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lunahale's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.0
this was funny and quirky and loveable, and that’s why i’m confused that only want to give this three stars…and like, a low three stars. but honestly, it’s probably me and how much i horribly relate to both luc o’donnell and oliver blackwood, but i digress. i’m happy i picked this up. (also, i would’ve really fucking loved if alex would have laughed at luc’s finally joke. that felt a little unfulfilled imo.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Abandonment
kshertz's review against another edition
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
4.5
I definitely fell in love with Luc and Oliver. The fake dating trope was done well. I really loved how they were so different but also perfect for each other. It’s very lighthearted and the side characters are quirky and fantastic. I think it’s a great lighthearted read for when you need that kinda thing ❤️
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Sexual content
jareadforfilth's review against another edition
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
5.0
I love this book so much, I’ve put it off for a long time for like, no reason except to be a hipster and I didn’t own it 😂 but I loved it BEYOND, it was perfect to me and I am so excited to read the sequel!! The character growth, the love, the banter?!? So good, and the humor was everythingggg, a new fave, 10000%
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Cancer
bzliz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-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
3.0
This was very close to being a DNF for me because the first 150 or so pages absolutely crawl by. I persevered and was rewarded with the cute, queer rom com I was looking for, complete with all the best tropes: fake dating, opposites attract, past family & relationship trauma that need to be overcome, and not one but two sets of quirky friends who equally love and tease their respective main character.
Readers beware: unless you are deeply steeped in British cultural references, there are many things that will go over your head but they are absolutely not relevant to the plot so it’s okay.
Readers beware: unless you are deeply steeped in British cultural references, there are many things that will go over your head but they are absolutely not relevant to the plot so it’s okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
ludmireads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
on contrary to what the title says, neither Luc nor Oliver is boyfriend material.
it looked so promising at the beginning (when you don’t question the fact that Luc might get fired for being „the wrong kind of gay“) but it gradually got worse and worse.
my main problem was the main character Luc, he was selfish and whiny and just not a good person in general. he was mean to everyone and didn’t respect anyone’s choices and opinions. i was gonna blame it on his trauma and was sure we would get a great character development but that somehow didn’t happen, even though he was trying to convince us otherwise. and don’t get me started on him boasting how mature he is literally ten seconds after he shouted at his fake boyfriend’s parents (they were shit and deserved it, but common) and forcing Oliver to eat a bacon sandwich even though he knew very well that he is a vegetarian. as a vegetarian myself i was so excited to finally read about a vegetarian character but Luc’s inconsiderateness to this matter and a slight shaming towards vegetarians and vegans made me sick and that bacon scene was honestly my last straw. suggesting that Oliver has an eating disorder was very insensitive and felt a bit too much (I'm definitely not one to judge if the claim is right or not, the problem is that it wasn't handled in a more gentle way and rather served as a punchline).
Oliver seemed like the mature one at the beginning but it turned out he’s was not mentally okay (which we didn’t really learn until the third act break up yay. i think that a dual pov would make the book a bit better). he’s unable to call out homophobes and speak out for himself on this matter. and on one hand, i get it. his friends weren't exactly treating him well and his parents are just awful homophobes who use his queerness as a joke and a way to make fun of him a bit.
both of them were emotionally unavailable and not in a right place mentally and they probably should’ve tried going to therapy:)
the two stars are for Luc’s mother because she’s an icon, she’s a legend and she is the moment. she was the only character who was bearable.
it looked so promising at the beginning (when you don’t question the fact that Luc might get fired for being „the wrong kind of gay“) but it gradually got worse and worse.
my main problem was the main character Luc, he was selfish and whiny and just not a good person in general. he was mean to everyone and didn’t respect anyone’s choices and opinions. i was gonna blame it on his trauma and was sure we would get a great character development but that somehow didn’t happen, even though he was trying to convince us otherwise. and don’t get me started on him boasting how mature he is literally ten seconds after he shouted at his fake boyfriend’s parents (they were shit and deserved it, but common) and forcing Oliver to eat a bacon sandwich even though he knew very well that he is a vegetarian. as a vegetarian myself i was so excited to finally read about a vegetarian character but Luc’s inconsiderateness to this matter and a slight shaming towards vegetarians and vegans made me sick and that bacon scene was honestly my last straw. suggesting that Oliver has an eating disorder was very insensitive and felt a bit too much (I'm definitely not one to judge if the claim is right or not, the problem is that it wasn't handled in a more gentle way and rather served as a punchline).
Oliver seemed like the mature one at the beginning but it turned out he’s was not mentally okay (which we didn’t really learn until the third act break up yay. i think that a dual pov would make the book a bit better). he’s unable to call out homophobes and speak out for himself on this matter. and on one hand, i get it. his friends weren't exactly treating him well and his parents are just awful homophobes who use his queerness as a joke and a way to make fun of him a bit.
both of them were emotionally unavailable and not in a right place mentally and they probably should’ve tried going to therapy:)
the two stars are for Luc’s mother because she’s an icon, she’s a legend and she is the moment. she was the only character who was bearable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, and Mental illness
thebookraiders's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Det var en stark 4 hela vägen till slutet när Oliver, som jag absolut inte gillade i början men som visade sig ha en väldigt bra karaktärsutveckling 👏🏼, började bete sig lika idiotiskt som Luc gjort under hela boken. Det räckte liksom med en karaktär som var ett emotionellt inkompetent pucko. Det blev även alldeles för mycket will they/won’t they på väldigt kort tid i slutet för min del.
Blir ändå 3,5 stjärnor eftersom den var både mysig och rolig + otroligt bra inläst!
Blir ändå 3,5 stjärnor eftersom den var både mysig och rolig + otroligt bra inläst!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia and Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Classism, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
_bobatea_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Addiction, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Classism, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
_bobatea_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual harassment, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Addiction, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Kidnapping
eligru's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
So fun! I'm all here for Luc's sense of humor and extremely Bristish similes, the quirky friend groups and Bridget's bookish crises :D
Excited to see what they all get up to in the next book😁
Excited to see what they all get up to in the next book😁
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Abandonment, and Eating disorder
Minor: Cancer
otbval's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Homophobia, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Eating disorder