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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this a lot! I really love Katherine Center, and while this wasn’t my fave of hers there was still tons I did love in this one. George Bailey is SUCH a great dog character! I loved the male main character and his aunt (and her whole posse and adorable housing setup). I loved a lot about the FMC but, I gather like lots of readers, did struggle with her body image issues and the constant repetition of them in the plot and arc of the book. I do appreciate and (like many other readers as well, I suspect) GET it — but I think it was hard to really see and hear it (I read this one on audio) written and sit with that; it was a little bit disarming hearing all the body trauma just laid out there to soak up and it wasn’t necessarily super fun in those (many) spots of the book. That said, I loved the relationship between the two MCs and, as ridiculous (somehow both absurd and predictable, which I honestly love about a rom-com) as it may have been, the final joyful rescue scene made me a little teary. I honestly loved it overall, but the constant barrage of body image stuff — in short, the FMC’s, like, NEED to go to therapy instead of being the MC of a rom-com!! — knocked a star off for me handily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Katherine Center is the queen of rom-coms, and this book is no less than perfection. I read this one in less than a day and it will so stick with me. I adored Katie’s character, and how real she felt and how much I could see myself in her. I also absolutely adored Hutch, that giant hero hunk of perfection. Like - talk about a book boyfriend. WOW. These characters really made this book, and honestly even the side characters were to die for! Rue and the Gals, George Bailey - I was cracking up at these characters and the love for life they brought to the story.
This book will have you laughing one moment, thinking about those difficult life moments the next, to reclaiming your relationship with your own body. Katherine Center’s rom-coms always come with a hint of important topics to foster self growth.
This book is a definite must read!!
This book will have you laughing one moment, thinking about those difficult life moments the next, to reclaiming your relationship with your own body. Katherine Center’s rom-coms always come with a hint of important topics to foster self growth.
This book is a definite must read!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Car accident, Death of parent, Dysphoria
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
emotional
funny
medium-paced
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A feel-good rom-com with laugh-out-loud moments—and a fair bit of secondhand embarrassment thanks to main character Katie. While she definitely got on my nerves at times (I found myself wanting to yell at her to get out of her own way), her actions made more sense when viewed through the lens of the trauma and mental health challenges she’s navigating. Cole, on the other hand, was an absolute gem. If you enjoy happy endings and don’t mind a few plot points that feel a little unrealistic but serve the story, this one’s a solid pick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
DNF @ 22%
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year as Katherine Center had become a one click for me. But then I started the book and very quickly realized how little she knows/ cares for people who suffer with disordered eating/ eating disorders. The FMC is dealing with an eating disorder, a disordered relationship with food and an anxiety inducing thought process. The last time I read some of the descriptions in this book were in a non-fiction book ABOUT eating disorders.
The book contains no trigger warnings, no content warnings or even a little note to warn readers in advance. Because apparently eating disorders and related problems don’t warrant a warning?? TWs for romance have become so prevalent that in some cases they’re more of a list of tropes than anything else. And yet, this book has nothing.
What we do get is an insulting authors note at the end of the book encouraging readers to learn to love themselves. She brushes off the issues in the book as an “enemies to lovers” situation between the FMC and her body. I think I scoffed out loud. The audacity to imply that if we simply loved ourselves more and let other people love us we could overcome our issues. As if every person who’s ever suffered, struggled and raged against the voice in their head telling them their body wasn’t good enough, hadn’t been struggling to do just that. As if simply telling our brains a trite platitude would magically change the way our mind and bodies functioned. It’s not only disingenuous it’s hateful and dangerous.
I chose not to finish the book for a few reasons. 1: I’m choosing my mental health 2: Had there been a TW, I could have prepared myself and made a decision to start the book or not- I was not given that choice. 3: I don’t want to support an author who clearly does not care about her readers
And if none of the descriptions in the book bothered you and you don’t understand why I’m so upset, then I’m genuinely happy for you. I would never wish these thoughts and feelings on another person. But please keep in mind that just bc it doesn’t affect you, doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect other people.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year as Katherine Center had become a one click for me. But then I started the book and very quickly realized how little she knows/ cares for people who suffer with disordered eating/ eating disorders. The FMC is dealing with an eating disorder, a disordered relationship with food and an anxiety inducing thought process. The last time I read some of the descriptions in this book were in a non-fiction book ABOUT eating disorders.
The book contains no trigger warnings, no content warnings or even a little note to warn readers in advance. Because apparently eating disorders and related problems don’t warrant a warning?? TWs for romance have become so prevalent that in some cases they’re more of a list of tropes than anything else. And yet, this book has nothing.
What we do get is an insulting authors note at the end of the book encouraging readers to learn to love themselves. She brushes off the issues in the book as an “enemies to lovers” situation between the FMC and her body. I think I scoffed out loud. The audacity to imply that if we simply loved ourselves more and let other people love us we could overcome our issues. As if every person who’s ever suffered, struggled and raged against the voice in their head telling them their body wasn’t good enough, hadn’t been struggling to do just that. As if simply telling our brains a trite platitude would magically change the way our mind and bodies functioned. It’s not only disingenuous it’s hateful and dangerous.
I chose not to finish the book for a few reasons. 1: I’m choosing my mental health 2: Had there been a TW, I could have prepared myself and made a decision to start the book or not- I was not given that choice. 3: I don’t want to support an author who clearly does not care about her readers
And if none of the descriptions in the book bothered you and you don’t understand why I’m so upset, then I’m genuinely happy for you. I would never wish these thoughts and feelings on another person. But please keep in mind that just bc it doesn’t affect you, doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect other people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders