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_isabel_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
4.5
"At First Spite" was absolutely LOVELY. Sweet, romantic and funny, but also a punch to the gut in book form, a rollercoaster ride of emotions and complicated, contradictory feelings: I literally spent a few chapters near the middle just weeping out of sheer relatableness.
I immediately preordered this book the second I saw the gorgeous cover, and the absolutely fascinating blurb, despite not reading MF much these days. I admit, I might have been expecting something different based on those alone: more spite, more pettiness, more enemies-to-lovers and in general, for the book to have more of a I-hate-you-but-I'm-crazy-about-you vibe.
BUT, after starting this, I realized I didn't need any of that, and that Olivia Dade had written something more complicated, and more human, than a straightforward hate-to-love dynamic: misunderstandings, assumptions, fear, anxiety, misguided love and protection, every single contradictory emotion you can think of, colour Athena and Matthew's dynamic from the very start, and the reader feels the whole range of it from start to finish, screaming, weeping, sighing and swooning alongside them. They've never really hated each other, but both of them feel that very human desire to defend their squishy core, and their beloved lot, from each other, even at the cost of being mean and petty and rude.
The initial dislike evolves though, because both Athena and Matthew are marvellous, selfless, interesting human beings, and FANTASTIC protagonists, and they inevitably become friends, and then, despite it all, something more.
And let me tell you! What an explosive, interesting, chemistry-fueled, teeth-rottingly sweet, panty-melting,
swoon-inducing romantic dynamic they had. They made the best couple ever.
< “Athena, sweetheart . . .” Boosting herself to her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his chin. “Yes?” How would a man of vast experience say this? “Lift your skirt,” he said, low and quiet. “Please.” >
I loved them both individually too, so damned much. I've had the best of luck recently with relatable protagonists, and Athena with her mental health struggles, the lack of self-worth and her job-related issues, and Matthew with his anxieties, his loneliness and the terror of losing the people he loves, were both profoundly relatable protagonists: I literally spent entire chapters weeping because I felt SEEN. So I must applaud Olivia Dade for the way she managed to handle such complex, REAL protagonists, and the complex, REAL dynamic they had.
Some of the writing at times was a smidge too flowery for my tastes, and third-act breakups are my Villain Origin Story™, but groveling always makes me a happy gal, so all in all, they didn't spoil my enjoyment. I adored this novel so much; I want to find a Matthew (where do I find a Matthew? *stomps feet*); I adored all side characters to BITS (small town romances and the close-knit community vibes give me SO much joy). I can't wait to discover the next protagonists of this series, but in the meantime I might have to read more of Olivia Dade's backlist.
CWs/TWs: depression, grief/death of a family member.
I immediately preordered this book the second I saw the gorgeous cover, and the absolutely fascinating blurb, despite not reading MF much these days. I admit, I might have been expecting something different based on those alone: more spite, more pettiness, more enemies-to-lovers and in general, for the book to have more of a I-hate-you-but-I'm-crazy-about-you vibe.
BUT, after starting this, I realized I didn't need any of that, and that Olivia Dade had written something more complicated, and more human, than a straightforward hate-to-love dynamic: misunderstandings, assumptions, fear, anxiety, misguided love and protection, every single contradictory emotion you can think of, colour Athena and Matthew's dynamic from the very start, and the reader feels the whole range of it from start to finish, screaming, weeping, sighing and swooning alongside them. They've never really hated each other, but both of them feel that very human desire to defend their squishy core, and their beloved lot, from each other, even at the cost of being mean and petty and rude.
The initial dislike evolves though, because both Athena and Matthew are marvellous, selfless, interesting human beings, and FANTASTIC protagonists, and they inevitably become friends, and then, despite it all, something more.
And let me tell you! What an explosive, interesting, chemistry-fueled, teeth-rottingly sweet, panty-melting,
swoon-inducing romantic dynamic they had. They made the best couple ever.
< “Athena, sweetheart . . .” Boosting herself to her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his chin. “Yes?” How would a man of vast experience say this? “Lift your skirt,” he said, low and quiet. “Please.” >
I loved them both individually too, so damned much. I've had the best of luck recently with relatable protagonists, and Athena with her mental health struggles, the lack of self-worth and her job-related issues, and Matthew with his anxieties, his loneliness and the terror of losing the people he loves, were both profoundly relatable protagonists: I literally spent entire chapters weeping because I felt SEEN. So I must applaud Olivia Dade for the way she managed to handle such complex, REAL protagonists, and the complex, REAL dynamic they had.
Some of the writing at times was a smidge too flowery for my tastes, and third-act breakups are my Villain Origin Story™, but groveling always makes me a happy gal, so all in all, they didn't spoil my enjoyment. I adored this novel so much; I want to find a Matthew (where do I find a Matthew? *stomps feet*); I adored all side characters to BITS (small town romances and the close-knit community vibes give me SO much joy). I can't wait to discover the next protagonists of this series, but in the meantime I might have to read more of Olivia Dade's backlist.
CWs/TWs: depression, grief/death of a family member.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Child death
giulia_acobac's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the book. I felt very connected to the characters. My only “issue” is that this is described as a sexy rom-com . Due to the heavy topics discussed in the book I feel like it’s a bit misleading. Please read the CW at the beginning of the book!
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Mental illness, Child death, and Death
metsanneito's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I cried and laughed and was frustrated with this book.
For me the characters were relatable; like the battles with self worth, grief, love and pride. Also questions of doing the right thing... is the right thing right if everyone suffers? Follow your heart but.. to what direction? Is revenge ok, or do you judge things with just half of the truth in your hands?
Somehow this book showed perfectly what it is to be human. . . That not everything is perfect, and that's ok. I loved how the author described all the emotions the characters went through.
Sometimes I just wanted to go into the story, comfort them and say everything was gonna be alright.
Aand also go join the ("spicy") bookclub aaand those audio book listening "events" where the whole street listened all those spicy monster **ck storys together. x33♡
For me the characters were relatable; like the battles with self worth, grief, love and pride. Also questions of doing the right thing... is the right thing right if everyone suffers? Follow your heart but.. to what direction? Is revenge ok, or do you judge things with just half of the truth in your hands?
Somehow this book showed perfectly what it is to be human. . . That not everything is perfect, and that's ok. I loved how the author described all the emotions the characters went through.
Sometimes I just wanted to go into the story, comfort them and say everything was gonna be alright.
Aand also go join the ("spicy") bookclub aaand those audio book listening "events" where the whole street listened all those spicy monster **ck storys together. x33♡
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Abandonment, and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Child death, Child abuse, Medical trauma, and Grief
One of the main characters have some problems with depression and it is described in my mind perfectly. The tiredness. Aand lack of being able to even take a shower. How even reading the messages is too much not to mention that you should answer them. The avoidance of everything as well as everyone and also that need to just escape to the other worlds for a while. I think this book is one of those books that people should read if not otherwise then just to understand how other people, people with depression (or other mental illnesses / lack of self confidence), really feel or see things from their perspective.kylarenea_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Child death, Medical content, Blood, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
fuzzywilson's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Cursing, Medical content, Sexual content, Abandonment, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Blood
freakofafangirl's review against another edition
emotional
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
Moderate: Mental illness and Grief
Minor: Child death
ianb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a contemporary romance where the heroine moves into a house between her ex-fiancé and his brother (who actively got their wedding and relationship cancelled), and her romance with said ex’s brother! I also want to say that from the outset there is some content warnings in this one including grief and clinical depression – So worth bearing in mind if you are interested in picking this one up.
Athena is engaged to Johnny and when the story starts, she is at their engagement party and bumps into a man there who she ends up connecting with quickly. They both love information and looking things up on google and kind of banter and hit it off quickly. Shortly after her fiancé shows up and Athena is introduced to the mystery man who ends up being Matthew, her fiancé’s brother! Athena ends up overhearing the two brothers arguing shortly after with Matthew trying to talk his brother out of the relationship.
This Book is full of a lot of heart, steam and humour but I struggled to jell with this one, I can’t pinpoint if this was the writing style or just the relationship with her ex’s brother and then the seeing and watching her from the house next door, it was a little much for me, I think. Having said that I did enjoy the author’s realistic portrayal of depression and how she was able to weave in this sensitive topic while keeping the story light-hearted. I also enjoyed reading about a plus size main character where the focus was not on her body image but just described in a way so readers can paint an image as they read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
jackie_recommends's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, and Grief
abception's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Child death
katebrownreads's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders