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optionalobjectives's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
There are some good qualities here in occasional flashes of the Texas setting, and the dialog could be worse. I do think that Choi does well in capturing some youthful naiveté in just about every character in the book. But the story beats are so regular as to be distracting, big issues are tossed in too lightly for purposes of plot or character development without being pursued, and ultimately, the scenes feel under-described rather than intimate. At least it's a breezy read - nothing challenging here, just a window into the lives of a college-age cast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Child death and Racism
hanaya's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Racism
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Drug use and Racism
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
TW: mentions of HP, on-page panic attack, use of the word "spazz" to describe unattractive behaviour, alcoholism, racism, pregnancy scare, rape, jokes about the use of swastikas and images of Juggalos as decor, smoking, underage drinking, drug use (off-page, weed overdose), toxic relationshipkat_andherbooks'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
4.5
cutest thing I've read in a while. and the mutual pining ohmygosh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, and Rape
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Eating disorder
natsumaeshi's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Woof. This was a read. I think I hated it almost all the way through, but I ended up liking the character development a lot more. Maybe it's because I saw a lot of myself in the female protag? Which is to say, I think I'm kind of an awful person. I'm stuck in a little bit of cynicism. I feel like everybody hates me, and no one could love me unless something was seriously wrong with them. While I'm definitely outside of the demographic for this book (being that I am a fresh graduate from college and specifically avoided majoring in cinema to avoid the Sam types of the world), this one was a rollercoaster for me.
One thing in particular that I liked about the development of this book is, and I'm hoping this was intentional as a device, that the characters start out so frustratingly one-dimensional and at the mid-point they start realizing how much other people have an effect on their lives in more ways than just in the negative. Maybe I'm not as much of a cynic as I thought I was. Who knows. I would never read this again, and I did admittedly pick it up because it's my favorite shade of pink and had a pretty cover.
One thing in particular that I liked about the development of this book is, and I'm hoping this was intentional as a device, that the characters start out so frustratingly one-dimensional and at the mid-point they start realizing how much other people have an effect on their lives in more ways than just in the negative. Maybe I'm not as much of a cynic as I thought I was. Who knows. I would never read this again, and I did admittedly pick it up because it's my favorite shade of pink and had a pretty cover.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
whatcassiedid's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
I expected this to be a light romance and it ended up being a lot darker and heavier but I liked it! Could have used more Jude, Mallory, and Andy tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
laur312's review
emotional
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Rape
writtenwithoutanending's review
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Rape, and Sexual assault
aformeracceleratedreader's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Overall not a bad book but not one I'd necessarily recommend. The characters were a bit frustrating for almost the whole book, but I liked the ending. I could relate to Penny on a few things. Jude was my favorite character throughout.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Racism, Rape, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
caidyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
I don't know how Choi does it, but she writes books that have such a beautiful tone to them. Alternately funny and heartbreaking, yet aching with hope throughout. Reading this second book has cemented me as a fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault