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emily_mh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Two standout things about this book is its breaking-the-fourth-wall narration, which is so refreshing and captivating, and its fun college vibes, which definitely made me nostalgic for my first year at uni. But unfortunately there were three major issues that I couldn't get past and which inevitably dropped my rating to 3.5 stars.
The first is the romance. I just couldn't get behind it, because an RA/fresher romance is just weird to me. There's a power dynamic there that I don't like, and having been in halls myself it's kind of gross to think of someone who is supposed to be your mentor/older sibling figure (and is also being paid to do the job) being in a relationship with a resident.
My second issue was with Elliot herself. I started off absolutely loving her but then she started really annoying me and some of her words and phrases were cringey to me, like tender chicken (it made me feel sick).
My third issue was that for a book that calls itself sex-positive, there were some decidedly not sex-positive things in there. For example, it doesn't dismantle the social concept of virginity when there is opportunity to do so, it doesn't use anatomical names for genitals, it calls people who don't have sex boring, and it uses the term "prostitution."
I really wish I had gotten on with this book more! Its new adult + sapphic which is RIGHT up my alley, but sadly we weren't a match.
The first is the romance. I just couldn't get behind it, because an RA/fresher romance is just weird to me. There's a power dynamic there that I don't like, and having been in halls myself it's kind of gross to think of someone who is supposed to be your mentor/older sibling figure (and is also being paid to do the job) being in a relationship with a resident.
My second issue was with Elliot herself. I started off absolutely loving her but then she started really annoying me and some of her words and phrases were cringey to me, like tender chicken (it made me feel sick).
My third issue was that for a book that calls itself sex-positive, there were some decidedly not sex-positive things in there. For example, it doesn't dismantle the social concept of virginity when there is opportunity to do so, it doesn't use anatomical names for genitals, it calls people who don't have sex boring, and it uses the term "prostitution."
I really wish I had gotten on with this book more! Its new adult + sapphic which is RIGHT up my alley, but sadly we weren't a match.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Drug abuse, Body shaming, Cancer, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, Fatphobia, Ableism, Drug use, War, Death, Biphobia, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexism
Loss of a loved one, hazing, divorce, abandonment, menstruationtraeumenvonbuechern's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.75
Edit 20.10.2021:
I sent Margot Wood, the author of the book, an email about this and she apologized and promised to edit or cut the line in future printings.
She said her intention wasn't to invalidate self-diagnosed people, but to call out the people who use mental illnesses like they're adjectives (e.g. "I'm a little OCD" or "She's so bipolar"). However, she recognized that this didn't come across clearly and apologized.
She also explained this here.
Now I finally feel comfortable giving "Fresh" a five star rating, because aside from that, I really loved it! It's a super funny, diverse and emotional new adult Emma retelling, and I highly recommend it!
Orginal review:
CN: vomit, sex, ableism, anti-self-diagnosis, sexual assault, alcohol, bimisia, slut-shaming, fatmisia
I loved this book. I really did. It was funny, it was diverse, it was the perfect new adult book. It made me laugh and it even made me cry. So why don't I give 5 stars?
Because of this:
"I have ADHD, and not in the casual, problematic way people like to self-diagnose."
No. Just no. Self-diagnosis is valid, and for a lot of (especially marginalized) people it's the only way to get a diagnosis at all.
To quote @livedexperiencecounsellor on Instagram:
"Self-diagnosis is not seeing something on the internet and diagnosing yourself because you can relate. Self-diagnosis is knowing you’re different and spending countless months and years researching, learning and doubting before even making a decision. If you are against self-diagnosing then it means you believe neurodiverse people need permission from neurotypical people to talk about their own lived experience and identity. That’s called ableism."
Shaming people for not being able to get a professional diagnosis is not okay. This comment was just hurtful and unnecessary, and it's the reason I don't recommend this book even though I loved almost everything else about it.
I sent Margot Wood, the author of the book, an email about this and she apologized and promised to edit or cut the line in future printings.
She said her intention wasn't to invalidate self-diagnosed people, but to call out the people who use mental illnesses like they're adjectives (e.g. "I'm a little OCD" or "She's so bipolar"). However, she recognized that this didn't come across clearly and apologized.
She also explained this here.
Now I finally feel comfortable giving "Fresh" a five star rating, because aside from that, I really loved it! It's a super funny, diverse and emotional new adult Emma retelling, and I highly recommend it!
Orginal review:
CN: vomit, sex, ableism, anti-self-diagnosis, sexual assault, alcohol, bimisia, slut-shaming, fatmisia
I loved this book. I really did. It was funny, it was diverse, it was the perfect new adult book. It made me laugh and it even made me cry. So why don't I give 5 stars?
Because of this:
"I have ADHD, and not in the casual, problematic way people like to self-diagnose."
No. Just no. Self-diagnosis is valid, and for a lot of (especially marginalized) people it's the only way to get a diagnosis at all.
To quote @livedexperiencecounsellor on Instagram:
"Self-diagnosis is not seeing something on the internet and diagnosing yourself because you can relate. Self-diagnosis is knowing you’re different and spending countless months and years researching, learning and doubting before even making a decision. If you are against self-diagnosing then it means you believe neurodiverse people need permission from neurotypical people to talk about their own lived experience and identity. That’s called ableism."
Shaming people for not being able to get a professional diagnosis is not okay. This comment was just hurtful and unnecessary, and it's the reason I don't recommend this book even though I loved almost everything else about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Vomit
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Biphobia and Fatphobia
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