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chandlerwood's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Cancer, Classism, and Stalking
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cancer
Minor: Medical content, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma
marianneiriss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Stalking, Vomit, Classism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness
m_h_t's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical content, Cancer, and Terminal illness
cup_of_rosie's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Terminal illness
meganmmmm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Cancer, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
bunnybunny_mp3's review
This book starts on a VERY serious note talking about sexual assault. Actually, the way that SA is described here is shocking, I really didn't see any warning whatsoever and how it happened is written in a more explicit way.
There are major themes such as consent, life as an autistic person, and sex work. HOWEVER, the way that such serious themes were sometimes poorly exploited made me give up on this story.
The story was cute at first, and I was really cheering for the main couple. But as the story progresses, you start wondering if Michael is really as great as Stella makes him seem to be.
The most basic thing you need to have in a sexual relationship is the safe, sane and consensual rule. The main couple had some issues with some of these aspects, in my opinion. There's no shame in exploring intimacy as a couple, but that has to be made in a safe space, with all people involved being sane and actually consenting. There's no such a thing as "I'm gonna try something even though you said you didn't feel comfortable because I think you're going to like it". Assuming that someone will be ok with something sexual is really dangerous.
There's also that trope of the love interest - that is described as nearly perfect in every single thing - and the main antagonist who wants to have a romantic relationship with the main character - who is described as perverted and basically an asshole, to be honest. Not a super fan of this trope, but that was more of a personal preference.
I think that the main couple should have had more conversations about what they wanted to try, what they didn't want to try at all and establish more communication between them.
Overall I enjoyed the autistic rep and seeing a male sex worker being honest about how his job makes people dehumanize him to the point where he's seen more as an object than a person. Besides that, the story became repetitive and some major themes didn't get as much attention as I think that they should have.
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Rape, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Abandonment and Stalking
froggybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I am an autistic fem presenting person so here’s my takes:
- “asperger’s” is the outdated term. this is brought up in the author notes at the end but has “high functioning” which is also an outdated term.
- does this enhance the neurotypical ideology that disabled people are angelic/innocent and are so clueless about sex? i know the entire premise is autistic woman has sex but the lesson format and the fact she pays for sex might feed into this ideology that disabled people aren’t capable of having sex/relationships without paying for the service, when that is not the case majority of the time.
Aside from those points, i really enjoyed this book and the autistic representation. I found a lot of myself in Stella and i loved how consent was shown throughout the book. Also, i loved (nearly) all the characters :)
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Ableism
Minor: Vomit
sarahlovesbooks's review
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
susanknights's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Ableism, and Terminal illness