I am eternally grateful for receiving a copy of this novel early -- it is SUCH a beautiful story and companion to the first Ari & Dante novel. Given that its predecessor was so widely loved, I was concerned Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World wouldn't live up to it. Those concerns disappeared as soon as I started reading and recognizing all I love about Benjamin Alire Sáenz's writing: beautiful language and metaphor, intricate characters (and hidden depths in some), the run-on sentences in Ari Mendoza's narration.
Even though it's a new story, it feels familiar. This is Ari & Dante being Ari & Dante, almost finished with one stage of their lives and barrelling into another, written with just as much care and heart as the first novel.

ARC REVIEW

A sequel to the first, Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World held the spark and magic of the first book while continuing the sweet relationship between Ari and Dante as they continue to get to discover themselves and each other. This was a very enjoyable read and for those who loved the first book, this one feels like coming home.

I had high expectations for this sequel, and I am happy to report that they were met or SURPASSED. The writing style is gorgeous and full of lyricism, and the world the author created in the first novel is expanded on beautifully while addressing incredibly important issues affecting LGBTQ+ youth and BIPOC.

My heart…. I cannot put into words how lovely this sequel was.. Ari will forever hold such a special place in my heart. I adored all the side characters that were introduced in this one and my heart ached for while reading this.

I had the most fortunate pleasure to be able to review and read this sequel almost immediately after I had finished the original novel and I have to say I am glad for it, because it made the whole reading experience of the two books much more emotional and beautiful as the first novel was still very fresh in my mind.

I was excited to dive into this story and read more of the experiences of these two boys and find out what other secrets they were going to discover with another and I was not disappointed at all. Ari is such an interesting character and makes for a wonderful narrator of this very tender and heart wrenching story. This book is set in 1988 during the height of the AIDS pandemic and the author does a wonderful job incorporating Ari and Dante into the narrative of being young gay men discovering their sexuality and their love for another in a time when the world was abandoning these men going through this struggle.

The author explores many important and poignant themes that I think almost any LGBT+ person could relate to, especially young gay men, when you are branching out and discovering your sexuality and your place in the world after you've accepted this truth about yourself. Ari struggles with depression, his definition of what it is to be a man, his self worth, and his place in the world as he nears the end of his high school years. Sáenz does such a beautiful job at writing Ari, Dante and his friends and showing each of their individual struggles they each face within the world they live in such as homophobia, racism, sexism, and the underlying sense of just wanting to belong to something or someone in the universe. I do think my favourite part of the book as a whole is the character journey Ari goes through - coming from the first book as a closed off and very angry young man to someone completely different but still very much true to who he is and loving and accepting who he is.

Ari and Dante's relationship is wonderful and definitely a highlight of the story and is beautiful in its execution. It never felt exploitative and it always felt realistic and loving. They aren't adults quite yet and are very new to being in a relationship, but the author takes you on the journey with them as they discover challenges and most importantly, love.

I have to give props to the author and they way he chooses to write his characters. He writes with empathy and care that tells you that he cares about these characters and wants their message to be read and understood because what they stand for is important. The prose within this book is beautiful because in one chapter I'm marveling at the beautiful of his words and in the next it breaks your heart into a thousand pieces. There were many instances where I was constantly smiling reading about Ari bonding with his parents and friends and then tearing up at tragedies that befall.

I didn't think I would like the formatting of the chapters, but I found it actually worked quite well for the story. The story is very dialogue heavy so this style of format made it feel very much like a journal that was being written by Ari as time went on and he learned more about the world and had more to say. I enjoyed thoroughly having the role of the reader and being an observer on this journey with Ari and Dante by reading about their life together as an afterward and knowing things would be okay. An interesting choice of formatting that really works for this kind of story.

If I had one criticism to point out it would be about the ending. I will admit that I am generally disappointed by endings of books and thus this might just be a 'Me' problem, but I found ending to be a tad rushed. The pace for the book was fantastic for the most part, but I felt like the ending crept on me much too quick and left me feeling a little underwhelmed by how quickly the story wrapped up. It was a good ending, but I think I wanted something more, something different. Maybe I was just reluctant to saying good bye to Ari, Dante and their loved ones and wanted more time with them.

Overall, I am glad I decided to read about Aristotle and Dante's journey this year and dive into the Waters of the World with them as they discovered all the secrets of the world they live in and where they belong within it. This book is well written and has a beautiful cast of characters that will warm your heart and leave you yearning to join them on more of their journeys as they move through the years.

Highly recommended!

Special Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this title early in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While I did enjoy this book, my opinion on some of the content and the author himself have taken a turn in the past few days. Hearing about the authors transphobia and the transphobic elements that I missed in both novels was quite upsetting. I hadn't noticed these elements before hand because I was invested in the story but looking back, these elements definitely made me a bit uncomfortable. I will be keeping the 4 star rating because I did enjoy the story, however this is definitely some important information to keep in mind before picking up the books.

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World is a story of love, friendship, family and grief. But mostly, it is a story of finding your place in the world and growing as a person.

As far as sequels go, this one was was quite good. One of my favourite elements was seeing Ari's development as a character throughout the story. Being able to read about him building and strengthening his relationship with his friends, his parents, and Dante was something that I think was very important. I loved being able to see more of the other characters throughout the story as well as being able to see Ari start to focus on people other than himself.

I'm a sucker for established relationships which I think is why I preferred this to the first book. When it comes to romance novels or stories with a focus on relationships, I always love to know what the characters get up to after having gotten together, so it was really nice to see how Ari and Dante spent their summer together and their school yer afterwards. I will also say that I love books that make me cry and this made me sob at 3am, so its safe to say I enjoyed it. Plus, the writing style was still as beautiful as ever.

The ending felt a bit abrupt but I think that it still worked well in context of the characters. I won't go into anymore details to avoid spoilers, but for such a long book, I feel like the ending could've used a couple more pages to be fully fleshed out.

I did enjoy this, and I know a lot of people have been anticipating this for a long time, so I can't say don't read it, however please be aware of the issues surrounding these books and the author before going in.

How do I even form words? This book was amazing. I am literally writing this while sobbing, I swear this book had me feeling every emotion. I recently read the first book and instantly fell in love with it and this sequel did not disappoint. One of the things I absolutely loved about it was the writing style, which is the same as the first book, but I find it so enjoyable to read and I find it makes the story so much better. I didn’t think I could love these characters any more than I already did and yet, I was proven wrong. The character development in this novel was phenomenal and then all the new characters introduced were amazing as well. I could not put this book down. This series has definitely got to be one of my favourite series of all time. I seriously cannot wait for this book to be released in October and I will be purchasing a copy ASAP. A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I have been waiting to read the sequel to one of my all-time favourite books, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe for way too long, and this book was far from a disappointment. I laughed, I cried, and yet again, I related to Aristotle Mendoza more than perhaps any other character ever.

Author Benjamin Alire Sáenz sets up the novel perfectly, beginning just following Ari and Dante's first kiss and getting together. Taking place in the '80s, the book focuses on many themes, including the AIDS epidemic and the related homophobia, the Vietnam war, racism, grief and transphobia. All of these are explored through the eyes of Aristotle Mendoza, a young, gay Mexican American teen who is struggling with his identity as a gay man in a world that seems to believe it would be better off without him.

In this novel we get to see Ari truly get to know and respect his parents, and more than that grow to both like and admire them. We see him make friends who truly care about him and also learn to be vulnerable and how to care for them back. Ari learns to let go of his pain and hold onto the beauty, even if he can't do that all the time. Perhaps best of all, throughout the whole novel, one thing Ari never struggles with is his love for his partner, Dante. Ari and Dante's love is pure, even if the world, and the America, that they live in doesn't see it.

Oh my God! This book just made me fell all the feels all over again! I wasn’t sure how it was going to be especially after the first book being superb. Wow! Hit a home run!!!!

5 stars
This book was undoubtedly worth the wait. Sáenz's writing is absolutely gorgeous, and perhaps even more lyrical than in the first book. This book does a great job navigating serious topics such as familial relationships, homophobia, and the aids epidemic, as well as balancing these discussion out with more lighthearted moments. Like in the first book, Ari and Dante are complex and relatable characters, and their love is honestly beautiful to read about. Despite all that they go through, their love for each other remains pure and unfiltered. Overall, I loved this book and the statements it made regarding love and equality. I am continually impressed by the quality of Sáenz's writing.

Let me just say, this book was incredible. Everything from the story, to the writing and the characters was beautifully written. When I began this book I was hesitant and was not sure how it would ever live up to the first book in this series. However, I was mistaken very quickly. This book not only was able to live up to the first one but in my opinion was much better. I liked so many things about it, but I particularly loved Ari's character growth and how much we were able to see that as he narrated the story.

You can tell the author put so much time into writing this beautiful story, and the writing was incredible. I felt so many emotions, and I felt as though he captured perfectly the journey of growing up and told it in such a perfect way. Honestly I know I have said it a million times but all I can say is how perfect and beautiful this book was.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early edition of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Overall: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Also read this review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4103733797

Thank you NetGalley for sharing an ARC with me! Below is my spoiler-free review.

I have so much to say and yet nothing at all that I can say that would truly capture how this book made me feel as I read it, as it came to a close. I think I'm very lucky to have read it to close to them discovering the secrets of the universe, because I got to pick up right where it ended, and continue on a journey with Ari of self-discovery. I loved so much that I was a part of it. I loved watching Ari grow and discover more secrets of the universe - like friendship, loss and being lost, and that loving is a beautiful thing that you suffer for sometimes. I love so much that he discovered he had words in him he didn't know existed, some new ones with unknown definitions and some old, familiar ones. Ari, to me, is such an enchanting character, who is surrounded by the most amazing characters - he really is very lucky. Being in his head and following his story made every moment he experienced so real and raw and sad and wonderful, and I am so so glad I got to meet Aristotle and Dante again, even when they're both being every bit the disasters they thought they were - especially Dante. God. Dante. GOD!

When I read the first book, I didn't want it to end. But with this second book, while I still didn't want it to end, I was okay with it ending. And maybe that's one of the things Ari taught me, somehow, or maybe the author is just very good at what he does. Maybe it's both.

I have loved the first book with every fibre of my being. I remember reading it for the first time as a student and seeing the parallels of my life in Ari. I was beyond excited and ecstatic to receive permission to read an Advanced Reader's Copy of the book.

Reading "Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World" feels a lot like coming home. It feels like a warm hug. You find comfort in the words written on the pages of this book. In turn, you will also find hurt that cuts so deep, not that it is intentional but because it is relatable.

This book is as beautiful as these boys are.

YES! YES! YES! I LOVED Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and didn't know how the second one would ever pass how much I loved the first one but OH BOY was I proved wrong.
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World was INCREDIBLE. I started tabbing all the quotes that I liked from this book and the book is PACKED with tabs now. Benjamin Alire Sáenz has such a beautiful writing style and he makes me feel like I'm reading about love for the first time.
I loved seeing the personal development that Ari went through and seeing the difference between him in the first book compared to the second one was amazing! This book had me feeling all the feels and im definitely going to be recommending this to everyone as much as I recommend Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe!

I absolutely loved the first book, and I love this one just as much. The writing is beautiful and despite the fact that books hardly make me cry, this one did. It is beautiful and heart breaking and heart mending. Grief and love mixed together into something beautiful and something I don't want to let go of.

Wow! Where do I even begin? This second book once again gives us the amazing gift of being able to watch in on the lives of Aristotle and Dante as they navigate a new relationship and a world that seems to be very much against the people they are growing up to be.

Let's get this out of the way -- I adored and loved this book. With so many expectations to live up to with the first, I say it succeeded. It didn't even feel like a second book. It felt like a genuine and natural progression of what you would expect if you had merged both books into one. The vibe you may have got from the first book is still here in the second.

I kept thinking to myself that much of the story and themes felt nostalgic, which is strange since nostalgia usually involves incidents or things that occur on a personal level. I guess it says that I was able to relate wholeheartedly to the characters in this book, including the setting and experiences they go through (coming out, struggling to understand your sexuality, friendships, first relationships, maturing, etc.). It's all written in such a beautiful, calming and peaceful way and gave me the most warm and fuzzy vibes throughout.

Watching Aristotle learn and grow is fulfilling, endearing and heartwarming. There are a few points where you just want to shake him and tell him that he's a good person (fairly much what actually happens in the story itself). I think the only very minor flaw that I noticed is that at times, this nature of Ari did feel overly repetitive. It may be intentional to really emphasize this facet of the character, but I think it could have eased off just a bit, so it could provide balance to other aspects of the story.

A minor spoiler (skip this paragraph if you don't want any at all!) but it was really good to see that the AIDS pandemic played a part in this story. It wasn't just a background piece mentioned a few times and I think it was handled really well by the author.

I cried a lot near the end. I obviously won't say why, but I was a wreck and a constant flowing river! My heart just didn't know what to do! This crying though, says a lot about my connection with this book ( haha ).

Honestly, there are just so many beautiful quotes and life lessons in this book. Can I rate it a 10/5? I would if I could.

I want to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for approving my request to read this digital ARC!

PS: Please read Trigger warning for this! Part of me doesn't know when to mention it since some are key points in the plot, but if you're quite sensitive to some matters, I would check them out before reading.

Once I saw this book on NetGalley I wanted to read it so bad, I was drawn in by the cover and the synopsis and I love a great romance. I feel like my review on top of all of the other reviews is kind of null, just read it you need to experience the awesomeness of this book. Just do it. IT'S MAGICAL.

I was beyond thrilled when NetGalley and Simon & Schuster approved my request to read and review the sequel to Dante and Aristotle Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

The first Ari & Dante book is one of my all time favourites, and the sequel does not disappoint. It was wonderful to spend more time with Ari and Dante as we pick up right where they left off. Set at the end of the ‘80s, it’s eye opening to witness what life was like for 2SLGBTQ+ people at the height of the AIDS crisis. This obviously impacts Ari and Dante as they explore their new relationship and carefully decide who to tell.

As with all of Saenz’s books, the best thing about Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World is the writing. It’s so poetic and beautiful and we can appreciate it just for its stunning use of words. This book is infinitely quotable, especially in Saenz’s extended metaphor of cartography. We’ll have to wait until its official release before I can share them (eARCs can still change before publication), but suffice it to say that you’ll be swooning over the deep and meaningful ideas that Saenz gives us through his narrator Aristotle.

This is a gorgeous book about love, loss, grief, and society. If you loved Aristotle and Dante before, you will cherish the opportunity to spend a bit more time with them.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for sending me an ARC

The highly awaited sequel to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was no let down. This book follows Ari and Dante’s final year of high school through the aids epidemic examining who they are and coming into their own. The ups and downs of Ari’s life were so intimately relatable. I couldn’t put down this book once I started and definitely did not want to.

Sáenz’ story telling has only improved since the first, and you can tell he spent a lot of time working on the sequel.

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World does an amazing job at giving a glimpse inside the head of a struggling queer teenager. Ari’s journey and thoughts were at times frustrating but very true to his character.

This duology will always hold a special place in my heart and I thank the author for putting into words what I have always struggled to communicate

Wow i genuinely have no words. I first read ari and dante when i was 15 and lonely and angry, just like ari. I am now 20 and it feels like ive reverted right back to that age. It’s so strange! I feel in love with both of them all over again. I think this sequel is even better then the original