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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
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
Rep: gay MC, anxiety, depression, fat MC
TW: anxiety, depression
This book was very meh for me.
First I have to say though that I absolutely loved the anxiety and depression rep in this. It was very realistic and unadorned. There was talk of medication, but also didn’t leave out the side effects and the constant trial and error of it. Loved it.
I loved the first book, it was super cute and romantic.
This one was very different.
The “romance” absolutely wasn’t for me, because it mainly consisted of two people having hate-sex, which just isn’t a thing I get at all. And it wasn’t in a hot way.
The steamy scenes were a lot and made me cringe and feel so uncomfortable. Especially some of the things Jack said (and him being turned on by Jack feeling self-conscious??).
They didn’t talk a lot, they were constantly rather rude to each other and I don’t know if they had anything in common honestly.
The main plot of this was also Oscar cleaning out Jacks grandparents’ old house which wasn’t particularly interesting to begin with. But it was also a rather long book and by the end I just wanted it to be over.
But with them not talking much and most of the plot revolving around Oscar we didn’t even get to know Jack. I couldn’t tell you a single thing I learned about him in this book.
My highlight of this book was surprisingly Jacks grandmother Evelyn. She was hilarious and snappy and I loved her! To me she was more interesting than the MCs.
TW: anxiety, depression
This book was very meh for me.
First I have to say though that I absolutely loved the anxiety and depression rep in this. It was very realistic and unadorned. There was talk of medication, but also didn’t leave out the side effects and the constant trial and error of it. Loved it.
I loved the first book, it was super cute and romantic.
This one was very different.
The “romance” absolutely wasn’t for me, because it mainly consisted of two people having hate-sex, which just isn’t a thing I get at all. And it wasn’t in a hot way.
The steamy scenes were a lot and made me cringe and feel so uncomfortable. Especially some of the things Jack said (and him being turned on by Jack feeling self-conscious??).
They didn’t talk a lot, they were constantly rather rude to each other and I don’t know if they had anything in common honestly.
The main plot of this was also Oscar cleaning out Jacks grandparents’ old house which wasn’t particularly interesting to begin with. But it was also a rather long book and by the end I just wanted it to be over.
But with them not talking much and most of the plot revolving around Oscar we didn’t even get to know Jack. I couldn’t tell you a single thing I learned about him in this book.
My highlight of this book was surprisingly Jacks grandmother Evelyn. She was hilarious and snappy and I loved her! To me she was more interesting than the MCs.
Oh wow that was fun.
There's kinda lots of sex in there though? Other than that, everything else is nice. I especially love Oscar's friends..they're awesome, truly.
There's kinda lots of sex in there though? Other than that, everything else is nice. I especially love Oscar's friends..they're awesome, truly.
4.5? B+/ A- I really enjoyed this mm contemp romance that starts with two grumpy acquaintances having pity sex, becoming frenemies with benefits and then developing inconvenient emotions.
I think your enjoyment of this book will depend on how well you can handle being in the head of our narrator Oscar - an anxious, depressed underachieving 29 year old. The description of his anxiety felt very real - different than my experience but believable and overwhelming.
Read the sample.
I also thought that the romance was under-developed, mostly because this is told only from Oscar's point of view. But I enjoyed reading about Oscar and his found family of queer friends so much that I didn't mind. I liked it better than the first book in the series, mostly because I found Oscar's morose POV much, much less grating than Dec's aggressively clever POV in book 1. Even though it probably wasn't a great idea for me to read this book while I am also dealing with unemployment and serious anxiety - it hit a little too close to home at times.
I think your enjoyment of this book will depend on how well you can handle being in the head of our narrator Oscar - an anxious, depressed underachieving 29 year old. The description of his anxiety felt very real - different than my experience but believable and overwhelming.
Read the sample.
I also thought that the romance was under-developed, mostly because this is told only from Oscar's point of view. But I enjoyed reading about Oscar and his found family of queer friends so much that I didn't mind. I liked it better than the first book in the series, mostly because I found Oscar's morose POV much, much less grating than Dec's aggressively clever POV in book 1. Even though it probably wasn't a great idea for me to read this book while I am also dealing with unemployment and serious anxiety - it hit a little too close to home at times.
Central love story was cute but the friend group was really annoying - way too much page real estate given to them.
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
This book surprised me. I couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive when I read the warning at the beginning of the book, since I myself struggle with anxiety and books that portray that kind of bring me down. But the way Oscar’s character was written made me feel seen. Yes, it was an honest depiction of anxiety and panic attacks, but it wasn’t overly depressing. Oscar was a rare example of a character who struggled with anxiety but still managed life and had a hopeful future.
On the topic of rare characters, I could go on for hours about Ronnie. She may have only been a side character, but her existence is potentially life changing for young trans people. The limited backstory we get tells us she was Oscar’s roommate in college before she transitioned. She had a hard time with the early transition process (all relatable things, like crying about hormone progress and being scared to shop for dresses) but when we meet her in the book she’s finally comfortable in her own skin. Ronnie is a very rare depiction of a trans woman who has made it out the other side. She’s happy, euphoric, and optimistic about her future. Seeing a character like that could mean the world to a reader who’s in the early stages of transitioning.
I also love the distinct ways that different characters deal with hard emotions. Everyone has their own self destructive habits, and the way those habits interact set the basis for a lot of the story. Everyone’s reaction seems authentic and true to the things they’ve gone through in their life.
Overall, this book was surprisingly uplifting and real. I would absolutely recommend it. We need more diverse, optimistic books like this one.
On the topic of rare characters, I could go on for hours about Ronnie. She may have only been a side character, but her existence is potentially life changing for young trans people. The limited backstory we get tells us she was Oscar’s roommate in college before she transitioned. She had a hard time with the early transition process (all relatable things, like crying about hormone progress and being scared to shop for dresses) but when we meet her in the book she’s finally comfortable in her own skin. Ronnie is a very rare depiction of a trans woman who has made it out the other side. She’s happy, euphoric, and optimistic about her future. Seeing a character like that could mean the world to a reader who’s in the early stages of transitioning.
I also love the distinct ways that different characters deal with hard emotions. Everyone has their own self destructive habits, and the way those habits interact set the basis for a lot of the story. Everyone’s reaction seems authentic and true to the things they’ve gone through in their life.
Overall, this book was surprisingly uplifting and real. I would absolutely recommend it. We need more diverse, optimistic books like this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, Dysphoria
emotional
slow-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