Scan barcode
adambwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence
hjmcqueerie's review against another edition
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
Hilarious, banter-filled, loveable characters, all doing what TJ Klune does so well. 0.5 stars deducted because surely no one can be THAT clueless. But maybe I’m just impatient.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Just the usual lighthearted, but explicitly smutty sex jokes, and a bit of a poke.sillyhumantricks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Sweet, sexy, and absolutely hilarious. This book had me crying multiple times. Crying from laughter, crying from heartbreak, crying from sweetness. Make Donkey from Shrek a gay unicorn and Alex from Red, White & Royal Blue a wizard (apprentice) and you begin to get a sense for the characters. I'll absolutely be re-reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
blundurd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
A very lovable, diverse cast of unique characters. Seeing a story so full of LGBTQIA+ characters was a breath of fresh air and nothing feels like a poorly portrayed stereotype.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
redheadorganist's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Murder, Cursing, Confinement, Gore, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
lizacorn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
amelianotthepilot's review
2.5
I thought it was gonna b a fun little trope filled queer fantasy but ugh honestly wished it was more tropey i dunno how we didn’t get a 1 bed scenario in this
The dialogue (which almost the whole book) was so tiresome and boring. Klune tends to use a jokey childish playground smack talk sex pun style of dialogue in all his books but this book was even more so. It’s clear this is one of his early books. A lot of dialogue scenes were so lengthy but with no purpose and i found myself bored and skimming a lot. Also his characters lacked distinct voices so they all end up sounding the same.
I thought the plot and characters were fun but the chapters are very disjointed and the plot doesn’t flow very well. It’s more like a series or short adventures all strung together leading up to nothing. The stakes were never big and the villains were always not that evil.
do like the adhd and ace representation tho. but i dislike how he somehow manages to not include any female important characters and somehow every character is a gay man. no intersecting identities pretty flat
and yet again he’s managed to have a vaguely teen YA romance vibe but then lots of butt sex (not as intense as green creek) it’s an odd vibe
The dialogue (which almost the whole book) was so tiresome and boring. Klune tends to use a jokey childish playground smack talk sex pun style of dialogue in all his books but this book was even more so. It’s clear this is one of his early books. A lot of dialogue scenes were so lengthy but with no purpose and i found myself bored and skimming a lot. Also his characters lacked distinct voices so they all end up sounding the same.
I thought the plot and characters were fun but the chapters are very disjointed and the plot doesn’t flow very well. It’s more like a series or short adventures all strung together leading up to nothing. The stakes were never big and the villains were always not that evil.
do like the adhd and ace representation tho. but i dislike how he somehow manages to not include any female important characters and somehow every character is a gay man. no intersecting identities pretty flat
and yet again he’s managed to have a vaguely teen YA romance vibe but then lots of butt sex (not as intense as green creek) it’s an odd vibe
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
chofigabriela's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
comityoferrors's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book - it's light, heartwarming, and funny, but has surprising emotional depth. I appreciated the elements that were satirizing or subverting common Happily Ever After fantasy tropes, especially the absolute confidence that Sam has in his friends, his family, and his own worth. We so often see the tortured hero who is "fixed" by their one true love, so the love and coziness in all the relationships in this book was refreshing.
The language is VERY raunchy, and it does get a bit stale/distracting at some points, but in hindsight I do appreciate the (highly exaggerated - I hope?) reflection of what a horny 20-year-old kid is thinking about. I looked into Klune while reading and learned that he's asexual, and then was repeatedly astounded by how well-written the physical relationships and attractions are considering that fact. There's an explicit sex scene that could've been lifted right out of an erotica. That tidbit of info doesn't have anything to do with the book itself, really, it just surprised me lol.
The characters are lovable and the primary relationship is well-developed, though I did find myself wishing there was a little more depth to some of the supporting cast. The pacing stalls a bit in some parts, but overall moves along at a quick and steady rate. I felt actual sadness and longing when Sam did, and was surprised and pleased with the plot twists and the resolution. The end sets up for another book, and I will probably actually read that even though I generally don't do series. It's clear that Klune wanted to create a world with diverse queer representation, and that world is pretty delightful. I'm glad I picked this up!
The language is VERY raunchy, and it does get a bit stale/distracting at some points, but in hindsight I do appreciate the (highly exaggerated - I hope?) reflection of what a horny 20-year-old kid is thinking about. I looked into Klune while reading and learned that he's asexual, and then was repeatedly astounded by how well-written the physical relationships and attractions are considering that fact. There's an explicit sex scene that could've been lifted right out of an erotica. That tidbit of info doesn't have anything to do with the book itself, really, it just surprised me lol.
The characters are lovable and the primary relationship is well-developed, though I did find myself wishing there was a little more depth to some of the supporting cast. The pacing stalls a bit in some parts, but overall moves along at a quick and steady rate. I felt actual sadness and longing when Sam did, and was surprised and pleased with the plot twists and the resolution. The end sets up for another book, and I will probably actually read that even though I generally don't do series. It's clear that Klune wanted to create a world with diverse queer representation, and that world is pretty delightful. I'm glad I picked this up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
rjlackie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content