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booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
4.25
This was such a fun, witty, adorable friends to lovers college romance. Rachael and Alyson are an amazing writing duo with amazing flow. The story really struck a cord with me especially because it not only focuses on the romance aspect, but it deals with two very different mother daughter relationships/traumas.
Freshman Alex needs to prove to her long distance kind of girlfriend that she isn't a player. Molly is trying to prove to herself that she can be a new person and not socially awkward like she was in high school. After a chance befriending and seeing how hopelessly Molly flirts with the girl she likes Alex comes up with a plan.. She will show Natalie that she can be friends and help people, by helping Molly get her girl. But what Alex doesn't expect is to fall for that very same girl along the way.
I related to Molly and her mom a lot, because like Molly my mom and I were attached at the umbilical cord. Her and I had to go through much of what they had to go through to learn that living our own lives is an ok thing.
The biggest issue I had with the book was the internalized racism that Molly's mom Beth had for being Asian. I thought it could have been resolved a little better. But it doesn't impact how much I liked the story.
Freshman Alex needs to prove to her long distance kind of girlfriend that she isn't a player. Molly is trying to prove to herself that she can be a new person and not socially awkward like she was in high school. After a chance befriending and seeing how hopelessly Molly flirts with the girl she likes Alex comes up with a plan.. She will show Natalie that she can be friends and help people, by helping Molly get her girl. But what Alex doesn't expect is to fall for that very same girl along the way.
I related to Molly and her mom a lot, because like Molly my mom and I were attached at the umbilical cord. Her and I had to go through much of what they had to go through to learn that living our own lives is an ok thing.
The biggest issue I had with the book was the internalized racism that Molly's mom Beth had for being Asian. I thought it could have been resolved a little better. But it doesn't impact how much I liked the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, and Toxic relationship
bookstarbri's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
Okay, this was super cute. I love when characters just make me want to shake them. Molly and Alex were no different, but in the best possible. Read this book if you want lots of pining and two idiots who don't realize just how much they like each other. This story isn't entirely a love story to me. Sure, that's one piece of it, but it's very much a story about finding yourself and growing up into someone you want to be. The journeys for Alex and Molly are very different in this, but also similar in many ways and the two girls are actually more similar than they realize also.
Molly and Alex are, of course, the stars of this book. They felt incredibly realistic and I empathized with both of them at times. Even in the beginning, when they were so frustrating at times with their decision-making, I appreciated them and how genuine they felt. I didn't care as much for any of the side characters except Alex's boss and Molly's brother. They were fantastic, but the others, I honestly wasn't mad when we finally said bye to them (especially the toxic characters).
As far as romance, there isn't actually a ton between the main characters. Instead, there are little hints of their growing feelings. This was a sloooooow burn. I was perfectly fine with that, though I think a few more hints earlier on would've been good. The first spark of something romantic didn't happen for well over halfway through the book, which was fine but they did seem to be purely platonic and the shift was the slightest bit out of nowhere (though not *that* much since it was subtle, but it definitely felt that way to me). With that said, I still loved these characters' journeys together and how they brought out the best in one another. I don't think the romance was intended to be the focus here, but rather the relationship (friendship, romantic, etc.) between the two main characters as a whole and how they help each other.. Their friendship was gorgeous and blossomed in a stunning fashion. This book definitely stole my heart!
Thank you to the authors, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Molly and Alex are, of course, the stars of this book. They felt incredibly realistic and I empathized with both of them at times. Even in the beginning, when they were so frustrating at times with their decision-making, I appreciated them and how genuine they felt. I didn't care as much for any of the side characters except Alex's boss and Molly's brother. They were fantastic, but the others, I honestly wasn't mad when we finally said bye to them (especially the toxic characters).
As far as romance, there isn't actually a ton between the main characters. Instead, there are little hints of their growing feelings. This was a sloooooow burn. I was perfectly fine with that, though I think a few more hints earlier on would've been good. The first spark of something romantic didn't happen for well over halfway through the book, which was fine but they did seem to be purely platonic and the shift was the slightest bit out of nowhere (though not *that* much since it was subtle, but it definitely felt that way to me). With that said, I still loved these characters' journeys together and how they brought out the best in one another. I don't think the romance was intended to be the focus here, but rather the relationship (friendship, romantic, etc.) between the two main characters as a whole and how they help each other.. Their friendship was gorgeous and blossomed in a stunning fashion. This book definitely stole my heart!
Thank you to the authors, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Abandonment and Car accident
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Alcoholism
Moderate: Racism, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident, Abandonment, Infidelity, and Sexism
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