Scan barcode
bisonprints'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
lonely_tardigrade'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
4.75
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.
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
the_vegan_bookworm'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
2.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death
Minor: Transphobia
kyougokazumi's review
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
thanmayi's review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Transphobia
memorable'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
4.0
I got to admit though that I took me some time to like both Oscar and Jack; I kinda liked them more through Dec’s eyes. However, they are really cute together and I just love the fact that they love each other with all their grumpiness.
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death and Dementia
Swearing Anxiety Hoarding Bad self talk/self blame Harry Potter referenceqace90'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
5.0
Gosh, this was so much fun! I’m an absolute sucker for grumpy and snarky types, so two together was just an absolute delight!
Oscar is a bit of an anxious mess but he has a great found family around him who always support him and celebrate even small victories - like only having a few almost panic attacks and no actual ones! Recently added to the friend group is Jack, Declan’s coworker-of-sorts who is snark and vinegar. One night the two decide to have no-strings attached sex and when Dec convinces Oscar to take the job cleaning up Jack’s house for sale, it becomes convenient to continue having sex together.
One of my favorite parts of this series is 100% the chosen family. The different personalities and the different ways the support each other and show their care is wonderful. I need to read more from Kris Ripper just for how ze writes chosen family!
I found Oscar’s anxiety extremely relatable, especially the spirals he catches himself in. I love the ways he has check-ins with his friends, especially Ronnie, and they respect his needs when it comes to anxiety spirals and panic attacks. I also usually despise “breakups” in last third of a book, but this made a lot of sense in the miscommunication and anxiety sense, and I love how things were resolved in the end. The emphasis on communication and working with different conflict resolution methods was just, gah, I adored this book!
Meeting Oscar in The Love Study, I was very excited for his book (more grumpy, anxious stories!) and this didn’t disappoint! I had so much fun reading this and I especially love how grumpy and snarky Jack and Oscar are together. Their antagonism and the ways they work together was a delight.
Moderate: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Ableism, Racism, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts