Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Genres: Romance, LGBTQ+
Pages: 516
Cover: Paperback
Age rating: 14+
Buy on: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
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Two youngsters from a border town fell in love in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. They now have to figure out what it means to maintain a relationship and stay in love in a world that seems to be questioning their very existence.
Ari has been silent and unseen throughout high school, suppressing his true self. He anticipated that his senior year would be no different. However, as he fell in love with Dante, something inside of him broke, and he is unable to return. He finds himself gaining new friends, confronting bullies of all types, and speaking up all of a sudden. And there is always Dante, the funny, dreamy Dante, who can simultaneously irritate Ari and arouse his yearning.
In a world that doesn't comprehend them, the brothers are adamant about making their own way. However, Ari will have to battle harder than ever to build a life that is really and joyfully his own after suffering a devastating loss.
General Opinion
A sequel to one of my favorite books, so nothing can go wrong!!! This book was amazing, wonderful, wholesome and beautiful as usual. ​
Characters
My only complaint about this book is that Dante made a very minimal appearance, like they stay close with each other, I need more Dante and Ari moments!!!
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But other than that, everything was perfect. Ari's character development was MESMERIZING! He grew so much, and I am so proud, from a shy, timid boy to mature, inspiring men for all the gay boys out there. When everyone was telling Ari that he was becoming a man, he denied it, not knowing that they spoke the absolute truth.
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Ari and Dante's relationship is perfect as usual, they are so cute and so wholesome, I can practically feel the love through the page. The moment that Ari figured out his feelings for Dante, he became so obsessed with Dante, describing Dante as the literal air, something that he can't live without.
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In this book, I get to see how Dante isn't always a positive guy, he can be quick to anger, and somehow sensitive, especially when it came to Ari. Dante was so attached to Ari, that he would be ready to give up his dream. Their love for each other was everything. The kiss was quick, but it conveyed such intense emotion that it got me kicking my feet, giggling.
Plot
The plot was simple, but it holds so much meaning. It presents the journey of Ari coming of age, growing from his shy self, making more friends, and inspiring another boy at his age to come out as well. The ending was satisfactory, so don't worry about heartbreak.
​​​Conclusion
Because this is my first ever romance series read, this duology will always hold a special place in my heart. I don't think there will be any other romance book that can live up to this, the writing is so beautiful that it got me feels all kinds of emotions. PLEASE READ THIS!
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