Scan barcode
literarydais's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
itsmeyseniab's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a very fast-paced read, but I will say that it took me a little while longer to get into it than it usually does when I pick up a book by this author. My feelings towards this story are nearly the same as they were towards The Deal - while it was a fun sports romance, and steamy at times, I ultimately didn't feel drawn toward Summer and Fitz as a couple - I just didn't really see the chemistry. I loved Summer as a heroine (and appreciated that she held a lot of feminist beliefs!) but I found Fitz to be pretty forgettable, albeit his character was meant to assume the role of a wallflower who hates being the center of attention (unlike the majority of his teammates). Their "conflict" within the first half of the novel was TIRESOME I mean come on, him saying that he found her "surface-level" should not have caused her to be pissed off for 150 pages I'm SORRY. It was ridiculous, and was reaching in my opinion. I did appreciate how Elle Kennedy highlighted how big of a problem sexual harassment is, and especially between individuals in asymmetrical power dynamics. That being said, I didn't particularly enjoy how Summer's ADHD and learning disability was portrayed - it came off as ableist in my opinion, and that having any type of cognitive disability is something to be ashamed of which of course is not true. Summer became more gentle with herself at the end of the novel and acknowledged that her learning disability is nothing to be ashamed of, but I do have to highlight this particular quote from page 154 (and Summer's internal dialogue):
In high school, my special-ed teacher - oh gosh, it makes me want to throw up saying that. It's frigging mortifying.
It definitely wasn't great, but it was good to see Summer's growth by the end. All that being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how the series progresses!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Ableism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Infidelity
ifoundcallie's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexual assault
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
annafordybersig's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
🎧
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
meggybee'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence
malisac16's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Bullying
agnesbebon's review against another edition
1.0
I’m just hate reading these at this point.
I keep reading these books because I loved The Deal, but these just keep getting worse. The writing was repetitive, the plot was repetitive, the language was cringy, the characters (especially summer) were not developed.
The misogyny is gross. While I think Kennedy thinks she’s trying to push feminism and deal with patriarchy and rape culture, every aspect of the book oozes internalized misogyny. Everything from character development to word choice to plot points is written from the male gaze, which is crazy considering this is a book written by a woman marketed to other women. It also relies so much on gendered language for no reason. The attempts at diversity are also gross and play into stereotypes.
The ending was trash. Absolute and complete trash. And the entire book was boring.
CW: sexual harassment, sexual assault
I keep reading these books because I loved The Deal, but these just keep getting worse. The writing was repetitive, the plot was repetitive, the language was cringy, the characters (especially summer) were not developed.
The misogyny is gross. While I think Kennedy thinks she’s trying to push feminism and deal with patriarchy and rape culture, every aspect of the book oozes internalized misogyny. Everything from character development to word choice to plot points is written from the male gaze, which is crazy considering this is a book written by a woman marketed to other women. It also relies so much on gendered language for no reason. The attempts at diversity are also gross and play into stereotypes.
The ending was trash. Absolute and complete trash. And the entire book was boring.
CW: sexual harassment, sexual assault
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
beccaand's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol
hannah_mezz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
capucapulet's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It could be a two stars if the author wasn't trying to pass her characters as somewhat "feminists" when they're really not. When Summer started talking about how Coco Chanel was her model in life, I told myself that the author didn't know about Chanel's collaboration with nazis but THEN Summer had this sort of argument in class with the "pink hair radical feminist who is so mean and jealous of the main character's beauty" and she is MAD about pink hair girl criticizing Chanel's collaboration?? and later on she says (and this is a REAL quote) "and she was rude to me because I admire a Nazi sympathizer" ??? girl??
Both the main character Summer and her love interest Colin are very unlikeable people for different reasons, which could be alright IF the narration voice sort of condemned them but it's absolutely not the case. Summer's feminism consists in saying that girl shouldn't be slutshaming each other, that they can have sex with anyone and can do the same thing than boys (which is obviously true but is very basic feminism, considering the fact that Summer makes it abudantly clear that she's not like those radical feminists who hate men). At this point I'd honestly prefer having Summer admit that she's against feminism rather than pretend that THIS is feminism (and trash on radical feminists).
Also Colin being mad at Summer for having a fight with a girl who insulted and slutshamed her friend was so gross and stupid. All of the men in this book consider women like objects on which they can have a "claim" (and this is a real word that is used MANY times regarding Summer). They behave like cavemen and animals : fighting for their "female" and at the end of the day their behavior is regarded as something "hot". This type of relationship between men and women is setting a really bad example for young readers (because I'm guessing the target audience is around 16-18yo girls, which is a moment when people can be very influenced by their media consumption).
The diversity was bad, the writing wasn't great but it wasn't THAT shocking to me (it honestly felt like reading a Wattpad fic), and the relationship was extremely shallow, only sexual (which could be fine, I mean a relationship can be restricted to sex but then those dramatic emotional scene feel extremely cringy and uncalled for).
Really wish they had left out the Coco Chanel part : it was disturbing and inapropriate.
Both the main character Summer and her love interest Colin are very unlikeable people for different reasons, which could be alright IF the narration voice sort of condemned them but it's absolutely not the case. Summer's feminism consists in saying that girl shouldn't be slutshaming each other, that they can have sex with anyone and can do the same thing than boys (which is obviously true but is very basic feminism, considering the fact that Summer makes it abudantly clear that she's not like those radical feminists who hate men). At this point I'd honestly prefer having Summer admit that she's against feminism rather than pretend that THIS is feminism (and trash on radical feminists).
Also Colin being mad at Summer for having a fight with a girl who insulted and slutshamed her friend was so gross and stupid. All of the men in this book consider women like objects on which they can have a "claim" (and this is a real word that is used MANY times regarding Summer). They behave like cavemen and animals : fighting for their "female" and at the end of the day their behavior is regarded as something "hot". This type of relationship between men and women is setting a really bad example for young readers (because I'm guessing the target audience is around 16-18yo girls, which is a moment when people can be very influenced by their media consumption).
The diversity was bad, the writing wasn't great but it wasn't THAT shocking to me (it honestly felt like reading a Wattpad fic), and the relationship was extremely shallow, only sexual (which could be fine, I mean a relationship can be restricted to sex but then those dramatic emotional scene feel extremely cringy and uncalled for).
Really wish they had left out the Coco Chanel part : it was disturbing and inapropriate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault