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bisonprints's review
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
lonely_tardigrade's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
This book surprised me. I couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive when I read the warning at the beginning of the book, since I myself struggle with anxiety and books that portray that kind of bring me down. But the way Oscar’s character was written made me feel seen. Yes, it was an honest depiction of anxiety and panic attacks, but it wasn’t overly depressing. Oscar was a rare example of a character who struggled with anxiety but still managed life and had a hopeful future.
On the topic of rare characters, I could go on for hours about Ronnie. She may have only been a side character, but her existence is potentially life changing for young trans people. The limited backstory we get tells us she was Oscar’s roommate in college before she transitioned. She had a hard time with the early transition process (all relatable things, like crying about hormone progress and being scared to shop for dresses) but when we meet her in the book she’s finally comfortable in her own skin. Ronnie is a very rare depiction of a trans woman who has made it out the other side. She’s happy, euphoric, and optimistic about her future. Seeing a character like that could mean the world to a reader who’s in the early stages of transitioning.
I also love the distinct ways that different characters deal with hard emotions. Everyone has their own self destructive habits, and the way those habits interact set the basis for a lot of the story. Everyone’s reaction seems authentic and true to the things they’ve gone through in their life.
Overall, this book was surprisingly uplifting and real. I would absolutely recommend it. We need more diverse, optimistic books like this one.
On the topic of rare characters, I could go on for hours about Ronnie. She may have only been a side character, but her existence is potentially life changing for young trans people. The limited backstory we get tells us she was Oscar’s roommate in college before she transitioned. She had a hard time with the early transition process (all relatable things, like crying about hormone progress and being scared to shop for dresses) but when we meet her in the book she’s finally comfortable in her own skin. Ronnie is a very rare depiction of a trans woman who has made it out the other side. She’s happy, euphoric, and optimistic about her future. Seeing a character like that could mean the world to a reader who’s in the early stages of transitioning.
I also love the distinct ways that different characters deal with hard emotions. Everyone has their own self destructive habits, and the way those habits interact set the basis for a lot of the story. Everyone’s reaction seems authentic and true to the things they’ve gone through in their life.
Overall, this book was surprisingly uplifting and real. I would absolutely recommend it. We need more diverse, optimistic books like this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual content, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Death
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Dysphoria, and Suicidal thoughts
cr_valentine's review
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Dementia
buttermellow's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abandonment
the_vegan_bookworm's review
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don't feel I really got to know Jack nor Oscar outside of flat stereotypes for each character. When the plot got interesting or the two of them has a fun dynamic, it seemed to get reduced to pointless fighting. It was hard to understand the chemistry between them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death
Minor: Transphobia
dobbsthedog's review
5.0
Reread March 2023 rating upgraded to 5 stars
I don’t know why, but this book just REALLY worked for me this time. I don’t know if it’s because I could relate with Oscar in some aspects of his anxiety, or if I’m just in a different headspace, idk? I really liked this one on this read.
Something else I really liked, and I think it’s something that I’m seeing from authors who write all sorts of romances, is that sex doesn’t have to be penetrative to be sex. Or, I guess blowjobs are penetrative… but I really appreciate that in this book sex is getting off with another person, whatever that may look like.
Also, I’ve recently joined Ripper’s Patreon and there was a fantastic little Jack/Oscar story that takes place 2 years after the book, and it is kind of perfect. Tentacles, baby!🐙
_____
3.5 stars
Of the three books in the series, I liked this one the least, though I still liked it! I think the reason I didn't like it as much was because the characters, Oscar and Jack, aren't as likeable as the characters in the other two books, except that's the whole point. They are both assholes. They are constantly fighting and are snarky with each other, and it is THE BEST. Like, they are even snarky and low-key mean when they're having sex, which I feel like shouldn't work, except that it totally does.
Despite all the snarky fighting, I really liked that the sex didn't come across as hate sex, which I don't think it was at all, but I could see how it could have easily gone there. That is something that I just don't understand, so I'm glad that's not what happened.
I also really liked how Jack was understanding of Oscar's anxiety. He was quite blunt about it, just asking what he needed to know, and I liked that, that he wasn't tiptoeing around or being weird, it's just a part of Oscar that he's getting to know.
I also LOVED the author's note at the very beginning, where it mentions that the book contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, that it's not a quirky plot point, it's just how the character is and that he still has anxiety at the end of the book and that anxiety and depression can totally be part of a HEA. I think that somewhat relates to what I said above; Jack just takes Oscar as he is, with his anxiety, he doesn't try to fix it or anything, and at the same time Jack isn't portrayed as being a "cure" to Oscar's anxiety. Ugh, just give me all that realistic mental health rep, please!
I don’t know why, but this book just REALLY worked for me this time. I don’t know if it’s because I could relate with Oscar in some aspects of his anxiety, or if I’m just in a different headspace, idk? I really liked this one on this read.
Something else I really liked, and I think it’s something that I’m seeing from authors who write all sorts of romances, is that sex doesn’t have to be penetrative to be sex. Or, I guess blowjobs are penetrative… but I really appreciate that in this book sex is getting off with another person, whatever that may look like.
Also, I’ve recently joined Ripper’s Patreon and there was a fantastic little Jack/Oscar story that takes place 2 years after the book, and it is kind of perfect. Tentacles, baby!🐙
_____
3.5 stars
Of the three books in the series, I liked this one the least, though I still liked it! I think the reason I didn't like it as much was because the characters, Oscar and Jack, aren't as likeable as the characters in the other two books, except that's the whole point. They are both assholes. They are constantly fighting and are snarky with each other, and it is THE BEST. Like, they are even snarky and low-key mean when they're having sex, which I feel like shouldn't work, except that it totally does.
Despite all the snarky fighting, I really liked that the sex didn't come across as hate sex, which I don't think it was at all, but I could see how it could have easily gone there. That is something that I just don't understand, so I'm glad that's not what happened.
I also really liked how Jack was understanding of Oscar's anxiety. He was quite blunt about it, just asking what he needed to know, and I liked that, that he wasn't tiptoeing around or being weird, it's just a part of Oscar that he's getting to know.
I also LOVED the author's note at the very beginning, where it mentions that the book contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, that it's not a quirky plot point, it's just how the character is and that he still has anxiety at the end of the book and that anxiety and depression can totally be part of a HEA. I think that somewhat relates to what I said above; Jack just takes Oscar as he is, with his anxiety, he doesn't try to fix it or anything, and at the same time Jack isn't portrayed as being a "cure" to Oscar's anxiety. Ugh, just give me all that realistic mental health rep, please!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
kyougokazumi's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
thanmayi's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
2.5
After loving the love study as much as I did, this was slightly disappointing. Everything I loved in the love project was missing in this book. With the lack of clear consent, bad communication, and breaking boundaries time and time again, this book was terribly uncomfortable to read. Oscar was pretty annoying in the first book as is, but his lack of communication in the second one was even more upsetting. Jack was extremely pushy and overall his behavior towards Oscar just felt like he was coercing him and his comments about finding insecurity a turn on just SCREAMED toxicity. Both of them weren't in the right mental stage for a relationship and it showed.
On a more positive note, I ABSOLUTELY ADORY RONNIE. She's an absolute sweetheart and everyone needs a Ronnie in their life. I loved how the author showed transitioning and the fears of transgender people during early transition in stores.
The book does get points for being diverse and having a mid/plus-sized MC. If you want to read a book filled with representation of POC, LGBTQIA+ then this is a good read but seeing how toxic the entire thing was I definitely will not be re-reading/ recommending it to anyone.
On a more positive note, I ABSOLUTELY ADORY RONNIE. She's an absolute sweetheart and everyone needs a Ronnie in their life. I loved how the author showed transitioning and the fears of transgender people during early transition in stores.
The book does get points for being diverse and having a mid/plus-sized MC. If you want to read a book filled with representation of POC, LGBTQIA+ then this is a good read but seeing how toxic the entire thing was I definitely will not be re-reading/ recommending it to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Transphobia
menomica's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
bellarinabookworm's review
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders