Scan barcode
lezreadalot's review against another edition
4.0
Here’s how my friends describe me to new people: “This is Declan. He left his last boyfriend at the altar, so watch out.”
Bro I'm super glad I got the chance to read this fantastically queer, quirky, rom-com love story with a genderqueer love interest. Not everything about it worked for me, but mostly I liked the ways in which it was different, the ways it broke the mould. Declan, a grade-A commitment-phobe, finds himself as a guest on a YouTube show, being set up on blind dates. It's not exactly the plan for him to fall for the charming host, but that's what happens.
I love all the on-page character interaction we get, the way the author doesn't skimp on showing us little moments that bring the characters close together, mundane conversations that give a great sense of their personalities and character. There's a lot of great dialogue and communication in this book, and it's one of the rare cases where I'm not frustrated when lack of communication becomes an issue. Declan is kinda going through it, and his anxiety manifests in believable ways. That was one of my favourite things about this; how realistically and pragmatically anxiety is portrayed. I really loved Sidney, my new favourite spinster uncle, and how they were gentle and practical and sort of like a guiding force for Declan, while also prioritising themselves? This isn't quite friends to lovers, but we definitely get a deep sense of Declan and Sidney's friendship, which I loved. Maybe more so than their attraction? But I hesitate to list that as a detracting factor, because it worked for this love story imo.
I really liked the core group of friends; that's something I always like seeing in romances. They had a lot of banter and chemistry, and I look forward to seeing them in future books! The characters are in their late twenties, but this definitely had a kinda new adult feel to it sometimes? At least in the writing style/dialogue. It sometimes felt TOO quirky and a bit young and didn't totally work for me (as well as like, the strikethroughs). But it might for someone else. There WERE a couple fun references that I really enjoyed (those are my fave Zen/Mercy voice lines too!!) that might be lost on other people.
3.5 stars. This was a lot of fun; a quick read that made me smile in a lot of different places.
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
Bro I'm super glad I got the chance to read this fantastically queer, quirky, rom-com love story with a genderqueer love interest. Not everything about it worked for me, but mostly I liked the ways in which it was different, the ways it broke the mould. Declan, a grade-A commitment-phobe, finds himself as a guest on a YouTube show, being set up on blind dates. It's not exactly the plan for him to fall for the charming host, but that's what happens.
I love all the on-page character interaction we get, the way the author doesn't skimp on showing us little moments that bring the characters close together, mundane conversations that give a great sense of their personalities and character. There's a lot of great dialogue and communication in this book, and it's one of the rare cases where I'm not frustrated when lack of communication becomes an issue. Declan is kinda going through it, and his anxiety manifests in believable ways. That was one of my favourite things about this; how realistically and pragmatically anxiety is portrayed. I really loved Sidney, my new favourite spinster uncle, and how they were gentle and practical and sort of like a guiding force for Declan, while also prioritising themselves? This isn't quite friends to lovers, but we definitely get a deep sense of Declan and Sidney's friendship, which I loved. Maybe more so than their attraction? But I hesitate to list that as a detracting factor, because it worked for this love story imo.
I really liked the core group of friends; that's something I always like seeing in romances. They had a lot of banter and chemistry, and I look forward to seeing them in future books! The characters are in their late twenties, but this definitely had a kinda new adult feel to it sometimes? At least in the writing style/dialogue. It sometimes felt TOO quirky and a bit young and didn't totally work for me (as well as like, the strikethroughs). But it might for someone else. There WERE a couple fun references that I really enjoyed (those are my fave Zen/Mercy voice lines too!!) that might be lost on other people.
3.5 stars. This was a lot of fun; a quick read that made me smile in a lot of different places.
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
rillaarcania's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
inkstndfngrs's review against another edition
I *wanted* to really love this book. I did. But honestly...Sidney just wasn't interesting to me. As a fellow non-binary person, and knowing as many nonbinary people as I do, they were just...too neutral? One of the struggles of being nonbinary is that people often still perceive us as being male or female. Everyone in this book just seems to accept that they are completely androgynous?
Heck, I'm non-binary and *I* still do this to other non-binary people!!!!! It's an ingrained habit of years of living within the binary and many of us still sway to stereotypical sides. I know most people see me as female, even on my most masculine of days.
Admittedly, I only made it through about...three chapters? Up until Tyler got to Sidney's apartment for their first filming. And...I just pulled out the bookmark to use it in another book and said "Whoops...oh well." Maybe I'll try it again at some point, but it just wasn't what I wanted (or needed?) to read right now. Perhaps some of my "meh" feelings toward this are addressed later? It just all seems too "perfect world" to me.
Heck, I'm non-binary and *I* still do this to other non-binary people!!!!! It's an ingrained habit of years of living within the binary and many of us still sway to stereotypical sides. I know most people see me as female, even on my most masculine of days.
Admittedly, I only made it through about...three chapters? Up until Tyler got to Sidney's apartment for their first filming. And...I just pulled out the bookmark to use it in another book and said "Whoops...oh well." Maybe I'll try it again at some point, but it just wasn't what I wanted (or needed?) to read right now. Perhaps some of my "meh" feelings toward this are addressed later? It just all seems too "perfect world" to me.
onlyadream223's review against another edition
4.0
The Love Study by Kris Ripper was my first non-binary read. Quite honestly it took me a little bit to get used it. I had to remember that the use of they meant one person and not a group of people. Once I got past that, the premise behind this story was interesting and oozed comic relief and DRAMA.
This book was a whole movement. It read like a coming of age story, we except that the characters were grown. It wasn't so much the exploration piece, but the growing kind, the kind of story that really makes you think about your life and your choices.
The writing style makes it feel almost like a journal where I believe it would be easily enjoyed by teenagers.
I highly recommend this book if only to gain a different perspective and learn a few things.
Special thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review
This book was a whole movement. It read like a coming of age story, we except that the characters were grown. It wasn't so much the exploration piece, but the growing kind, the kind of story that really makes you think about your life and your choices.
The writing style makes it feel almost like a journal where I believe it would be easily enjoyed by teenagers.
I highly recommend this book if only to gain a different perspective and learn a few things.
Special thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review
trashpigeon's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
beck22e's review against another edition
2.0
A sweet book, good representation of queer romance, but not my type of book. I probably would have liked it less if it it wasn't gay.
readingwithstardust's review
3.0
I think this really stalled out after they ended the Love Study in favor of 'dating'. I appreciated all of the anxiety rep and this beautiful depiction of a non-traditional 'dating' relationship style. But it did drag in the second half.
allison_reads_87's review against another edition
DNF at 50% just couldn’t get into it. The writing was oddly repetitive and the dialogue didn’t work for me.
zellm's review against another edition
2.0
I accidentally read the second book in the series first and really enjoyed it, so I came back to read this one and was unfortunately disappointed. I felt like it was forced, the plot points were cliche and fabricated, and I was really bummed that compared to The Hate Project there was no sex or real chemistry here. It felt like a cop out, especially as there was a throwaway line at the end about Sidney's dysphoria during sex, which could've been a great tender and touching moment during intimacy but was instead a one off line in the last chapter.
_ashton_reads_'s review against another edition
3.0
I LOVED the diversity in this, and it was such a nice, light-hearted romance that was great to pick up if you want a sweet and uncomplicated romance. This is also, sadly, why I couldn't give it above 3 stars.
I enjoyed the characters and the representation, I just felt like I wanted something...more. I didn't really believe the physical or emotional chemistry between Declan and Sidney. It seemed to happen very easily and organically, but without any type of spark or strong emotion (other than the expected curve ball of angst thrown in at the very end and then quickly resolved). I guess I just wanted more build up and connection between them. It wasn't a "bad" book by ANY means, it just left me feeling neutral. I'd definitely give this author another try in the future, and I am so grateful for authors such as Ripper because the more LGBTQIA+ romance rep we can get, the better!
***Huge thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review***
I enjoyed the characters and the representation, I just felt like I wanted something...more. I didn't really believe the physical or emotional chemistry between Declan and Sidney. It seemed to happen very easily and organically, but without any type of spark or strong emotion (other than the expected curve ball of angst thrown in at the very end and then quickly resolved). I guess I just wanted more build up and connection between them. It wasn't a "bad" book by ANY means, it just left me feeling neutral. I'd definitely give this author another try in the future, and I am so grateful for authors such as Ripper because the more LGBTQIA+ romance rep we can get, the better!
***Huge thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review***