From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante, #1)

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Start date: January 1, 2015

Finish date: January 3, 2015

Discussion leader: Karen

Why we're reading this: A positive addition to the genre about non-mainstream characters.
[close] A positive addition to the genre about non-mainstream characters.

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What Members Thought

Oct 14, 2015 Sophie Brookover rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, ya, 2015

I carefully rationed this audiobook out because I knew it'd make me feel many feelings & that I'd be sorry when it was over. For its beauty, heart, warmth, romance & overall deep humanity, this might be my favorite read of 2015. Extra stars unavailable under GR's five-star system for Lin-Manuel Miranda's perfect narration. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 03, 2016 Ashley Holstrom rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, author-of-color, fiction, favorites, young-adult, reviewed, queer, romance

I'm not sure a book has made me fall in love with characters as deeply as I fell in love with Ari and Dante. This book is something very special, tackling a whole bunch of hard topics, and remains realistic and beautiful the whole way.

From The Best Books We Read in November 2016 at Book Riot. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 14, 2018 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: america, young-adult, romance, lgbt, latin-america, race

I am in love with this book!!!! Seriously. I thought I'm over YA romance but turned out I'm still smitten with Ari and Dante's love story :D

I know some of the dialogues are repetitive, silly, and cheesy- but it is better than the over pretentious dialogues in most YA books. Also, I think all parents in this book are too good to be true, considering their background and also the setting of the story. But... nevermind! I still love the book!

I'm ecstatic when finding out that there will be sequel-- ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2017 Shannon rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-harder-2017

Read Harder 2017: LGBTQ Author

What a delightful book this was. Ari and Dante meet at the pool one summer in high school. Dante teaches Ari how to swim and, much more slowly, how to open up and take himself a little less seriously. When tragedy strikes, we see a portrait of a friendship that can survive a storm.

I loved Ari as a character. I've never met a high schooler who talks as little as he does and it was fascinating to watch the way he talked to himself in his head.

I also loved the parent ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 15, 2017 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-read-harder

Read Harder 2017: YA Novel by an Author Who Identifies as LGBTQ+

Wow. This book grabs your attention from the beginning and does not let go. As the mom of a boy, I want to buy this book and reread it when my son is a teenager. Because this book made me realize so powerfully how fast we forget as parents, how easily we dismiss teenagers' concerns, and how often it really is terrible to be that age because you feel so lost.

"Sometimes parents loved their sons so much that they made a romance out of ...more

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May 15, 2017 Sarah left GR rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, audiobooks, read-harder-2017

For #15 of the Book Riot 2017 Read Harder Challenge: Read a YA or middle grade novelby an author who identifies as LGBTQ+.

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 23, 2017 Shannon rated it it was amazing

Oh, I just loved this book. It made me hope that my son will be as thoughtful, compassionate and passionate one day. I am not usually attracted by "coming of age stories," but this just broke (and then remade) my heart. ...more

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Nov 06, 2013 Ama rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: award-winner-honor, 2013, teen, audiobooks, book-group, printz, stonewall, belpre

Audiobook was pretty good. Really liked the story, but felt the last bit was a lacking compared to the rest.

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Dec 25, 2014 Jenni rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-finished-in-2015

This is a wonderful book. There were definitely moments when I wasn't totally feeling it, but it definitely would have been an instant favorite when I was a teenager. This is the kind of book that LGBTQ teenagers NEED. It was definitely beautifully written. And a quick read. ...more

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