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behindherpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, and Death
cdori's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Infidelity, Cancer, and Eating disorder
mandaraffe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
lisa_m's review
- 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
2.0
I did enjoy the discussion of body positivity, workout culture and online hate. And I do think it was handled fairly well. Most of the other aspects of the story weren't though. I just got really annoyed by both the main characters frequently. Not only do they constantly have misunderstandings, they also set weird rules for no reason.
I started reading this book because I am looking forward to reading Exes and O's. But when I started reading I just couldn't fully get into the story and once I put the book down I really did not want to pick it up again. I did eventually and I guess I'm glad I did? Now I already know Tara & Trevor and I do like them. So I truly hope I will like that book more than this one.
One thing that absolutely bothered me was that in the beginning of the book, the love interest was rude to the main character and she got really angry about it. But then in the end they try to change the whole narrative by saying that he was instantly in love with her the moment he saw her, and he just didn't know how to talk to her. Also there were so many times where I was like 'Oh so that's why they mentioned that before...' because absolutely any little detail comes back around to mean something.
And the relationship of the grandparents felt very weird and unneccesary to me. They already knew each other before. They would have gotten to know each other anyways. They didn't have any important moments during their grandparents wedding. All it did was that Crystal started doubting her grandmothers loyalty to her own grandfather (which never got resolved btw) and also we got some hugely uncomfortable moments like her going to a strip club with her grandmother and watching her get a lap dance? Eww I did not want to read that, sorry.
Btw I did not like Scott. I can't quite say why but he just made me so angry and I feel like Crystal was always the one to appologize and do the grand gestures even though he did wrong too and then he just adds a quick 'I'm sorry too' to her appology and all's well? Also again him being the "perfect man" (he is absolutely not perfect but they make it seem that way, as they do in a lot of rom coms unfortunately).
And I skipped all of the smut scenes because I really just wanted to finish the book quickly, so I cannot comment on that at all.
Conclusion: I felt like this book was all over the place and tried to do way to much. I didn't connect with the main characters and disliked a bunch of strange plotpoints.
I am going to read Exes and Oh's though and I hope I will like that one better.
Moderate: Medical content, Cancer, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
gemin1reader's review against another edition
2.0
Firstly, on two separate occasions she ditches her family & friends without any warning or goodbye which is a mild annoyance from a reading point of view, but eugh. It’s also so painfully millennial in places (and I am one, but I don’t need my romcoms to have an endless stream of current cultural references).
Graphic: Sexual content and Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
colettelikesstuff's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Dysphoria, Infidelity, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Cancer
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Infidelity
Minor: Terminal illness
decklededgess's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I can’t get over the fact that they get together while her grandma and his grandpa also get married….it’s giving Life With Derek.
Anywho
I thought the romance was fun. The chemistry between Crystal and Scott felt a little flat. There was a lot of telling me she has the hots for him and it didn’t feel authentic. On the flip side the initial meet gate was great. The animosity was palpable and I sincerely hated Scott a lot as well. Would have been nice if that level of tangible emotional tension carried through the book.
Crystal’s body positivity turned body acceptance journey was interesting. I appreciated the open conversation about how fat and curvy people are looked down on by outsiders to their relationship, how they’re constantly dealing with roadblocks with the fashion industry, the constant micro aggressions people sling, and on and on. It felt raw and honest when Crystal broke down due to the pressure of social media and I liked her growth past that point.
I felt at times that the author was skirting around the use of the word fat but that could also be because the author wanted to ensure she wasn’t stepping on toes of fat representation when this character is described as chubby/curvy. I’m an outsider on both counts considering i’m not fat, curvy, or chubby so first hand reviews would give you better opinions on that.
I never liked books that harp on health and exercise and actually spend time on that aspect of the story. It bores me to tears and this did not change my mind on that. I skimmed so much. Thankfully other parts of the story carried enough that I enjoyed reading what I did spend time on.
Overall, very meh but a solid debut so I look forward to Amy Lea’s second book.
Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, and Infidelity
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- 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
I happened to listen to this audiobook at the perfect time. I'm in a transitional period with my own blog and content creation lifestyle. Reading about a protagonist who happens to be an influencer that winds up questioning her own platform and how she's been managing it was truly eye-opening for me. Towards the end, I found myself getting emotional as I related to Crystal's internal war over what she was doing.
The romance element took me by surprise. Not that I wasn't expecting romance, but the way it played out was very different than I imagined it would be. The final conflict was completely different than what I was anticipating and I actually liked what it was in regards to. It made perfect sense to me and even though I thought it would be an annoying miscommunication, it wound up being way deeper and more meaningful than that.
I'll admit that I kept my ears open, listening for any tell-tale signs about who the next book would be about. I have a pretty good clue as to our next protagonist and I'm excited about it. I would absolutely consider myself an Amy Lea fan now. I can't wait for more of her books!
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Minor: Cancer and Infidelity
hazelgirl21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent