Reviews with content warning for Ableism - November 9

Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

cole_anthony's review

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dark emotional funny mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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ashleysager's review

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emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Really not that great but also was really enticing. I wanted to know how things turned out, but the plot twist was really upsetting.

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chaotically_katie's review

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.0

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james1star's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This is my first Colleen Hoover read ~ I’m doing a reading vlog checking her out. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/sOF_QcjvBwQ

The plot is we follow Fallon and Ben with dual POVs after they meet on the anniversary of a house fire that left Fallon with considerable scarring when Ben pretends to be her boyfriend to stick up for her after her dad is being an a**hole (for lack of a better word). She’s going to move to NYC to get back into acting that night and he’s an aspiring author so come up with the idea to meet every year for five years on the same day with no contact whatsoever. As the blurb hints at, there’s something Ben’s keeping from Fallon in the book he’s writing but that’s all I’ll say.

I have quite a few thoughts so will try out a bullet point review for a change. I’ll start with what I liked:
- The writing and pacing is very bingeable, it’s quite hard to put down at times as it’s just a very easy read - BUT I do feel like there isn’t much thinking or analysis present, personally it felt like reading for the sake of reading with me not really getting all that much out of it.
- The concept was intriguing, meeting up once a year with that being the only contact - great idea but not executed the best.
- The last 30% was the most interesting I found, the piecing together of things, plot twists and the like.
- I guess some of the romance and relationship was cute.

What I disliked:
- The MCs were rather unbelievable and although I did feel for them at points, Fallon was rather overdramatic and Ben had a somewhat controlling ‘saviour’ complex I didn’t really like. They’re also a bit annoying so yhh, I couldn’t really bring myself to be that connected to them or the story.
- Ben in some ways fetishises Fallon’s scars which was just ehh - he makes her feel confident and beautiful in her body which was good but there’s an unnerving quality to it as well.
- Following on, I found quite a lot of Ben’s actions to be controlling too - he’s acting with good intentions kind of and it’s nothing too extreme but I was quite uncomfortable.
- Furthermore, the way Ben internally thinks is rather ‘urgh’-ey like staring at her boobs, wishing she was wearing less and obsessing over her panties - just I couldn’t eww straight men lol (I’m not heterophobic btw just don’t push it in my face).
- Quite a lot of what’s said and thought about is very cringy, I actually LOL’d multiple times not because of humour/wit but embarrassment with many an eye roll moment. Nothing bad but I don’t think it’s what Hoover was going for, it’s a romance/drama not comedy.
- Quick fire round: makes a remark about Fallon being ‘obsessive compulsive’ about hygiene where the link to a real condition could’ve been omitted, argues Ben isn’t gay because of how he’s dressed/looks peddling to this stereotype - it’s nothing major and I (as a gay man) wasn’t personally offended but still I guess such a remark wasn’t necessary especially given the books only 8 years old, and lastly a character using their term ‘spaz’ with no criticism.
- There’s a ‘subplot’ (?? Maybe I dunno) which takes place which I was rather side-eyed-irked by that really was unnecessary - wish we got more of the latter quarter instead.
- A lot of unbelievable/realistic plot points - I get it’s fiction so it’s not a major criticism but it’s my review sooo - were just not to my liking. Especially in how they come up with these crappy excuses not to be together like ehh whatever.
- They both don’t like insta-love in books but that’s literally what they have so yhh…
- I thought there was going to be more of story-within-the-story element and unraveling of the real truth but was unimpressed.
- SPOILER dislike: So Fallon is clearly drunk and he shows up touching her and things in a sexual way, she’s enjoying it sort of but like it’s just no… not for me
- SPOILER dislike: At the end Fallon blames herself for them not speaking the last year and is all like ‘you’ve nothing to be forgiven, it’s me that’s sorry’ when like NO she wasn’t at all, she finds out the guy she’s trusted and been falling in love with for 4 years was responsible for the fire that could’ve cost her her life and it’s totally normal to leave so agh I just hated how she blamed herself.

I probably have more to discuss but this is all for now. The books okay and I guess I enjoyed reading it because it was so easy to read but there were definitely more cons then pros. I will give CoHo another try.

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greenmind's review

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

What the f**k did I just read…?

Don’t know what CoHo has against audiobook readers but…she’s pretty inaccurate to suggest that audiobook work is the lowest form of acting or something …? kinda ignorant and judgemental, especially when A-Listers do them too.

Oh my goodness, the melodrama of this…

This is the traAaaashiest book I’ve read in about a decade…literally feels like I’m reading lukewarm fanfic, like this type of book (maybe all her books judging from the general consensus on them )are the most appealing to women who never had a fan fiction/wattpad phase or who don’t read that much in the first place. This feels like Gen-Z meets mom-on-holiday-lit, in the sense that I can see those of you who are enjoying these books cringing collectively about it in another decade (in a good “remember the CoHo obsession we all had?! Haha, good times…so problematic though”) kinda way. Something light and gross in equal measure, perfect for pool-side entertainment and a stiff drink. The writing is very basic and simplistic. My first thought was “oh my, this is crack…” Very moreish if you’ve been on literary fiction recently and your brain wants a rest.

This lady’s books are so popular I had to dip in when I found a free copy in a hotel lobby bookshelf swap. It was the only book in English there and it felt like someone’s guilty holiday read, stashed away and left behind after it was quickly consumed. Solid 1/2 stars out of 5 but I definitely understand why people like these now. It’s like being bathed in a toxic Netflix teen drama when you have the flu. Vaguely comforting but not something to be consumed regularly? I’ve had my fill of the CoHo trend, thankfully. Knock yourselves out, people - bit be aware it will likely rot your brain slightly…

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capybooks's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Characters like this are what makes people believe they can treat women however they want and get away with it.

I started off really enjoying this book. I liked the concept, the romance and the chemistry the characters have together.

I hate how it is written to make it sound like anyone with scars/disabilities should be embarrassed about it. I hated the assault scene and how it was just brushed under the carpet. I hated the

“I have never wanted to pin a girl to the floor before now” comment.

I hated the ending and how she forgave him for doing something so unforgivable. Fuck this book.

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