Scan barcode
bookaholics_anonymous's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism
sor3n's review against another edition
“sam makes depression hot” and i was out. also “i was smitten mitten kittens” a desperate reach for young adult language n themes and COMPLETELY misses. the literal opening sentences of this book is the mc slut shaming her mother.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
ava_jane's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders
gmoneyyyyy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
allylund9's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I thought the characters and the way they talked/acted to be very unlikeable, and I never really got invested. . The language has also aged pretty badly, (as it is written with a lot of internet slang and pop culture references) I cannot imagine how difficult it will be to read in a couple years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
hmlongstreet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I had written a review on this book but it somehow got deleted so I am rewriting this.
I picked up this book because the cover had a review by Rainbow Rowell (author of Fangirl and Eleanor & Park) and she said it was a good read. This is my usual book genre, a fluffy college romance. I got invested in the story, I really did but after I had finished the book I was left with the feeling of "That's it?". The book has a promising beginning, a going somewhere middle, and a disappointing end.
Themes, characters, and stories are brought up only to be dropped in the next few sections, never to be heard from again. Even some conflicts remained unsolved and even when it was resolved I felt zero satisfaction. This is the book where you could leave out full characters and the story would not change one bit. And the main characters are just okay, the story is character-based but the development to me felt so small. I also could not find the plot, as I went through three ideas of what it could be, it is revealed so far towards the end it makes the whole story feel pointless.
I will mention something about the main character, will place a spoiler as it reveals things in the book.
I found that Penny's treatment of her mother was unjustified. I mean we find out Penny was raped and her mother didn't do anything, she also doesn't know and never learns by the end of the book. It is made out to seem like this is why Penny has a bad relationship with her mom, but it just doesn't sit right with me. This is revealed so late that it makes you think throughout Penny doesn't like her mother simply because she is a "MILF". I could go on but this would be a much longer review than it already is.
I really wanted to love this one, but after I finished it and sat with it for a few minutes I couldn't.
I picked up this book because the cover had a review by Rainbow Rowell (author of Fangirl and Eleanor & Park) and she said it was a good read. This is my usual book genre, a fluffy college romance. I got invested in the story, I really did but after I had finished the book I was left with the feeling of "That's it?". The book has a promising beginning, a going somewhere middle, and a disappointing end.
Themes, characters, and stories are brought up only to be dropped in the next few sections, never to be heard from again. Even some conflicts remained unsolved and even when it was resolved I felt zero satisfaction. This is the book where you could leave out full characters and the story would not change one bit. And the main characters are just okay, the story is character-based but the development to me felt so small. I also could not find the plot, as I went through three ideas of what it could be, it is revealed so far towards the end it makes the whole story feel pointless.
I will mention something about the main character, will place a spoiler as it reveals things in the book.
I really wanted to love this one, but after I finished it and sat with it for a few minutes I couldn't.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
lesbianfrankiero's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Classism, Pregnancy, and Mental illness
Minor: Abortion, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug use, Medical content, and Miscarriage
i would've loved to see more character development tbh, BUT i did love the discussion of mental health, socioeconomic disparity, vulnerability, and the focus on the bond or lack thereof between parent and child thatdorothymae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
soupstix's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this was a weird read for me because so many elements hit so close to home while also being, like, three inches to the left. in a weird way, celeste reminded me a fair bit of my mom, albeit trendier and hotter and with a wider social circle. i usually love stories that revolve around mother-daughter relationships especially when it comes to asian-americans—especially especially asian-americans in texas because that’s a funky little thing i love seeing represented. i’m also a judgmental bitch like penny, so that definitely upped the relatability factor. and i liked how penny being korean was important to her identity without it being a central focus of the novel. that said, while i enjoyed this story a fair amount, i just didn’t LOVE it.
i thought the characters were interesting. i surprisingly enjoyed the “story-within-a-story,” which i did not expect because those usually make me eye roll or confuse the shit out of me. like, watchmen’s iteration of that with the pirate story—which penny references—was a huge miss for me. i’m also not usually much a fan of reading about writers? it always feels a little too meta for me, or honestly pretty bland because it makes me start thinking about my life in a much too direct and immediate way for my taste. so i think that significantly impacted my overall opinion of this novel.
i liked sam. his relationship with lorraine felt a little half-baked to me, though, so it felt like his unplanned pregnancy storyline got dropped in a really awkward spot that sorta left him with nothing else to do while penny was sorting out her own issues. it started feeling like the author was juggling a bit too much, and had to drop something to keep everything else going smoothly.
i loved the last few chapters where penny has all those interactions with jude and mallory and andy, plus all the mom stuff. it really made getting through the entire beginning of this book feel worthwhile.
i’m came to “emergency contact” from “yolk,” so i feel like choi hasn’t fully realized her capabilities as a writer, which probably detracted from my enjoyment of this (especially since i adored yolk so much. absolutely my new favorite book). but i just love choi’s prose so much. it’s so snarky and fun to read, a style i’d both love to emulate but also don’t think i could ever quite pull off. so overall i had a good time. i just wasn’t blown away.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
annika_maree's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
This is probably one of the first romance books where i have bought the connection between the main characters
This book is about Sam and Penny, young adults with big dreams. When they meet and exchange phone numbers, making each other their emergency contact which evolves into constant texts and a friendship over their secrets they would never share in real life.
Tw for anxiety (panic attacks), depression, unavailable parents, rape/sexual assault and alcoholism
Key ideas
-I loved how realistic these characters were, Sam and Penny are not the most likeable characters, they are judgmental and pessimistic. These qualities just made me love them more.
-The conversations in this book between Sam and Penny were the most genuine and natural that i have ever read
-The author put parts of herself in the book which amplified our empathy for the characters and made them feel so much more real
-I loved the maturity, this is classed as ya which I feel as if it should be na/a, the characters are in college and have mature issues eg financial, pregnancy, drugs and alcohol
-both Penny and Sam’s voices felt distinct and i was rarely bored
-They had things going on outside of the romance which i believe had the perfect ratio (Pennys writing class and how what she wrote reflected how she felt and Sam and his ex girlfriend trouble as well as the bakery
Quotes
“Penny believed with her whole heart that there were moments - crucial instances - that defined who someone was going to be. There were clues or signs, and you didn't want to miss them.”
“I like knowing that you exist. It doesn’t make me feel any less lonely, because life is lonely, but it makes me feel a lot less alone.”
“Sam enjoyed texting Penny. They talked about work, sleep, food, random facts. It didn’t need to be anything important. Their last text had been what to eat for breakfast. Since Penny had seen him at his lowest, there was no reason to act cooler than he was. It felt easy.”
“Sam wanted to tell Penny everything. He wanted a record of his thoughts and feelings and stories to exist with her. Like a time capsule for this strange period of his life. With her, he felt less lonely. He hadn't even realised he was lonely. He hadn't let himself. “
“Does he say good morning to her in a way that is reassuring? To where it feels as if he is holding her hand for the entire rest of the day until he says good night?”
This book is about Sam and Penny, young adults with big dreams. When they meet and exchange phone numbers, making each other their emergency contact which evolves into constant texts and a friendship over their secrets they would never share in real life.
Tw for anxiety (panic attacks), depression, unavailable parents, rape/sexual assault and alcoholism
Key ideas
-I loved how realistic these characters were, Sam and Penny are not the most likeable characters, they are judgmental and pessimistic. These qualities just made me love them more.
-The conversations in this book between Sam and Penny were the most genuine and natural that i have ever read
-The author put parts of herself in the book which amplified our empathy for the characters and made them feel so much more real
-I loved the maturity, this is classed as ya which I feel as if it should be na/a, the characters are in college and have mature issues eg financial, pregnancy, drugs and alcohol
-both Penny and Sam’s voices felt distinct and i was rarely bored
-They had things going on outside of the romance which i believe had the perfect ratio (Pennys writing class and how what she wrote reflected how she felt and Sam and his ex girlfriend trouble as well as the bakery
Quotes
“Penny believed with her whole heart that there were moments - crucial instances - that defined who someone was going to be. There were clues or signs, and you didn't want to miss them.”
“I like knowing that you exist. It doesn’t make me feel any less lonely, because life is lonely, but it makes me feel a lot less alone.”
“Sam enjoyed texting Penny. They talked about work, sleep, food, random facts. It didn’t need to be anything important. Their last text had been what to eat for breakfast. Since Penny had seen him at his lowest, there was no reason to act cooler than he was. It felt easy.”
“Sam wanted to tell Penny everything. He wanted a record of his thoughts and feelings and stories to exist with her. Like a time capsule for this strange period of his life. With her, he felt less lonely. He hadn't even realised he was lonely. He hadn't let himself. “
“Does he say good morning to her in a way that is reassuring? To where it feels as if he is holding her hand for the entire rest of the day until he says good night?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcoholism
Minor: Body shaming, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder