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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
Rating: 3.5 stars
This book got off to a bit of a slow start for me with a very teen rom-com embarrassment moment and an ill-advised flight from the country. But dang, haven't we all wished at some point during high school that we could just run away and escape some embarrassing situation? I shudder to think of what high school is like in today's highly digital world where your embarrassment can be captured and then go viral. Which is exactly what happens to Ellie.
If you've ever read a romance novel, especially a YA romance novel, you'll be able to see where this is going from a mile away - and that's okay. I love that this book is as much about Ellie finding her own way and really growing into herself as it is about her relationships with boys. For me, this was more about her building some real friendships with Sage, Dev, and Huan and learning more about herself than it was about the romance (though in the end I did get a bit swoony over the romance). If you're reading this for the romance plot, you're probably not going to enjoy it (and I can't really say more because spoilers?). If you're reading it for a YA coming of age story about forging real friendships, learning to be comfortable with your true self, and a little romance sprinkled in, then you'll like this one a lot more.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
This book got off to a bit of a slow start for me with a very teen rom-com embarrassment moment and an ill-advised flight from the country. But dang, haven't we all wished at some point during high school that we could just run away and escape some embarrassing situation? I shudder to think of what high school is like in today's highly digital world where your embarrassment can be captured and then go viral. Which is exactly what happens to Ellie.
If you've ever read a romance novel, especially a YA romance novel, you'll be able to see where this is going from a mile away - and that's okay. I love that this book is as much about Ellie finding her own way and really growing into herself as it is about her relationships with boys. For me, this was more about her building some real friendships with Sage, Dev, and Huan and learning more about herself than it was about the romance (though in the end I did get a bit swoony over the romance). If you're reading this for the romance plot, you're probably not going to enjoy it (and I can't really say more because spoilers?). If you're reading it for a YA coming of age story about forging real friendships, learning to be comfortable with your true self, and a little romance sprinkled in, then you'll like this one a lot more.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
This book was not it. All the MC cared about was getting a boyfriend. I think part of my problem with this book is that the MC didn’t care about her grades at all, and I’ve always been like the side characters who strives for the highest possible grade. Just not a great read.
this book surprised me hehe and im glad i picked it up, i love the characters sm (DEV) and the friend group UGH HUAN SAGE ELLIE DEV MY FAVS, please give this book a chance, it might surprise you too!
The ending felt a little quick and the relationship with the second male lead went on too long for me.
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Very cringe at first. It gets better
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
After reading Dungeons and Drama, I put all of Kristy Boyce’s novels on my TBR. She writes such cozy, cute, clean YA romance stories that just make me happy! Also, from the two of her books that I’ve now read, I can confirm she has a great grasp on nerds. She wrote the D&D geeks in Dungeons and Drama as perfectly as she did the Academic dorks here. As a fellow dweeb, I live for accurate nerd/geek/dork portrayal! I also loved that this story had such vivid, worldwide settings. Boyce takes you from drama-filled high school parties in D.C. to historic manors in England to romantic canals in Venice. I’m not a world traveler (yet), but felt like I was there from Boyce’s rich descriptions. My favorite part of this story was certainly the found family in friendships! One of my favorite tropes ever!
emotional
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:
No
Thank you to Harper360ya and Edelweiss for gifting me an earc of this book I really appreciate the opportunity.
I enjoyed the plot of this book, and I did fly through it in pretty much one sitting. It isn't my usual genre but it sounded interesting so I wanted to give it a go.
However, one thing really ruined the book for me. Within a couple of pages of this book the author mentioned *JKR*, the author then goes on to compare said person to Umbridge, highlighting that she is problematic. The author then continues to mention *HP* on many different occasions throughout the book as if she hadn't already identified the problematic behaviour of said situation.
This really let the book down for me. This book is going to be very triggering for so many people and I feel really let down that this is even a feature in the book. \
Maybe it is just me.
I enjoyed the plot of this book, and I did fly through it in pretty much one sitting. It isn't my usual genre but it sounded interesting so I wanted to give it a go.
However, one thing really ruined the book for me. Within a couple of pages of this book the author mentioned *JKR*, the author then goes on to compare said person to Umbridge, highlighting that she is problematic. The author then continues to mention *HP* on many different occasions throughout the book as if she hadn't already identified the problematic behaviour of said situation.
This really let the book down for me. This book is going to be very triggering for so many people and I feel really let down that this is even a feature in the book. \
Maybe it is just me.
Trigger warnings:
Diversity: Indian-American main character, gay main character.
It's like a 3,5 stars. I'm a bit conflicted about that one. Like I expected from the synopsis, I found this entertaining and fun and very rom-com, so no disappointment there. I enjoyed the travel and friendships in this book, but I expected a bit more from the main character, she felt a little superficial to me for most of the book, unfortunately.
Full review coming soon :)
Thank you to Harper360UK for sending me an e-ARC of this book via Edelweiss. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
Spoiler
ableist language, mention of lung cancer.Diversity: Indian-American main character, gay main character.
It's like a 3,5 stars. I'm a bit conflicted about that one. Like I expected from the synopsis, I found this entertaining and fun and very rom-com, so no disappointment there. I enjoyed the travel and friendships in this book, but I expected a bit more from the main character, she felt a little superficial to me for most of the book, unfortunately.
Full review coming soon :)
Thank you to Harper360UK for sending me an e-ARC of this book via Edelweiss. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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:
Complicated