Welcome to Litsy!

I desperately wanted to devour Sáenz's prose as keenly as I did while reading his first novel, but I find myself terribly disappointed with the sequel. The repetitiveness of the narrative, two-dimensional (dare I say boring?) characters made for a tedious reading experience, and I found myself losing interest in the worldly-beyond-years, philosophical leads. Their voices were captivating at the beginning, but lacklustre and angsty in the end.

WOW Anna you have seriously spoiled me! I love everything in my package! Especially the socks and blanket and dino book pins 💖 You really nailed the fall goodies 🍂
The Book Eaters will be added to my #scarathlon tbr and I can't wait to finally read the Aristotle and Dante sequel. Thank you so much!!
#FFFS @Graciouswarriorprincess @Avanders @Chrissyreadit

I was low-key disappointed with this sequel. I 💜 the original so much & did love spending more time with the characters. But so much of the story felt unrealistic. Maybe I‘ve grown cynical, but the universally positive friendships, ideal parent/child relationships, & wise-and-articulate-beyond-their-years teenagers didn‘t ring true for me. The story also meandered a LOT before dropping some big plot points (& an ending) that felt underdeveloped.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#SeriesLove2023

My next #Bookopoly spin lead me to Recommended By Your Library. I chose Aristotle and Dante because it is due back to the library soon and that‘s recommendation enough for me. 🤣

#12BooksOf2022
@Andrew65

I liked the first book a lot, and kind of wish they'd just left it as a standalone. This one felt very repetitive and even cringey at times. The audiobook is read by Lin Manuel Miranda, which I did enjoy.

Honestly, I liked this book more than the first one! I felt the story and characters were incredible. The ending was really good. An incredible LGBTQ+ story featuring an interesting perspective from a scary time. I haven‘t seen aids actually talked about in a young adult book and I was glad that it was discussed. The pacing was a little off but overall a really good story that I loved!

Unlike the first, this was emotional, heart-wrenching and tough. They are some rough waters. Set during the AIDS pandemic, Aristotle is just beginning to discover who he is (part of which is his identity as a gay man). This book, although simply written, is hard. Although it started to feel like every character was a philosopher, I‘m glad I finished it. The two books together, are sweet and magical, as well as real. They are life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wanted to love it. And there were parts I loved, but there were parts I didn‘t. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda and I could literally listen to him narrate a dishwasher manual and be happy so it‘s a soft pick for me.

Thank you so much @kellyann28 for my #sliceofsummerswap package! I am looking forward to seeing what happens next with Aristotle and Dante! I love all the pampering goodies (definitely doing a mask today!), the coozie is perfect for a sparking water, and the bookmarks are super cute (love the Leslie Knope one).

This is a tough one…. It doesn‘t live up to the first book, or at least my memory of it, but that‘s not just it. I think that a lot of it is just overwritten, a bit repetitive and a lot of extra. Then every little issue/conflict was fixed easy-peasy. There is a moment in which a minor character is pushed to come out - and that just didn‘t sit well with me, or really the rest of the story I think. Oof. I wanted to love it so much.

Onwards to the sequel!

Of course it‘s not as good as the first book, but I liked it anyway. The story was in turns slow and overly dramatic, but I liked seeing Ari‘s growth and the development of his relationships. And I liked being reminded of how much I like reading about good, smart kids.

The youth participating in programs at my work talked to Mr. Sáenz, who is insightful with a breadth of experience, but I didn‘t quite finish this book. Having finished, I can say it‘s stronger than the first book.
~
The teeny inconsistency captured here probably would have blown by me if I weren‘t listening while reading. Miranda‘s narration corrected the error & changed “house” to “room.”

At first, I struggled with this book. My mind was not open and then things happened in Florida politics and with Disney, and I began to have different conversations with different people who began to make sense and proved my thinking was clouded. This book made me think, made me love, made me cry, and made me a better person.

"Don't ever let anybody tell you that war is something beautiful or heroic. When people say war is hell, war is hell. Cowards start wars and the brave fight them"

This quote hits pretty hard today given the current circumstances in Ukraine. ?

4 bingos on my January #BookSpinBingo board.

Finished my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin books, too.

Poetic, romantic, pure enjoyment ❤️

#AestheticallyMatched #ReadingChallenge @Clwojick

#Pantone2022 #SuperSonic @Clwojick

I didn‘t completely fall in love with this like I did with the first one, and I can‘t quite put my finger on why because this was a beautiful story. It‘s only real flaw was that it was a bit morose which fits the time period of the story, but not of the moment so maybe I found it harder to loose myself in. #Booked2022 #AComingOutStory #PopSugar2022 #ABIPOCRomanceNovel @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen

Last book of last year. Weak pick - I didn't find it as engrossing as the first, although it picked up towards the end. More rooted in the specific time (the eighties) than the first, which sort of floated in the second half of the twentieth century, barring some details. Still nice to see Ari and Dante again.

Got started this morning, but hopefully it should be quick enough.

I was really disappointed in this one. The first book is one of my fave books of all time. However, this one is repetitive. There were so many tropes and overall predictable things. Many problems were wrapped up too simplistically. I didn‘t like that almost Ari‘s entire focus is on Dante; more occurs in senior year of high school than a relationship. I also found many grammatical and spelling errors. So disappointing for me!

Saenz did it again. Ari and Dante are so raw and real. Even though they are younger in the book than I am in life I can empathized with their struggled as we all have them in our high school days. But Ari and Dante feel like old souls to me. They have a different clarity of the world yet lack an understanding of how to navigate their speed bumps. Their love is breathtaking.

December Book 18/25 #LitsyLove #bookspinbingo #wintergames2021

This book was simply amazing. Book 1 was fantastic and this just continued the legacy of Aristotle and Dante. I cried a few times towards the back half of the novel and I definitely want to reread this.

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#Friday56 #Instagram56 - @fredasphotos

I loved them in book 1 and I love them still. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Read my full review: http://www.fredasvoice.com/2021/11/aristotle-and-dante-dive-into-waters-of.html

Avoiding the monstrosity that is 'Mount Unmatched Socks' with a viable excuse--- my book is due tomorrow.

I reread the first book because I forgot the emotions right at the end and since this title literally picks up where the other stops I knew I needed to read them in tandem. Both take place in the 80s but the decades don't erase the intolerance of so many. The complete acceptance of both Aristotle and Dante a parents is amazing. 5⭐

I was really enjoying this. However, now I‘m feeling conflicted. The first 150 pages were good, and now, I don‘t know if I want to finish this book… 🤷‍♀️😔

If I could describe this book in one word, that word would be, “hopeful.“

Okay so.....The first half of this book is EVERYTHING. We are picking up where Ari and Dante left off and we get to see some beautiful moments between the two of them. And that is why I was so excited about this book, to see their relationship unfurl....and then that's not really what this book ended up being about. But it was still beautifully written I just wanted to see more Ari & Dante, I mean who wouldn't 😁?

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2

This is possibly going to be my Most Disappointing book of the year. There is just so much unrealised potential, repetition, telling-not-showing. Honestly tedious. I was hoping for some sort of relationship development, character development, them getting involved in AIDS activism... SOMETHING.

I disliked this & need to rant out my disappointment. I found it irritating, unrealistic, repetitive, facile, poorly written & cheesy. Yes, I get Ari wanted to kiss Dante but I didn't get much out of it after reading it for the 147th time. Someone/everyone cried every 7th line. Yet at the moment of the only genuine emotional event everyone acts weirdly flippant! Ari said/wrote/felt the same few things over & over & OVER again!!! More ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Just finished this one. I have it as a So-So currently but I really think it could be a Pan. I'm disappointed and kinda confused. I mean, I loved the first one - gave it a whopping 90% rating. This one....I think, I'm not sure really, but maybe....I hated it.

Full review to follow.

This is the sequel to the teen novel “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe“, which I loved. This one picks up on the story featuring high school senior boys in love, but I did find the first part of the book rather slow and repetitive. Thankfully midway through the book the story picks up and I then enjoyed it. I really loved the characters in this series and would love to see it made into a movie. I give it 3.5/5.

Finished this one today. Chiming in with everyone else who wanted an epilogue. Honestly even if we got one I still would have wanted more. I could never get tired of reading about these boys. A sequel very well done 💙😭 #OutstandingOctober #Scarathlon2021 #TeamSlaughter #BookSpinBingo +26 pts (Halloween mention)

FINALLY!!!! 💛😊😀

Ugh. My local bookstore didn't have it?!? So I felt cranky and petty and ordered it from Powells instead. And now I have to fucking wait I hate everything

SO EXCITED to continue Aristotle and Dante‘s story!

Y‘all. I am not okay. The beauty of these words. Oh, my heart.

NArrated by Lin Manuel Miranda- need I say more? Brilliant book and beautiful narration

It‘s every bit as good as I hoped. And Lin Manuel Miranda is BACK as the audio performer! I‘m trying not to inhale it..but it‘s a real struggle. Can we also talk about this amazing accidental picture?! I was going for the cover when it opened to the first page and my screenshot caught the transition. Couldn‘t have done on purpose but wow. I@love it@so@much.

I‘m going in! I was too tired to read yesterday, after staying up till all hours finishing the new Vanderbeekers book.

This is one of my most anticipated fall reads, along with Billy Porter‘s memoir. I‘m so excited to read this.

My only complaint is I wanted an Epilogue. (Better yet would be another book.) To see the life Ari and Dante make for themselves. Because in my mind they're still happily together all these years later.

#freddiethetacocat is my reading companion today! He‘ll be ready for more rounds of fetch in about 3 seconds 🤪😩✋

@Eggs 1. No. I‘ve been tempted but I‘m an eclectic reader and picky. 2. I use all the things! (For book recs, of course😜). Actually, I use some for work like Twitter and Pinterest, and some for chonky kitties like FB. Insta and TikTok are my book media. 3. To finally have in my hands Aristotle and Dante book 2. I‘m melting!

It's release day!!! I can't wait to go on this adventure with Ari and Dante. If I don't make it to the bookstore soon I will definitely pick it up on my Kindle.

Anyone else excited to dive into this one😉? What are your thoughts?

*I also just learned that the 1st book is being adapted for film! How exciting!*

It‘s out It‘s out It‘s out. 🥲 Definitely not losing my mind that my name is the first word of my most anticipated read of the year — even if it‘s not about me 😍 #epigraph