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jamespotterluv'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
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Minor: Eating disorder and Cancer
basically jon fleming sucks.bacchusvines'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
3.75
Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Cancer, and Emotional abuse
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Classism, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
leonormsousa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Emotional abuse
meghansarmiento97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Cursing, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
fromundertheashtree'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
5.0
“I’m confused. What on earth has given you the impression I’m not miserable?” - Luc, Chapter 19
Graphic: Homophobia and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Cancer, Eating disorder, and Abandonment
pettie's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Homophobia
shelvesofivy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
Minor: Fatphobia, Biphobia, and Eating disorder
literarypenguin'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
5.0
I enjoyed the writing this book had to offer! The humor was this book’s strong point for sure! The jokes were written in a way that they didn’t take too much away from the moment or the romance in the book. It gave some lightheartedness after some pretty hard emotional moments. This book was mainly written from the point of view of Luc which was a smart decision in my opinion. That way we got to see Luc’s growth as a person and his developing feelings for Oliver grow as time went on. We got to see him grow and change for the better! The romance was very well - written and I appreciated very much that it took time to develop over time not all at once. You could read little moments in the book that both characters would have never done before for each other. It handled the romance very believably and was on the point of realism.
This book focuses heavily on Luc and Oliver trying to keep up the ruse of being fake boyfriends while also both struggling with their real feelings for each other starting to bloom underneath the service. It also shows how both Luc and Oliver are changing as people like Luc began to see themselves in a more positive way while Oliver loosened up and started to take himself not so seriously. I liked that the story had both of them needing each other for events because that helped to move the plot forward and the romance along with it. The conflict was for both of them navigating how to get along with each other then the climax was Luc realizing his feelings for Oliver and Oliver realizing them back. The resolution is that they both want to date for real and try an actual relationship. The romance was the best part of the book and was what carried the plot throughout the whole book. I really enjoyed it a lot!
Luc and Oliver are the two main characters that we follow. Luc was a very complex and interesting character! I loved that he was unapologetically messy and knew that he was screwed up. He didn’t try to hide that he had issues but was hesitant though to face them by himself. He had some very serious trust issues and abandonment issues because of his childhood. Oliver was also very complex and had his own inner conflict as well! He was stoic, a perfectionist, took himself way too seriously at times, and was closed off to others. He also had issues with his self-esteem and possibly an eating disorder caused by his past. Both are very detailed characters and also some very interesting and great side characters as well! I loved Luc’s group of friends and how they weren’t afraid to say things to Luc that he needed to hear but also were very supportive of him and were always there when he needed them. I adored his mother too! She is such a sweetheart but she isn’t afraid to speak her mind either!
The book mainly takes place in London which is a beautiful city and has a lot of different layers to it. It is beautiful and the different cultures and people who live there are great to see in the book. It doesn’t have too many places that we go to but it has just enough for the story to develop and the characters to feel alive and realistic.
There are many different themes in the book one of which is changing as a person and accepting yourself for better or worse. Luc goes through substantial changes that make him grow as a person and brings him closer to who he wants to be. He accepts his estrangement from his father and starts to tackle his issues head-on. It also highlights workplace homophobia and how some workplaces show it in subtle ways or in more obvious ways. The thing I loved that this book showed was how expectations from family can be a benefit but can also be a detriment to a person’s well-being. It can cause this person to become self-deprecating and in Oliver’s case, it can cause an eating disorder and an unhealthy view of himself. It really shows how just because a person can look okay on the outside doesn’t mean they are okay on the inside. How everybody has their demons no matter what the circumstances.
I really recommend this book a whole lot especially if you are starting to get into a reading romance! I really hope you give this book a try and enjoy it just as much as I did!
Graphic: Homophobia and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Eating disorder, and Abandonment
jjjreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Classism, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content