Name: raven's review of We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
Item: We Contain Multitudes
Rating: 3
Author: raven

Sarah Henstra

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets I'll Give You the Sun in an exhilarating and emotional novel about the growing relationship between two teenage boys, told through the letters they write to one another. Jonathan Hopkirk and Adam "Kurl" Kurlansky are partnered in English class, writing letters to one another in a weekly pen pal assignment. With each letter, the two begin to develop a friendship that eventually grows into love. But with homophobia, bullying, and devastating family secrets, Jonathan and Kurl struggle to overcome their conflicts and hold onto their relationship...and each other. This rare and special novel celebrates love and life with engaging characters and stunning language, making it perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson, Nina LaCour, and David Levithan.

We Contain Multitudes

Katelyn Gilmore

raven

** spoiler alert **
           i know the trauma had to be addressed eventually but the third arc was too out there for me I couldn't handle it very well..

Gave it 4 stars initially, but i have literally no memory of it so I'm taking a star off

Mijs Franssen

5/5✨ this book left a mark on me
Wow I love this book so incredibly much. The writing style is so so so beautiful and special and these characters are ones I hold close to my heart.

This book was a definite 5/5 for me. I love this book with my whole heart, and the characters have wriggled their ways into it as well.

Amanda Kordeliski

Beautiful writing. The integration of Walt Whitman poetry into the story really makes the writing and characters richer. I love the letters Adam and Kurl write to each other and the slow way their friendship unfolds as the year progresses. Both characters are struggling with family issues and how each helps the other and realizes and deal with their issues is well crafted and believable. Highly recommend for every secondary library.

Eliza Gonzalez

First DNF of the year. Again, there wasn't anything too bad about the book, but it was so damn boring and there was some weird choices the author made. Just back and forth letters of two people rehashing events they were both there for and talking about their feelings for each other and having sex. For several hundred pages. I simply can't go on.

edit: reviews talk about the book getting actively worse as it progresses so... yikes glad i stopped.

Apollo Nyx

I enjoyed this book. I really love the writing style and format of this book. I think the characters had some decent developments. Also, the book touched on some great subjects such as domestic abuse, homophobia, grief, and more.
Although I did enjoy this book I think it’s a bit problematic. The age difference between the main characters is concerning and some of the consent is a bit blurry. I don’t think this book was executed as well as it could have been and if you are interested in this book I’d definitely look at content/trigger warnings because it does have some heavy parts.
I would like to add that it took me a while to finish because the pacing is weird. I felt like the first half of the book went by pretty fast then it just dragged on.
I'm not sure I'd ever recommend this book to anyone because of the problematic pieces.

Sofie

Dear Little Jo,

It wasn’t just the heat of the moment. Ask me for anything. The answer is yes.
Sincerely,
AK



Told in alternating letters (I'm sure there's an official name for this format that I don't know) We Contain Multitudes follows Jo and Kurl as their pen-pal english assignment turns into so much more.

Let it be known: trigger warnings galore. Homophobia, from others and internalized. Child abuse. Drug abuse. Sexual assault. PTSD. War Memories. 

I've been reading some of the other reviews, and I will preface mine by saying I am not part of the LGBTQ+ community, and didn't notice and can't speak to some of the issues others have raised about the book. I will defer to them for the particulars of the book, and will speak only on the story things that stood out to me.

The good: 

- I was pleasantly surprised by the format. I initially thought I would hate it, but it sucked me right in. It definitely helped that the letters were written so eloquently, though the characters didn't necessarily read high school age to me, specifically Jo. 
- I loved Kurl. I loved how Kurl loved Jo. I got those warm feelings in my heart whenever he wrote to Jo, whenever he expressed so honestly and ardently his feelings.

The meh:

- I'm iffy on this one, but it was definitely weird to read the characters (both Kurl and Jo) recount conversations they have with each other, word for word... to each other, in their letters. I know it's for the sake of the readers - so we're not just reading straight up letters to and from the characters but also getting some dialogue - but it's hella unrealistic. Jo and Kurl even mention it multiple times, "I don't know why I'm writing it out for you, you were there". It didn't really bother me that much as I understood the necessity (and, yes, the book was more interesting with the scenes in there), but it was still pretty odd if you're taking these letters at face value.

The bad:

- The completely unnecessary age difference. Why write a love story - with teenage sex - about an 18 year old and a 15 year old? It made a genuinely sweet love story feel kinda skeevy (I mean, it's literally illegal). The pen-pal assignment should have been between the different senior English classes rather than a "big brother" type thing between a senior class and a sophomore class. 
- I'm pretty sure Kurl (view spoiler)[ was r*ped?? And it's just never talked about again, other that Jo feeling betrayed that Kurl has sex with his sister? Did we read the same chapter?? (hide spoiler)]
- The armpit scene was weird af. I didn't have a relationship in high school, but is that... something people do?
- Kurl pulled a Rhys and licked away some tears. 
- This is a love story between two men... written by a white woman. I couldn't find anything online to see if she identifies with the LGBTQ+ community... but still. 

If nothing else, it was nice to read something a little different than what I usually gravitate to.

Tiffany Robinson

This book took me a little bit to get into because I was having trouble reading these letters that would describe in detail on what the characters had done which I thought was a little weird. But once I got past that and used to it I couldn't put the book. It was really enjoyable though a little depressing at times.

I received an ARC of this book.

Leni Bulat

alex arias

OH MY GOD. oh my god. underhyped. i need to get that out of the way; i’ve seen this on like… maybe one instagram post? nowhere on booktube or anything, and i feel like i’m relatively “plugged in,” as the kiddos say. anyways, this book left me breathless, i was crying and clutching my chest until the final page, my friend was in the room with me while i finished and he was genuinely concerned for my wellbeing (no i am not okay <3). i was pretty sure i would enjoy this book because i love epistolaries and i love gay romance, but let me tell you, i was not prepared to fall ass over teakettle in love with the two narrators and the beautiful universe they created. just…. i’m almost wary of saying this is underhyped because i want to hold it close to my chest to keep it safe, but i really was enamored with this book start to finish. i’ve rambled way too much now; be sure and heed the content warnings (child/domestic abuse, drug addiction, alcoholism, parental death, bullying, homophobia)

Lacey

“And I still hope someday that you and I will be as one”.

This book instantly captured my attention. Right from the first page. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes. 

We Contain Multitudes is the story of Jonathan and Adam. Told through letters, the boys fall in love. 

TW: parental abuse, drug use, homophobia, bullying, grief, loss of a parent.

My heart was full of love for Jonathan and Adam. I did despise some of the characters due to their behavior. 

I’m so glad that Jonathan and Adam did have supportive people around them.

Katelyn Gilmore &
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

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Katelyn Gilmore &We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

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Katelyn Gilmore &
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra