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kell_xavi's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.0
Slow, then good, then everything after the Christmas party was very annoying. Elle, Brendan, and Margot are all inconsiderate and selfish, and while Darcy needed to put in work, she also deserved an apology and a good deal more understanding. There's far too much flippancy in most of the characters, and the relationship didn’t work in the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cultural appropriation
sariereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse and Infidelity
kshertz's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.0
Cute sapphic romances is where it’s at right now. I loved seeing these two opposites attract and fake date each other. The disastrous first date was great. It was sweet lighthearted and it’s just a fun distraction from life for sure. Loving queer romances.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual content
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and funny. I found Elle a bit annoying at times, but also totally relatable. I really did love the characters for the most part though, besides Elle's family. I could have used a bit more spice though. Overall a great rom-com.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
arlaubscher's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse and Infidelity
wilybooklover's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
I love an Austen retelling. I liked both of the main characters, but their families were pretty terrible which kind of brought the mood down. The third-act breakup was kind of contrived (but when isn't it?).
The way that Darcy's brother pressured her into dating again and outs the (fake) relationship to Elle's family (without knowing whether or not she was out to them or even if it was safe to do so) was really not cool either. I wish the characters had called him out a bit more on his behaviour.
Overall though a very cute read with some pop astrology, an escape room, and fake dating.
The way that Darcy's brother pressured her into dating again and outs the (fake) relationship to Elle's family (without knowing whether or not she was out to them or even if it was safe to do so) was really not cool either. I wish the characters had called him out a bit more on his behaviour.
Overall though a very cute read with some pop astrology, an escape room, and fake dating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
Not hugely blown away to be honest? I found Elle rather annoying so it made it a bit hard to root for the main relationship. And with the constant Harry Potter references bringing this down, it was all a bit underwhelming. Cute and sweet but nothing special.
Content warnings: lots of Harry Potter references, toxic family, emotional abuse, infidelity (not the main relationship), sex, death of family member (past)
Content warnings: lots of Harry Potter references, toxic family, emotional abuse, infidelity (not the main relationship), sex, death of family member (past)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
livlamentloathe's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
All I've heard is good reviews of this book and I need to ask: have you ever been in a relationship with good communication? Have y'all ever heard of TELLING your partner your feelings and being straight with them and listening before storming off?
That said, I did like parts of this. Despite the bad communication, Elle and Darcy were sweet together. I especially liked Elle's family issues, and Darcy's whole thing. Like just her period. I adored her.
Spoilers under cut:
The ending was exhausting. How Elle was perfect and never did a bad thing in her life and was such a sad martyr. Boo hoo. I liked Elle and I totally side with her on all her family nonsense, but with Darcy? Yeah, she was partly right but she was also a bitch about it. She told Darcy she didn't have a heart when everything she'd learned until that point said otherwise. ALSO LET'S CONTEXTUALIZE: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THEY STARTED DATING!!! Maybe TWO since they met!!! It's not insane at ALL to be confused about what you're doing still -- and they never really HAD a convo about their relationship prior to the ending. Both were insecure and self-doubting so they took their frustrations out on one another but it made me so frustrated because they were BOTH wrong. NO, Elle, you were not fucking clear from the start. Yeah, she made a comment on their failed first date, but then everything DID get complicated, to Darcy's point. Yes, Darcy needed to grow a mouth but she's had traumatic relationships all her life so it's fair that it wasn't easy. Also fuck Elle for knowing Darcy has a bad relationship with her mom, and just assuming she would be entirely truthful in that conversation. Like oh wow how inconceivable! Girl who has issues opening up partly because of negligent parent LIES to mother who she's clearly arguing with?????? What a concept!!!
Plus a lot of the secondary characters felt so contrived to me. Their early ministrations were frustrating and often felt forced. Like how Brenden behaved in the first quarter of the book? Clearly it was all set up to justify the fake dating arc. And Margo was a real jerk sometimes-- she made up for it eventually but still.
That said, I did like parts of this. Despite the bad communication, Elle and Darcy were sweet together. I especially liked Elle's family issues, and Darcy's whole thing. Like just her period. I adored her.
Spoilers under cut:
The ending was exhausting. How Elle was perfect and never did a bad thing in her life and was such a sad martyr. Boo hoo. I liked Elle and I totally side with her on all her family nonsense, but with Darcy? Yeah, she was partly right but she was also a bitch about it. She told Darcy she didn't have a heart when everything she'd learned until that point said otherwise. ALSO LET'S CONTEXTUALIZE: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THEY STARTED DATING!!! Maybe TWO since they met!!! It's not insane at ALL to be confused about what you're doing still -- and they never really HAD a convo about their relationship prior to the ending. Both were insecure and self-doubting so they took their frustrations out on one another but it made me so frustrated because they were BOTH wrong. NO, Elle, you were not fucking clear from the start. Yeah, she made a comment on their failed first date, but then everything DID get complicated, to Darcy's point. Yes, Darcy needed to grow a mouth but she's had traumatic relationships all her life so it's fair that it wasn't easy. Also fuck Elle for knowing Darcy has a bad relationship with her mom, and just assuming she would be entirely truthful in that conversation. Like oh wow how inconceivable! Girl who has issues opening up partly because of negligent parent LIES to mother who she's clearly arguing with?????? What a concept!!!
Plus a lot of the secondary characters felt so contrived to me. Their early ministrations were frustrating and often felt forced. Like how Brenden behaved in the first quarter of the book? Clearly it was all set up to justify the fake dating arc. And Margo was a real jerk sometimes-- she made up for it eventually but still.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Biphobia
Emotional Abuse from family/parents, Biphobia mentioned very brieflykfmcf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I think I liked the writing of this book more than I liked the book itself. I'm not one for the fake dating trope (I think it's fantastic when done well but leaves me uninterested when not overtly successful). I wanted to feel the chemistry between the characters more than I did. Elle also felt a little MPDG to me.
I am very interested in the sequels. I do think the writing of this book is what kept me going. And since I like Brendon and Margot more than Elle (sorry not sorry), I have a feeling I will like the next books more. I'm hoping this series progresses like the Talia Hibbert trilogy where they improve with time.
ALL that aside, I do think that bi representation is extremely important and Bellefleur does a great job with it. A lot of bi rep in books makes it feel like it's the character's only or leading by a mile personality trait, but it really just felt like it was just an inherent part of Elle.
I also did like the astrology lists. They were very cute, I am not going to lie
I am very interested in the sequels. I do think the writing of this book is what kept me going. And since I like Brendon and Margot more than Elle (sorry not sorry), I have a feeling I will like the next books more. I'm hoping this series progresses like the Talia Hibbert trilogy where they improve with time.
ALL that aside, I do think that bi representation is extremely important and Bellefleur does a great job with it. A lot of bi rep in books makes it feel like it's the character's only or leading by a mile personality trait, but it really just felt like it was just an inherent part of Elle.
I also did like the astrology lists. They were very cute, I am not going to lie
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
kalireads13's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Emotional abuse