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jaylene's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Didn't hate or like it - a bit cringey. I don't have much to say, but I wish I cared about the characters more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Cancer
startjpw23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Stella is 30 years old. She works as an econometrician (I hadn't heard the word before this book. She comes up with formulas to predict people's buying behavior). She is really good at her job. She makes a lot of money. Her job is her refuge. She works all kinds of extra hours. Stella's mother is pressuring her to find a man, get married, and have babies. Stella is autistic. She is ashamed of this. She doesn't want anyone to know. Due to an offhand remark from a co-worker (he probably should have been written up by HR for what he said), Stella decides she needs to get good at sex to get a man. She hires a male escort, Michael, to teach her how to get good at sex. Michael has his own issues that he is trying to deal with. Stella and Michael try to understand one another. The story goes from there. I loved this book. I thought it was very realistic. There are a few sex scenes. They aren't super graphic or gratuitous. I thought they were necessary to forward the story. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a romance between two people who have to work through a lot of stuff to understand one another. And readers who don't mind a few mild sex scenes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
sometimes_ready's review
4.0
The Short: Highly relatable plot points, steamy scenes are still a fantasy. Here for fun, well written smut that reps the autists. Perfect, social representation does not exist.
The script on this candy coated rom com is good. Not sure what the author's connection to ASD is- at times it felt like more acceptable autistic quirks got turned into an "innocent" kink. Don't get me wrong- I was here for it. One hundo the type of connection I, as a sensory seeking autist, am here for.
But. Some key parts of the plot relying on exceptionalism where the autistic character has hard and fast rules related to sensory issues that are dropped for that one patient allistic hero. I'm being too technical about this, but it also blurs the line of fantasy and personal experience that makes me feel the need to forewarn readers. I am my persons' person. No amount of patient, loving coaxing is going to make him thrilled to be touched in highly sensitive places... he's not a sensory seeker and doesn't crave touch- even just from me. I sensory seek and didn't need to learn that from one special person. The plot relies on an autistic character that discovers one single person whose touch is not only tolerable but desired. It's a disbelief I struggle to suspend.
FWIW the library system had this book recommended for autism awareness month, so my expectations were skewed.
The script on this candy coated rom com is good. Not sure what the author's connection to ASD is- at times it felt like more acceptable autistic quirks got turned into an "innocent" kink. Don't get me wrong- I was here for it. One hundo the type of connection I, as a sensory seeking autist, am here for.
But. Some key parts of the plot relying on exceptionalism where the autistic character has hard and fast rules related to sensory issues that are dropped for that one patient allistic hero. I'm being too technical about this, but it also blurs the line of fantasy and personal experience that makes me feel the need to forewarn readers. I am my persons' person. No amount of patient, loving coaxing is going to make him thrilled to be touched in highly sensitive places... he's not a sensory seeker and doesn't crave touch- even just from me. I sensory seek and didn't need to learn that from one special person. The plot relies on an autistic character that discovers one single person whose touch is not only tolerable but desired. It's a disbelief I struggle to suspend.
FWIW the library system had this book recommended for autism awareness month, so my expectations were skewed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Ableism, and Sexual harassment
relin's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the way the author played with tropes and allowed these characters to grow. I was a little put off by the jealousy / manly man / kinda controlling part there for a bit with the MMC, but they seem to get to a beautiful place at the end. It was weird that the MMC had that phase, it wasn't something I was expecting going in with these characters. The family building and the interactions were very nice and really neat to see. And having an autistic FMC was really lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Ableism, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
Moderate: Outing and Stalking
abby_can_read'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
📱
This was cute book. It was a decent read. The characters were alright and their relationship were okay. The plot was decent and the writing kept me engaged. There was a lot of miscommunication at the end that I thought was irritating.
This was cute book. It was a decent read. The characters were alright and their relationship were okay. The plot was decent and the writing kept me engaged. There was a lot of miscommunication at the end that I thought was irritating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Classism
rchatterjee188's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Abandonment, Sexual content, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Cancer
Minor: Infidelity, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Body shaming, and Classism
emileegarrett's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
cassie7e's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Flirtatious and charming Makes consent and tenderness sexy and romantic! But full of unspoken insecurities, assumptions, and failure to take people at their word. Also found a lot of Stella's reactions and thought processes very relatable, even if our specific insecurities and anxieties differ. Seeing elements of myself in a romance made this (and Michael's kindness and respect for boundaries, mostly) even sweeter. I also appreciated how Michael's family being unaccepting was not one of the sources of conflict.
Probably realistic but drives me nuts when two people assume the worst of each other because of how past people made them feel, especially when everything seems to be going well otherwise! I also could do without the aggressive protective jealous instincts.
As lower-rated reviews have suggested, a few things feel shallowly explored or ignored: the weight of blame for Stella's experiences and anxiety being placed on autism instead of people treating her terribly; the belief that she's bad at sex rather than taken advantage of and/or assaulted by prior men; Philip's words and behaviors amounting to workplace sexual harrassment at the very least; and the idea that autism is hereditary and may extend beyond Stella and the singular other character defined to be autistic.
Probably realistic but drives me nuts when two people assume the worst of each other because of how past people made them feel, especially when everything seems to be going well otherwise! I also could do without the aggressive protective jealous instincts.
As lower-rated reviews have suggested, a few things feel shallowly explored or ignored: the weight of blame for Stella's experiences and anxiety being placed on autism instead of people treating her terribly; the belief that she's bad at sex rather than taken advantage of and/or assaulted by prior men; Philip's words and behaviors amounting to workplace sexual harrassment at the very least; and the idea that autism is hereditary and may extend beyond Stella and the singular other character defined to be autistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
madelynowil's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Not into the “touch her and die” trope but besides that I enjoyed this quite a lot. 4/5 spice
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Sexual harassment
robin_b01's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment