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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
funny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've never really liked enemies-to-lovers. But make it queer and I am SO HERE FOR IT. Also a fantastic portrayal of anxiety and depression. So basically, everything one could want in a book.
Turns out the author has absolutely no interest in exploring hoarding, and was just using it as a background for the two MCs to interact. Which is a shame because I was originally interested in the book due to the hoarding aspect.
It's not that it's disrespectful. It just seems like the author didn't want it to be much of a problem, so zer eliminated any element that could be anything beyond a mild inconvenience.
So no pests, no rotten food, everything is clean besides some dust, no pets, no mold, no problems with water or electricity, no conflict with neighbors or authorities, no structural issues with the house. Hell, the original hoarder isn't even alive and no other character's attached to the objects, so no drama there.
The hoard is such a none issue that is abled to be cleaned by a single, untrained guy with no equipment in a matter of days. So what was even the point then? Why I include hoarding if you are just gonna brush it aside like that?
Also, I hate all the side characters. Hated them from the moment they were introduced.
It's not that it's disrespectful. It just seems like the author didn't want it to be much of a problem, so zer eliminated any element that could be anything beyond a mild inconvenience.
So no pests, no rotten food, everything is clean besides some dust, no pets, no mold, no problems with water or electricity, no conflict with neighbors or authorities, no structural issues with the house. Hell, the original hoarder isn't even alive and no other character's attached to the objects, so no drama there.
The hoard is such a none issue that is abled to be cleaned by a single, untrained guy with no equipment in a matter of days. So what was even the point then? Why I include hoarding if you are just gonna brush it aside like that?
Also, I hate all the side characters. Hated them from the moment they were introduced.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I liked this one a lot. The "I should have known that all our bickering was really foreplay" line sums up the dynamic and I found it delightful.
Overall really liked it, liked the friend group and the sort of glimpses of their history together (I have not read book 1 of the series) liked the realness of the relationship between Jack and his grandmother.
However... It was spicier in the beginning and then started fading to black which, I get, how many times can you describe the same sex acts, but still found kind of disappointing. Particularly when there's a seemingly endless section where they are fighting/miscommunicating and then finally hash it out... I do want the play by play of the makeup sex. So sue me!
I related a lot to the anxiety thing although I don't think I've really ever suffered to that extent.
There was some fat rep here but also a lot of uncomfortable body image stuff for me, like idk, giving the chubby guy disordered eating just felt like blaming him for his body type. As someone who's fat without an eating disorder, I did not love. Not that every fat character has to be "a good fat" but yeah.
This was my first Kris ripper, it won't be my last, love that some of zir other books are poly so looking forward to that.
Overall really liked it, liked the friend group and the sort of glimpses of their history together (I have not read book 1 of the series) liked the realness of the relationship between Jack and his grandmother.
However... It was spicier in the beginning and then started fading to black which, I get, how many times can you describe the same sex acts, but still found kind of disappointing. Particularly when there's a seemingly endless section where they are fighting/miscommunicating and then finally hash it out... I do want the play by play of the makeup sex. So sue me!
I related a lot to the anxiety thing although I don't think I've really ever suffered to that extent.
There was some fat rep here but also a lot of uncomfortable body image stuff for me, like idk, giving the chubby guy disordered eating just felt like blaming him for his body type. As someone who's fat without an eating disorder, I did not love. Not that every fat character has to be "a good fat" but yeah.
This was my first Kris ripper, it won't be my last, love that some of zir other books are poly so looking forward to that.
The second installment in Kris Ripper’s The Love Study series, The Hate Project, is such a great story. This book is short and so sweet. *Trigger warning for hoarding and anxiety* Ripper handle’s Oscar’s anxiety in such detail but with such sensitivity it was amazing to read. This is definitely going to be one of my go-to inclusive romance recommendations. Although there were definitely difficult parts of the story I read this whole book in one sitting. Readers will fall in love with Oscar, an overweight gay man who has just been laid off from a job he hates and who has anxiety. Jack seems like the exact opposite of what Oscar needs right now, but somehow they work so well together. Their chemistry is off the charts and their conversations are stilted and awkward but full of love. I liked this book even more than The Love Study! Perfect for fans of Amy Lane’s Winter Ball.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes