Scan barcode
mouwuol's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Cursing, Classism, Child death, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Grief, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Addiction, Blood, Alcohol, Bullying, Sexism, and Death
charliebites's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Blood
laurakwiecinski's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death, Mental illness, Child death, Abandonment, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy
ekmartin's review
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Cursing, Body shaming, Child death, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Grief, Pregnancy, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
beezinda's review
- 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
3.5
The pros, the positives of this novel...the author deftly handle that this book is simultaneously an enemies to laver and friend's to lover story woven tight together with dramatic irony. This author showed a masterful hand at creating and holding romantic tension and angst that drives the emotional heart of this story.
The romantic core of this story is solid as an old oak tree. We really have 2 character with 2 emotional arc and journey that are resolved by understanding their love for each other. When an author can nail that I'm turning pages. I blew through this novel.
Lastly, I was actually surprised by Misha's ending. I literally didn't see it coming. Which was refreshing as I thought I had everything pegged. It has been a long while since a plot line was actually laid in a romance that I didn't clock by the reveal. It was really refreshing. Felt intentional and well earned. Loved that.
The cons: I don't know if these are cons per se, but I personally don't like it. This is a bully romance. Idk if I'd have picked it up if I knew that going in. Not only do they bully each other, there a lot of nastiness in the novel. At times, it's genuinely off-putting. I know for some scissors to the throat, some of the rough handling, some of the words for each other and their classmates. Fucking crazy. Legit...triggerwarning bullying.
Secondly, call me a prude if you want, but I hate smut with high school students. I don't care that they're 18. That not some magical get out jail free card for me. They're literally school children. It's disturbing to me to be that graphic and then talk about 4th period. The sex was not only really graphic but shockingly adult. Then, the scene hard handled with maturity.
That anal scene - kind of horrifying. She immediately says she's not interested. They get busy. He flips her over and says you should trust - do you trust me? He is verbalizing consent, but it still feels tinged with coercion, and that grosses me out. There are more few instances in this novel where Misha/Masen pushes this girls sexual boundaries in a way I don't feel comfortable with.
For however complex Micha and Ryen are, Trey and Lyla are comically villainous to an 80s stereotype extreme. Hamming their action is distracting and ultimate detrimental to the novel.
Overall, there is a good romantic heart to this story, but a specific sub-genre of this novel isn't what I typically like to read. Let's be very aware that this book could be a poster or after-school special for dubious consent.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Addiction, Grief, Bullying, Child death, and Homophobia
bojangles76's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death and Drug abuse
lou_loo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use, Sexual harassment, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
catlover272827's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Bullying, Death, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
sina4books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
wackzo's review
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Violence