Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - The Feeling of Falling in Love

Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver

55 reviews

valreadssometimes's review

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book is advertised as a romantic comedy. it is not that.
I was not rooting for the main couple. At all.

Here's the thing, in order to want the main couple to fall in love and end up together and have their happily-ever-after love story you need to believe that they're good together. You have to like the characters.

The main character of this book is the most unlikeable protagonist I have read in a while, especially because, as the reader, you're supposed to be rooting for him. Neil is a rich, self-centered, self-pitying, excuse-ridden mess. He expects everyone around him to live constantly accommodating his needs and wants. Even at the end, when he's supposedly "redeemed," he continues to have expectations and demands of the people around him.

I was actually upset when he decided to randomly show up at Wyatt's house. Neil's whole arc revolved around him becoming more empathetic and kind; There is zero empathy in immediately demanding a relationship from the guy you decided to insult and send home for basically zero reason.

No one is safe from Neil's whining and his excuses. He uses every inconvenience is his life as a way to write off his bad behaviors. Even his gender identity and journey is finely crafted in his internal monologue as this get-out-of-jail free card for not knowing how to treat others around him with basic empathy and respect.

The whole arc with his mother was greatly upsetting. Neil blamed her for his bad childhood and his terrible experiences which was, in my opinion, incredibly unfair. Yes, in the end he does end up taking some responsibility for his own actions, but it felt cheap after berating his mother who, while misguided, was trying her best. Either make it more nuanced and real, or write it out. Neil does not deserve to placate his own guilt by targeting his family.

Wyatt, the main love interest, was sweet. He seemed to be authentic and naive and all of the good things Neil isn't. In a way, he was meant to help Neil become better, but he really just made me more aware of what a terrible person he was.

Also the "hallmark moment" made me want to claw my eyes out. Like, Neil trying to make his Beverly Hills problems seem comparable to Wyatt's made me laugh out loud (not in the good way).

I was rooting for Wyatt. I was rooting for Josh. I was rooting for everyone that wasn't Neil.

Wyatt and Neil were just not meant to be. Maybe if Neil was able to step back (like really, really far back) and re-evaluate himself and his choices, it could have worked. But guess what? He can't. Not with this short of a time frame.

This could have been a better book if Neil and Wyatt had not ended up together (sorry not sorry).

Content Warnings

fanboyriot's review against another edition

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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

Read For:

🏳️‍⚧️ t4t

😍 Fake Dating

🔑 Roommates

🛏️ Only One Bed

🩷 Grumpy x Sunshine

I think this just might be my favorite Mason Deaver book yet! I loved this book so much!

The plot was cute, the characters were amazing, and the romance was perfect. It was everything. Neil and Wyatt were both total dorks and I absolutely adore them.

I’m so happy this book exists. The trans rep, the wedding where dealing with family is a nightmare. There was so many moments in this book that were cute and funny but there were moments where it felt realistic and raw. That Neil was the way he was because of the people around him. Always running away and shoving his feelings down until they didn’t exist… at least until he fell face first for the least likely person he was expecting.

The only negative thing I have to say was that I didn’t read it sooner.

Release Date: 16, August 2022

POV: First Person

Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (mentioned lightly, PG-13)

Rep: Transmasc Gay (MC), Transmasc Gay (SC), Bisexual Korean (SC), Black Bisexual (SC), Gay (SC), BIPOC Characters, LGBTQIA+ Characters

Content Warnings

chloetremain's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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stalkingecho's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

5.0

Content Warnings

itsapaxycab's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When i saw that the author of one of my all time favorite queer books (I Wish You All The Best) wrote another book and i wasn’t aware, i knew i had to read it immediately. While it didn’t hit me in the feels as much, and felt a little trivial at points, it’s a very sweet story about the fear that can come with loving people, and also how love manifests differently from person to person. A nice story overall

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greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

sarahsbookstacks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

Content Warnings

elskabee's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

After loving the heck out of I Wish You All the Best, I hoped to like this more, but I still had a good time overall. Basically just a queer teen romcom with fake dating tbh.

I really liked Wyatt, they're just like me fr fr. (especially Wyatt's Taylor Swift opinions are SO valid). Neil has to grow on you. He's immature, often a jerk for no good reason, very selfish, extremely short-sighted (so basically a teenager lol). Some of which he learns to overcome over the course of the book as he learns to communicate better, recognise his own feelings, and check his privilege. On a lot of levels he reminds me of Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls.

The biggest frustration was the third act breakup, sorry if you feel like that's a spoiler but this book is extremely formulaic. It was weird how it all went down and how it was resolved was fine but not something I particularly enjoyed.

I read quite a lot of queer (especially trans) YA romance and this is a middle of the road read that is perfectly enjoyable if not revolutionary.

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danajoy's review against another edition

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Strong character development? Yes

2.5

Neil REALLY got on my nerves.

Judgemental and entitled Neil was a difficult protagonist to root for. Especially when the reasoning behind the fake dating ruse was to break the heart of their friend with benefits even more because of his emotional unavailability.

I really liked Wyatt. I don't see what they see in Neil.

I'm not really a fan of grand gestures.

I acknowledge that I am not the target demographic.

I was pretty upset that Wyatt's first kiss and first sexual experience were on the same day. Especially when the characters were struggling to communicate and be vulnerable with one another. I understand that we needed a third act conflict and grand gesture but it really soured it for me. It felt rushed. I especially think it was reckless of Neil to escalate things when he is struggling with commitment issues.

Content Warnings

midnightbelles's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted sad 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

I really enjoyed reading this. It was very cute and I like the growth that the mc underwent. He was very self centered and insufferable at moments but that’s part of his growth as a character. I also enjoyed reading them fall in love. ( also a very quick read! Once I started I didn’t put it down)

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