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queerbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I actively avoided this book for over a year because it was a "booktok book" and I genuinely regret not reading it sooner. It's not perfect but it is way better than I expected and an enjoyable read. It's not all spice with no plot which was a very real concern of mine going in but it's a good story with spice throughout, the only proper way to write a spicy book in my opinion as a smut reader since the age of 13. The plot gets a bit predictable at points but is still able to grip you. The characters are lovely (except Arron ) and were where I got most of my enjoyment from. I will absolutely be reading more from this author in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Body shaming, Alcohol, Misogyny, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Vomit
kyozacat's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Way too much happening in this book, which is a shame, because I actually liked the characters and the initial premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
sometimesalyreadsbooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Oh, BookTok. What did I just read? I can't even say I didn't like this book. I did! But it felt like a Wattpad story that I came across, got invested in the characters and couldn't put down. Not an actual, professionally edited, published novel. Even then, I couldn't put it down and there were things I really liked about it. I really love a book that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Buckle up and head's up, there are some spoilers below!
The good:
* The characters were pretty likeable to me! They were pretty well-fleshed out, sometimes maybe a little too detailed even (but I personally like that) and had their own ambitions. I would've liked Lola to have a little more substance, she just kind of felt "there" to be a best friend and nothing else.
* The dynamics between the characters were great. I loved the relationship that Anastasia had with all the "boys" and how they all came together to support each other at the end of the day!
* The "villain" was very realistically done and really sums up those posessive male friend types that I've met throughout my life.
The bad:
* The writing, especially at first was hard to process. Just very wordy and no flow. I felt overwhelmed, and at the same time, nothing was happening?
* Very slow plot for a book this length
* The spice was VERY well-written, but absolutely random in nature and happened at the most confusing times - Like she just ALMOST DIED, I don't think ya'll should be doing that right now.
The cringe:
* "Stassie" - I just really don't like that nickname
* The Uber scene (oh my god, that was so uncomfortable, I almost DNF'd)
* When Nathan meets Anastasia and immediately forgets the girl he's been pining for for years. I mean, I get it, it happens, but I didn't like it.
* The incredible lack of hockey and ice skating in this book about a hockey player and an ice skater.
* THE EPILOGUE!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - I hate that trope and I hate that it happened to a character so adamant about her career and ADOPTING!
The hilarious:
* When Anastasia fell through the ice and I yelled "Haha, ICEBREAKER"
* Nathan buying "girly shit" and then it literally just being >basic hygiene items< like shampoo and body wash. Jesus christ.
* "She has thoughts and opinions." Amazing. She's a human being, Nate.
* The chapter where Nate says "shit" about 400 times and then never says it the rest of the book.
* Aaron wrecking himself (quite literally) and being too embarrassed to admit it causing almost a world war
Anyway, read it, or don't. But overall, I'm glad I did and it took me back to my Wattpad and fanfic days!
Buckle up and head's up, there are some spoilers below!
The good:
* The characters were pretty likeable to me! They were pretty well-fleshed out, sometimes maybe a little too detailed even (but I personally like that) and had their own ambitions. I would've liked Lola to have a little more substance, she just kind of felt "there" to be a best friend and nothing else.
* The dynamics between the characters were great. I loved the relationship that Anastasia had with all the "boys" and how they all came together to support each other at the end of the day!
* The "villain" was very realistically done and really sums up those posessive male friend types that I've met throughout my life.
The bad:
* The writing, especially at first was hard to process. Just very wordy and no flow. I felt overwhelmed, and at the same time, nothing was happening?
* Very slow plot for a book this length
* The spice was VERY well-written, but absolutely random in nature and happened at the most confusing times - Like she just ALMOST DIED, I don't think ya'll should be doing that right now.
The cringe:
* "Stassie" - I just really don't like that nickname
* The Uber scene (oh my god, that was so uncomfortable, I almost DNF'd)
* When Nathan meets Anastasia and immediately forgets the girl he's been pining for for years. I mean, I get it, it happens, but I didn't like it.
* The incredible lack of hockey and ice skating in this book about a hockey player and an ice skater.
* THE EPILOGUE!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - I hate that trope and I hate that it happened to a character so adamant about her career and ADOPTING!
The hilarious:
* When Anastasia fell through the ice and I yelled "Haha, ICEBREAKER"
* Nathan buying "girly shit" and then it literally just being >basic hygiene items< like shampoo and body wash. Jesus christ.
* "She has thoughts and opinions." Amazing. She's a human being, Nate.
* The chapter where Nate says "shit" about 400 times and then never says it the rest of the book.
* Aaron wrecking himself (quite literally) and being too embarrassed to admit it causing almost a world war
Anyway, read it, or don't. But overall, I'm glad I did and it took me back to my Wattpad and fanfic days!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
readmerose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
uranaishi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Eating disorder, Medical content, Pregnancy, Bullying, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Minor: Violence, Vomit, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, and Death
emadisonc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
“I don’t like anything more than I like you. You’re my favorite.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Pregnancy
tessa_krause's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent and Cursing
Minor: Pregnancy
rotkaeppchen's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I thought it was fine, super cheesy and highly unrealistic but a decent enough romance. However, the book was about 200 pages too long and I felt it dragging on in the second half. The writing has potential but the author needs a better editor, there was a lot of overexplaining and a lot could’ve been cut.
Still could’ve been a 3 star read but I HATED the epilogue.The main character gets pregnant, despite repeatedly emphasizing that she does in fact not want that, ever, a year out of college? She can’t be older at 23 at that point, with a whole career ahead of her, but noooo, for the sake of plot (what plot?) she gets knocked up. I hated that and I can’t believe people seem to be fine with that.
Still could’ve been a 3 star read but I HATED the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body shaming and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
reemoony's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
its like one of those mid books you just have to read. like seriously, I loved every second of this book and when I set it down I was like, wow I wasted three days of my like and don't mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
maggies's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Booktok lied about this one. The characters are borderline insufferable or otherwise so one dimensional that they might as well not even have been in the cast. It was easily 20% longer than it needed to be, with entire chapters where nothing happens to move the plot forward. The constant references to pregnancy were really annoying, especially because the subtext was always "a baby is the worst thing that can happen to you." I was really frustrated that Anastasia ended up pregnant at the end despite telling Nate that she didn't want to be pregnant and preferred to adopt. I also found it to be poorly written in general—the tense was inconsistent and odd, switching randomly between past and present, and the dialogue did not feel authentic...a shocking amount of dialogue happened off-page and was recapped by the characters' internal monologue later, and what did occur on-page was stilted and awkward. The spice might have been the only redeeming aspect of the book ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Violence
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity