexican son. Gorgeous book!
i actually ended reading this by accident and to this day it’s still one of my favorites my friend and i used to pick random books for each other and she grabbed it off the shelf and handed it to me. i swearrrrr i was so iffy about it but i love it so much literally makes my warm
I loved the book so so so much, just as much as call me by your name but i can't compare them, it's really really good, the words, the people, the metaphors everything
Okay never heard of this book before this video, but I decided to read it after your non-spoiler review and.... Holy. Crap. 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭😭 I read it in 2.5 hours. I completely agree with everything you said. The pacing was absolutely perfect, the characters were real, the emotions were raw. When Dante revealed that he was gay and that it was the late 80s, I knew bad things were going to happen. But I'm so glad that Dante and Ari had each other. I think my favorite part is I got a hint that they might end up together early on in the book, but it was such a complicated journey and Ari was so emotionally frustrated that the ending almost felt like a plot twist. But it wasn't! Looking back, it's like all these puzzle pieces fall together and it's so obvious, but only at the end.
I love Aristotle and Dante so much. This is one of my favorite books of all time. Since you loved this book so much I highly recommend you read Fated Paths by Tat Kulisch. It's not poetic like Ari and Dante, but the stories of each character are so real and their relationships with each other are so fun and true, it's just so much fun reading about them, and heart warming too. Please, please , please check it out. I really think you'll enjoy it.
I loved that book so much. The family, the relationship between ari and Dante, and the writing style was amazing. I also connected pretty strongly with Dante not feeling "Mexican enough" I'm Cuban and being surrounded by them sometimes I feel like the gringa even though I'm still pretty Cuban. I also have a cousin who is male and has grown in the Hispanic machismo atmosphere and he is sexually confused. Overall I connected with the characters and I loved the book the moment I started till the end. Wow this is really long I just love the book so much. I'm glad you loved it too Casey. I enjoy your videos and I value your opinion.
i originally read the book bc i thought it was like a fantasy thing like ‘what if aristotle and dante were friends’...clearly it was not about historical figures...anyways it’s definitely one of my favorite books
i fucking love this book and holy shit my favorite aspect of the book is definitely the dialogue. like its so real but funny and vulnerable and heartbreaking all at the same time?????? amazing
I borrowed this book from the library after seeing the cover. I had no clue what it was about, but I am SO happy I read it. It is truly beautifully written
I really enjoyed hearing your perspective on this book. I thought they were referring to aristotle from ancient times. I usually don't read a lot of fiction or realistic fiction books, mostly non fiction but this sounds like something i'll enjoy.
This book helped me so much. As an lgbt Mexican American. Ironically living in the city the story takes place. And the author is apparently a professor the the University here
I agree with your thoughts about the book and I share the excitement. I read it in English and Spanish. It was fun to imagine Mexican-American boys bond in such a special way. It was sooo well written and is so unique. It's already one of my favorite books ever. The constant laughter of Ari and Dante and their conversations were great. It's cool when teens are talking about nerdy things, in love with learning. You don't just love the main characters. You love the parents too. What was hard to believe was each of the 4 parents of the 2 teens were supportive of their kids being gay and being boyfriends. That was the part of the book that wasn't believable. It was wonderful, but not believable. The odds of all 4 being happy about this in the 1980s, in Texas, are very low. I heard the sequel was coming out. Anybody know when? Even though these characters have lots of problems, they aren't hustling for sex, not doing drugs (except for a little weed), not running away from home. I could imagine myself as Dante. This book was beyond amazing and groundbreaking.
This book is so important to me, especially how ari and dante have issues with their identity but it made me laugh too but on the next page i was sobbing
Couldn't agree more with this review! It's so well rounded going beyond figuring sexuality. . And.. I also melted into a puddle in the last 10 pages of the book 😭♥️
Thank you for doing this review. I was apprehensive about reading this after looking at some of the negative reviews. Your review convinced me it's really a book I'd get into.
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Are you more of an Ari or a Dante person? I'm mostly honest, artistic and kind like Dante, but also have the lonely and sad vibe of Aristotle.
I liked it as well! It wasn't perfect to me, but very good. What I liked the most was the family relations, they were very realistic and heartwarming in a way. I have read many YA books where the parents are kinda depicted as the "bad guys", and honestly I hate that. So this book was very refreshing!
I read this book two summers ago and I don’t lie when I say that I still think about this book daily. “How could I have ever been ashamed of loving Dante Quintana?” Still breaks me to this day. The inexplicable logic of my life and Sammy and juliana in Hollywood are also some of my favorite books from Benjamin alire saenz and these left just as much of an impact on me. He’s an amazing writer
I read this book about 5 years ago and I still lay awake thinking of that line.
That's still the best quote I've ever read 😄
Yes, that and “I bet you could find all the secrets of the universe in someone else’s hand.”
YES
to answer the question in the thumbnail, *yes*
You didn’t mention a very important thing, the protagonists are Mexican-American, this book is so important because it gives two mexican boys a voice and a love story, which never happens.
And I’m very very happy that you like it💕
I mean, I think that is the least important thing in the whole book, but it was still a good point and it could've been mentioned. But I really don't think race should make a book more important and acclaimed.
Tofu Bunny It's actually very important in the book. Dante' s feelings towards his culture and his extended family are a serious point, and shouldn't be treated as anything less. It even mentions both of the boys skin and heritage in the synopsis on the back BECAUSE it's such an important point. So yeah.
Cece Burton exactly, thank you 🙏🏻
I mean, I read the book back in December of last year, so pardon me if I remember anything wrong, but from what is most noticeable in the book, I wouldn't call our their ethnicity or different cultures as a substantial point to the story. BUT, I can tell it really brought out the contrast between Ari and Dante's life, how each of their households function and how their ethnicity influences their lives and understanding. I like how Ari's implementation of Mexican culture was more visible, (in my opinion, if you beg to differ it's fine), while Dante's home was influenced a lot by the American household and family, so it just shows that clash between the characters and how their development throughout the story relies on par with that. But I feel like the whole Mexican-American thing is treated on a larger scale than it should be, yet your point is relevant and true in the story, so good job for that. Sorry if I offended anyone, I'm here to have a civil conversation. Thank you.
Tofu Bunny Don't sweat it. I appreciate your reply.
That was THE book that made me regain faith in YA
I felt exactly the same way
what is "YA"?
Adey Bakria young adult
Xx
i still can’t believe it’s actually a ya novel, it’s so much more mature and profound than a vast majority of ya books
Ari's narration is one of the strongest ones I have ever read and both Ari and dante have such a distinct voice. Their relationship was so pure even though for the most part it was platonic and aah the representation was amazing put wasn't something that was given a lot of attention I think, it was just there. Other than that this was a beautiful book and one of my most fav LGBTQ+ book's and I am so bloody glad that you loved it.💕
damn this vid and the comments are really trying to convince me to read this
readwithcindy you should do it !
i cant wait for your review❤️
so when will you read this huh
READ IT READ IT READ IT READ ITTTT
I can’t convince you to read it or to NOT read it ; but I will say , I got into this book with no expectations (just another YA book and let’s see how it goes) , but after I read the last sentence I felt empty yet somehow completely content (it wasn’t a typical book hangover not they aren’t hard as hell to deal with) it was more about the fact that the book was a part of me (if that made sense) it was peaceful
when i first got this book, because of the title i thought it was going to be something regarding greek mythology. but i was very pleasantly surprised !! i could relate heavily with the two main characters, myself being a hispanic who identifies as lgbtq+ and like aristotle, it took me a really long time to accept that i was trans and went through this intense period of self hatred at one point. rereading it now theres several just little things that i can connect to or have done/experienced. like u mentioned how his parents knew he was gay and while i was able to come out to my parents on my own terms, they also mentioned how growing up they noticed signs of my being trans. i rlly love benjamin's writing style and i totally agree with you-his poetic form makes it rlly easy to binge read. he also mentioned he's working on a sequal titled "There Will Be Other Summers" and it's suppose to pick up where AADDTSOTU left off. there's been word in February on AADDTSOTU being adopted into a movie as well!! i'm just so happy that a gay hispanic man could write such a lovely story this is the representation that's needed and it was done so well!!
*internally screams*
It's been revealed by the author that that's not the title of the book.
Why would you think it's about greek mythology? Aristotle was a philosopher and Dante was an Italian poet and philosopher
i love the way he talks about mexican american culture and slang and stuff cause that's really what it's like here in el paso. even the swimming pool they meet at is an actual place i've been there and my cousin went to austin high school (where aristotle goes in the book) like it's really cool seeing a story in a setting you know.
and holy shit did you know this book is being turned into a movie?!
lolita WHAT!?! Where did you see the news??
henry alberto (i think that's his name) is directing the movie you can check out his twitter he posted some things from the script he's writing, also check Benjamin Alire Saenz twitter and he has pics with the director but there's no other news other than they're working on casting and writing a script.
@@iminpayne4042 YEESSS I hope this happens so much!!!
I love the format of the book, chapter lengths, and punctuating certain chapters with poems.
this book took my feelings, stepped on them, gave them back to me and then stepped on them again, fellas. I think I cried about 3 times while reading it.
"I don't need the rain I need you" ahhhh that's my favorite part of the book😂
Ari feeling confused about his identity and who he is as a person hit so deep with me. I felt like aristotal as a character made me feel more understood than anyone has ever then before. I could cry just thinking about it
It's also one of my favorite books I'm so happy that you liked it too! For me it's has "summer vibes". Maybe it's because I've read it for the first time in summer but it has that typical summer nostalgia if that makes sense
I 100% agree that it's refreshing to have sexuality be one of the struggles a character is facing because it's usually impossible to separate from the rest
The part of the aunt and how she was treated by Ari's family made me very emotional personally.
This is one of my all time favorite books even though the characters and their experiences could not have been more different from mine. Still I found them to be incredibly easy to relate to. I just loved all these people so much. I also loved your thoughts on it and am so happy you got to read it
Yes I agree I feel like no matter what you’re going through or where you’re coming from that characters struggles and stories are very easy to relate to.
I am so happy that you loved this book so much. It's one of my favorite books and it means so much to me and I am very glad that you enjoyed it too
i love this book, as a gay girl with a military father i connected a lot with ari, even though our relationship is much better
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS EVER
I absolutely love this book! When I recommended it to my Mexican-American, bisexual friend last year, she also fell in love with it. Dealing with her ignorant family must be difficult for her, so I'm glad she gets to read about LGBT Mexican-American characters that she can relate to. Great review, by the way
I remember when I read this book a couple of years ago, I reread the ending way too many times, it gave (gives) me the same warm feeling I get when I reread the last scenes of HP (not the epilogue, like the actual final scenes of the battle).
I love what you said about his parents telling him he was in love with Dante. A lot of reviews I saw on goodreads thought that it cheapened the revelation and that it should have been Ari’s discovery, but it’s not just about him, it’s about his entire family and all the people in his sphere! The presence of families/parents in this book was so refreshing considering parents don’t usually do anything in teen books, and I love that they were in his life and growing with him.
I love this book, so I'm glad you enjoyed it!
book rec: If you like poetic books, DEFINITELY read The Song of Achilles!! It's my all-time favorite 😃
Another book by the same author of TSoA (Madeline Miller) is "Circe" which is in the same style and if you like weird poetic stream of consciousness type novels "Girl Meets Boy" is a good shout. But it is quite an adjustment to read that and that's not really for everyone
AGREED! Honestly, Tsoa is one of the most beautifully written books i've ever read! My heart aches everytime i think about it.
I'm crying thank you so much for reviewing the book! It really is an amazing read and it tells you so so much about them and ugh!!!! Thank you!
I read this when i was 14. I've never came across another book that resonated with me so deeply. thank you for you're a review you were spot on!
I love that throughout the book you Catch Ari start to use some of the phrases that Dante uses. As Ari's view on life changes he starts to use Dante's phrases and he didn't even realize it.
I love that the chapters for each section are like diary entries. Kinda makes it feel more personal.
Wifi is currently down but I’ll use my data to watch you 💛✨
I really want to hear Dante’s whole perspective
just screamed but ahhh sometimes i wake up thinking about this book and how beautiful it was and i wanna reread it
The writing is beautifully done, the story is smooth and it goes along really well without pushing anything or slowing down. It was interesting in its own sense. I also agree, the ending was a total tear jerker and I couldn't stop breaking down in the last 50 pages. I related to this book awfully well. I also read it in one sitting, it was just... beautiful. Recommendations, if I may- Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic are a big yes. They aren't like this book at all, but the writing is excellent and have very underlying themes. Thank you for this review, Casey!
I’ve never been more obsessed with a book, the book’s coming to an end for me, and I’m literally so upset and planning on reading it again.
I was supposed to reread this book this summer, thanks for reminding me! Cool to hear your thoughts about it.
I’m so happy you finally reviewed this book 💕💕
Dante is too pure. We have to protect him at all costs!
Hey we finally read the same book! I personally found the book okay, I don't usually go for contemporary and it was good for one. I agree though I enjoyed the writing and couldn't put it down. I related to main the main character because we both live in Texas and can't swim 😂 I am glad you loved the book after reading so much cruddy stories.
I finished the book yesterday and OMFG I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. Im hoping we get a movie
I watched the first part of this video three days ago and i went to my local bookstore and bought the book. I just finished reading it and i'd just like to thank you for reviewing it and introducing it to me. I just couldn't put it down, and it was so beautiful. I'm crying right now, i wish it wasn't over. This is one of my favorite books now, tysm
This is one of my favourite stand-alone books that I have ever read and it makes me so happy that you liked it! Also originally I did not think I would love it this much as the writing style definitely threw me off at first but Saenz just blew me away. ALSO I love your videos!
How could i not :)
"if you liked cmbyn" aight lets buy the book
This book- IS SO GOOD. Like I know the writing style is so simple, so If you're a beginner it's definitely recommended to you! I invest so much of my time in reading this book. Absolutely loved it so much.
omg finally a book I have also read haha.. and u liked it! yes!
and the book is being made into a movie!! I can't wait 😫
yup!! if u go on the author's twitter he posts sometimes about it. he posted like a year ago about how a screenwriter was writing it. and a pic was released early this year of the actors running lines. I don't keep up with it but I haven't heard much news since
If you haven’t read anything by Adam silvera yet I’d hiiiiighly recommend More Happy than Not :3 it’s a pretty incredible book! And as a Hispanic gay boi myself I’m glad you enjoyed it ❤️❤️
As a child of Mexican immigrants, I had never ever read a book where a Hispanic person was the main character. It made me feel so special and the fact that he was a part or the lgbtq+ community as well just made it even better, I'm so thankful for this book because it made me really analyze the representation of Latinex people in media. I will never ever get tired of reading this is book.
I first read this book when I was in tenth grade (I'm a sophomore in university now so it's been a little while since I first read it) and I still love this book as much as I did when I first read it to the point where I make it a habit to reread it at least once a year! When I first read this book I connected with Ari so much, during that time of my life I had much the same anger in me (not for the same reasons as Ari tho) and I felt completely disconnected from my siblings because they were also so much older than me (by the time I was born both my half-brother and half-sister were adults with their own lives) I felt so much like an only child and I felt I had to deal with so much just by myself so I loved reading this story from Ari's point of view and seeing someone who felt very much the same as I did! I also loved that it featured two Hispanic-American characters which I loved because I'm also Hispanic-American (Cuban tho not Mexican) and when I first read this book I didn't see a lot of representation for people like me. I, also, loved and connected with Dante so much especially whenever he spoke about how he felt he wasn't a real Mexican because I often feel like that myself about being Cuban because sure I speak Spanish at home and with all my family but I've never gone back to visit the home of my parents like some of my other American born cousins have and I don't know the language perfectly despite it being my first language and the language I've spoken the longest in my life, so being able to read about a Hispanic-American character who also felt that way sort of calmed me down and made me think that maybe I'm not the only one who feels like this about their heritage. Overall, I loved this book and these characters so much! Benjamin Alire Saenz just took my heart and ran away with it and I'm super excited for the sequel but I'm also really happy with just what we have now with Aristotle and Dante.
P.S. Super glad you read and reviewed this book and that you liked it! I love watching your videos and I'm super glad you liked one of my favorite books (my heart probably couldn't have taken it if you didn't like it lol but I still would've respected your opinion of course!)
Oof sorry for the super long comment! It's just this is my favorite book of all time and even tho I tried to condense my thoughts I guess it didn't go so well lol
Ari was an interesting character to read about. I loved the part when he beat the guy who beat Dante up, I was rooting!!!
I related to Ari by how he feels disconnected from his dad, because I feel disconnected from my dad even tho we talk to every day. My emotions were from loving him to kinda disliking him when he had his outbursts and he ended up hurting the people he yelled at. I love him tho because it's rare for a character to change my emotions as quick as Aristotle Mendoza.
*"There are worse things in the world than a boy who likes to kiss other boys."*
THE BEST FREAKING BOOK EVER
I'm so glad that you liked the book!! I remember reading it years ago when I was trying to figure out some parts of my life, and it always makes me smile and cry. Your review was complex and lovely, and a pleasure to hear 💓
Absolutely adored this book. I read it two or three years ago when I was in a book club and I loved it so much that I would highlight passages and quotes that spoke to me
I couldn’t put it down, too. I read it in a day. Also at the beach! Loved it so much can’t wait for the sequel and movie.
i read this book in one day i was so obsessed w it (and cuz of the hurricane) it’s one of my favorite books and i cant get over the impact it left on me :)
Never clicked on a video so fast😍
While I was reading the first section I almost gave up on it. I then realized that I absolutely loved the writing style. My older sister gave me the book years ago and I had lost it. I got it again for Christmas. I am so happy that I read this book. It actually helped me with my own writing style. It’s a gorgeous book and I would definitely recommend it to everyone. It’s like way better then Simon vs the Homo sapiens agenda (the love Simon book). I don’t know how to explain it other then beautiful.
I’m so happy you liked this book, I got to read it a month ago exactly and it still lingers my mind. It has easily become one of my favorite reads. ❤️
i swear to God, after i read CMBYN (which i'm truly disappointed), i read this book! it revived me and it's purely magical!
I know that it's quite late for me to be commenting on this video, but I really love this book so much. I myself am a British Indian teenager so whilst I have no idea what they're saying sometimes when they speak in Spanish, I relate to their struggles with being second generation children. I especially relate to Dante when he says that he isn't a 'true Mexican' due to his struggles to relate to his extended family. I myself have relatives that live in India, England and America and I find it hard to relate to some of them and vice versa. It's especially hard when you are in the situation that both boys are in, because sometimes you feel like you are trapped between two worlds, neither one truly accepting you. In their case, they probably feel like they are trapped between the American world and the Mexican world. It feels like in the book, Ari feels this the most for some reason. It's really awkward when you can't relate to your friends who are outside of your ethnic community and vice versa. Anyway, I'm glad that you like the book so much, it shocked when I first listened to it on audiobook.
i’m twelve and a lesbian and i asked my english teacher for lgbtq+ books and she recommended this and i got so excited i shared it with everyone.
this book makes such a safe space for me. i'm so glad you actually liked it omg
his brother is in prison not jail it clearly states in the book
Great review...
...and totally sweet book. It is an easy read but the pages pack a punch. I had a tear in my eye by the end too. 💯% ❤ for this book!!
I will definitely check out this book. As always, your reviews are so amazing and its good to know your point of view on all kinds of books.
This book was extraordinary. I loved every moment of it, and I actually teared up a bit. Also, I really identified with Dante's struggle with his racial identity and not matching with what he thought was expected of a Mexican son. Gorgeous book!
I recently discovered my love of reading books and this is my favourite book so far. Absolutely loved it!
I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with you more, I loved this book so much! Great review and tbh I think your spoiler free part was very good too 👌🏽
i actually ended reading this by accident and to this day it’s still one of my favorites my friend and i used to pick random books for each other and she grabbed it off the shelf and handed it to me. i swearrrrr i was so iffy about it but i love it so much literally makes my warm
Perfect for binge reading-
I read it in 1 day :)
I loved the book so so so much, just as much as call me by your name but i can't compare them, it's really really good, the words, the people, the metaphors everything
Okay never heard of this book before this video, but I decided to read it after your non-spoiler review and.... Holy. Crap. 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭😭 I read it in 2.5 hours. I completely agree with everything you said. The pacing was absolutely perfect, the characters were real, the emotions were raw. When Dante revealed that he was gay and that it was the late 80s, I knew bad things were going to happen. But I'm so glad that Dante and Ari had each other. I think my favorite part is I got a hint that they might end up together early on in the book, but it was such a complicated journey and Ari was so emotionally frustrated that the ending almost felt like a plot twist. But it wasn't! Looking back, it's like all these puzzle pieces fall together and it's so obvious, but only at the end.
This is one of my favourite books and I loved the way you reviewed it! If you liked this one I'd suggest The Gentleman's Guide To Vice And Virtue
Now I immediately want to reread it also I recommend checking out other books by the author because they're all so amazing
I war so happy they came out with a sequel
I love Aristotle and Dante so much. This is one of my favorite books of all time. Since you loved this book so much I highly recommend you read Fated Paths by Tat Kulisch. It's not poetic like Ari and Dante, but the stories of each character are so real and their relationships with each other are so fun and true, it's just so much fun reading about them, and heart warming too. Please, please , please check it out. I really think you'll enjoy it.
I was so scared you wouldn’t like it 😊
also your so calm in this video, guess it’s a side affect of the book 👀
I loved that book so much. The family, the relationship between ari and Dante, and the writing style was amazing. I also connected pretty strongly with Dante not feeling "Mexican enough" I'm Cuban and being surrounded by them sometimes I feel like the gringa even though I'm still pretty Cuban. I also have a cousin who is male and has grown in the Hispanic machismo atmosphere and he is sexually confused. Overall I connected with the characters and I loved the book the moment I started till the end. Wow this is really long I just love the book so much. I'm glad you loved it too Casey. I enjoy your videos and I value your opinion.
i originally read the book bc i thought it was like a fantasy thing like ‘what if aristotle and dante were friends’...clearly it was not about historical figures...anyways it’s definitely one of my favorite books
i fucking love this book and holy shit my favorite aspect of the book is definitely the dialogue. like its so real but funny and vulnerable and heartbreaking all at the same time?????? amazing
I borrowed this book from the library after seeing the cover. I had no clue what it was about, but I am SO happy I read it. It is truly beautifully written
I just finished the book and I'm love...it was so light and sweet and it made me feel very warm inside. I loved it so much
yassss!!! had to read this for one of my college courses and fell in love
I really enjoyed hearing your perspective on this book. I thought they were referring to aristotle from ancient times. I usually don't read a lot of fiction or realistic fiction books, mostly non fiction but this sounds like something i'll enjoy.
hi yes I love this book I hope you love it as much as I do because uh ITS FANTASTIC
this is one of my favourite books! great video - thanks for talking about it :^)
This book helped me so much. As an lgbt Mexican American. Ironically living in the city the story takes place. And the author is apparently a professor the the University here
Just finished reading it for the third time and i loved it as much as i did the first time
I haven't finished the video yet, I'm only at the beginning but the idea behind the book sounds good.
I just finished reading this book 10 minutes ago... I absolutely loved this
I agree with your thoughts about the book and I share the excitement. I read it in English and Spanish. It was fun to imagine Mexican-American boys bond in such a special way. It was sooo well written and is so unique. It's already one of my favorite books ever. The constant laughter of Ari and Dante and their conversations were great. It's cool when teens are talking about nerdy things, in love with learning. You don't just love the main characters. You love the parents too. What was hard to believe was each of the 4 parents of the 2 teens were supportive of their kids being gay and being boyfriends. That was the part of the book that wasn't believable. It was wonderful, but not believable. The odds of all 4 being happy about this in the 1980s, in Texas, are very low. I heard the sequel was coming out. Anybody know when? Even though these characters have lots of problems, they aren't hustling for sex, not doing drugs (except for a little weed), not running away from home. I could imagine myself as Dante. This book was beyond amazing and groundbreaking.
This book is so important to me, especially how ari and dante have issues with their identity but it made me laugh too but on the next page i was sobbing
I can’t wait to read
This is definitely my favorite book of all times
I love this book so much I can't even explain
So... "A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" for the next vid???
Couldn't agree more with this review! It's so well rounded going beyond figuring sexuality. .
And.. I also melted into a puddle in the last 10 pages of the book 😭♥️
I love this book. Can i just say I love this book so much too?! Aaah!! I am so feeling it. Also can't believe i just found your chanel omg subbing!
I would never think to read this book but I would like to! Thanks for this video!
Just finished this book. First ya novel for me after five years. So beautifully written and to the point.
Thank you for doing this review. I was apprehensive about reading this after looking at some of the negative reviews. Your review convinced me it's really a book I'd get into.
this book took me forever to pick up, but it honestly changed my life lol.
I absolutely love your reviews ❤️
I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Are you more of an Ari or a Dante person?
I'm mostly honest, artistic and kind like Dante, but also have the lonely and sad vibe of Aristotle.
i was so scared you were going to trash talk aristotle and dante oh my god. im so glad you liked it.
I liked it as well! It wasn't perfect to me, but very good. What I liked the most was the family relations, they were very realistic and heartwarming in a way. I have read many YA books where the parents are kinda depicted as the "bad guys", and honestly I hate that. So this book was very refreshing!