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mpolega's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ripaustaikaa's review against another edition
4.0
Hahmojen ja juonen osalta tää oli sellainen viihdyttävän sujuva kolmen tähden kirja. Olisin halunnut tutustua hahmoihin vähän tarkemmin ja suurin osa ongelmista tuntui ratkeavan turhankin helposti. Esim. julkkisjuonikuviota olisi voinut syventää ja aihetta olisi voitu pohtia paljon enemmän. MUTTA rakastin sitä, että päähenkilö suunnittelee elokuvien lavastuksia ja että tarina pyörii indie-elokuvan tekemisen ympärillä. LaCour todella osaa asiansa, kun puhutaan miljöön ja tunnelman luomisesta! Mielenkiinnolla odotan, millaisia hänen muut teoksensa ovat
akuykendall's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
eldritchreader's review against another edition
4.0
There is something about the way LaCour weaves a story and develops her characters that makes her writing just so engaging. This is my second book by this incredibly talented author and, while it was not my favourite, I couldn't help falling in love.
This story follows the story of some extraordinarily written characters with some awesome jobs in movie making, a backdrop of California and the world of Hollywood, a mystery involving a movie star and, of course, a good helping of finding one's self.
While I have seen this book marked as a YA story, I would venture into saying it could also fit nicely into the New Adult genre. The MC, Emi, and many of her fictional peers, are in between high school and venturing into college. The book largely revolves around their jobs in the movie industry and while her parents are present, Emi also lives out of home for a portion of the story.
Unlike the last LaCour book I read, [b:We Are Okay|28243032|We Are Okay|Nina LaCour|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471899036l/28243032._SY75_.jpg|48277368], I wasn't thrilled with the MC. In fact, Emi seriously drove me nuts sometimes and I wondered if I was going to have to deal with ridiculous tendency to view the world as make-believe movie that revolved around her for the entire book. Fortunately, she does eventually sort out some of her egocentric views.
Despite what irked me Emi, I adore how LaCour used this as part of her story and I do truly admire her character development. Similarly, there were times when I truly was not a fan of Ava, a main side-character in the story. But again, the progression of the character was purposeful and so well done.
I also loved almost all of the side-characters; from Jamal and Charlotte, the side-kicks to the main story; Morgan, the ex-girlfriend who has her own minor character development; to Emi's whole-hearted and adopt-me-please! parents.
While this book is such a gem when it comes to diverse lit - so many ah-mazing LGBTQIA+ and POC characters - this is ultimately a book about being human. The emotion, the struggles, and just the journey to a future while dealing with and embracing your past is what is key to this beautifully written story.
I read this for Sapphicathon!
“The best things aren't perfectly constructed. They aren't illusions. they aren't larger than life. They are life.”
This story follows the story of some extraordinarily written characters with some awesome jobs in movie making, a backdrop of California and the world of Hollywood, a mystery involving a movie star and, of course, a good helping of finding one's self.
While I have seen this book marked as a YA story, I would venture into saying it could also fit nicely into the New Adult genre. The MC, Emi, and many of her fictional peers, are in between high school and venturing into college. The book largely revolves around their jobs in the movie industry and while her parents are present, Emi also lives out of home for a portion of the story.
“There are no scenes in life, there are only minutes.”
Unlike the last LaCour book I read, [b:We Are Okay|28243032|We Are Okay|Nina LaCour|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471899036l/28243032._SY75_.jpg|48277368], I wasn't thrilled with the MC. In fact, Emi seriously drove me nuts sometimes and I wondered if I was going to have to deal with ridiculous tendency to view the world as make-believe movie that revolved around her for the entire book. Fortunately, she does eventually sort out some of her egocentric views.
Despite what irked me Emi, I adore how LaCour used this as part of her story and I do truly admire her character development. Similarly, there were times when I truly was not a fan of Ava, a main side-character in the story. But again, the progression of the character was purposeful and so well done.
I also loved almost all of the side-characters; from Jamal and Charlotte, the side-kicks to the main story; Morgan, the ex-girlfriend who has her own minor character development; to Emi's whole-hearted and adopt-me-please! parents.
“I think that sometimes people want something so much that they manifest it. Or at least they try to.”
While this book is such a gem when it comes to diverse lit - so many ah-mazing LGBTQIA+ and POC characters - this is ultimately a book about being human. The emotion, the struggles, and just the journey to a future while dealing with and embracing your past is what is key to this beautifully written story.
I read this for Sapphicathon!
bellagothswife's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
cjsowles's review against another edition
5.0
wish things picked up a bitttt more quicker especially romantic wise but overall it was soooo good and i honestly wish i could see Toby’s apartment in real life cause it seems like Emi did a fantastic job designing it!
tangodiva's review against another edition
3.0
It was a pleasure to read a YA that DIDN'T suck. While this book was not perfect, it was an improvement on LaCour's last one (The Disenchantments, which didn't suck, either) and that's nice to see.
While some of the events were a little hard to believe (some things....escalated quickly), I can see the author didn't want to get bogged down in the minutiae of financial settlements. She DID get bogged down in set decorating, but that was to the book's benefit, not detriment.
All in all, a good, well researched fast read with a sweet, wistful love story.
While some of the events were a little hard to believe (some things....escalated quickly), I can see the author didn't want to get bogged down in the minutiae of financial settlements. She DID get bogged down in set decorating, but that was to the book's benefit, not detriment.
All in all, a good, well researched fast read with a sweet, wistful love story.