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np24's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
Okay as a concept I really really like this book, and there were things about that were important and also super cute. HOWEVER, boy is Noah annoying. He’s so whiny, has problems with everyone and everything, is entitled, I could go on and on. People in his life keep going out of their way to take care of him and he keeps being ungrateful and it was infuriating. That being said, a super cute story, and I can especially see how a young adult crowd would get into the social media aspects of it
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
3.75
I really loved this book and the exploration of one's identity and sexuality.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Racism
alyssadorn's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really appreciated this book! It was cute overall, and I enjoyed all the authenticity— Noah felt like a real teenager (even if that means he wasn’t super likable at times) and the emotional/social importance placed on the blog felt very authentically teenager. His character growth was realistic— not leaps and bounds, but more subtle. Also the internet stuff felt so real— the anonymous hate and everything. Even Devin’s anxiety felt real to me. I highlighted so many lines of their queer experience, too, that just HIT.
The stakes did feel geared toward a younger audience; for older readers the stakes might not feel as believable and feel less like there was much of a plot/conflict. Also, I found myself wanting more closure at the end— about the blog, about Drew, etc. I wanted more of Becca too! Some of what she was dealing with was hinted at, but I wanted more answers (and more apologizing/shown change on Noah’s part).
It would’ve been really cool to see Noah’s preconceived notions of romance as more of the villain of the story, fleshed out more.
Last thought, Devin’s journey was the best.
kahlaelizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
ksquinnn's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
sarak18's review against another edition
2.0
The idea for this book is cute, not sure how I feel about how it was executed. Noah was kind of insufferable, but then again I’m reading this as an adult and all teens seem to be some level of insufferable to me now. I know I would have really enjoyed this book when I was a teen.
All and all I’m team Devin and I’m happy ey got a good ending.
All and all I’m team Devin and I’m happy ey got a good ending.
smilingc's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
0.5
~DNFed at page 128~
I actually picked this book up from a local thrift store. Reading the inner flap, the premis of the book was promising and had potential. The Book cover was also really cute and I enjoyed the design. Additionally, it was written by a POC and about the LGBTQ+ community which also attracted me because I need to expand my reading horizons.
It all goes downhill from there.
Starting off with the main characters, Noah, as a person. I’m all for characters that start out as misunderstood or are rude/mean/act a certain negative way as long as the plot and storyline redeem them or show you valid reasons for you to agree with their shitty behavior and empathize with them. This book didn’t do that. A lot of what Noah did felt rude, entitled, and childish. What did I consider rude, entitled and childish about him?
- Spent $400 dollars on his parents credit card at cafes and bus fare, then got angry that they froze the credit card and told him that he needed to get a job
- Treats his best friend less like a best friend and more like his website manager
- Treats his brother’s girlfriend with contempt despite her being nice in all their interactions and pointing him towards a possible job opportunity
- Doesn’t put any effort in getting a job, ends up working at a summer camp with his brother, and then gets angry that he has to work at the summer camp
- Gets vomited on and gets frustrated (valid) but then proceeds to have no empathy for the person who vomited on them and borderline cusses them out, caring more about their suede pants than about if the person is okay (not valid)
- Finds out the person who vomited has a “wealthy white person name” and rants about how their probably got the job really easily and are here for funsies to pass time while MC has “no choice” but to work and only got this job because his brother pulled some strings (mind you the brother offered this job weeks in advance and wouldn’t of had to pull strings if Noah had gotten a job somewhere else sooner like he was supposed to, had said yes to his brothers offer when he originally offered, or had never blew the $400 on the credit card in the first place)
But I digress.
The book has some romantic themes going on and I wasn't entirely sure what to feel about them either. I didn’t get a lot of romance, considering I only made it to page 128, but what I read wasn’t my cup of tea. The first(?)** couple got together as a fake couple. Okay okay, cool. I can get behind that. It's for the plot. What I couldn’t get behind were a few things:
- The romantic prospect was seemingly straight? But then was totally down for dating another guy? After only knowing him after two or three instances? Like, sure he reads your blog but he said it was for his cousin? Okay maybe I just don’t know shit but…
- They end up kissing so soon after getting together, like on the first date. I would have thought that on a plotline level they would have waited a little longer because the romantic tension really does something.
- Noah is 16 and the guy he's fake dating is 18, out of highschool. Technically its only two years but morally and legally I don’t like it. And I’m not just saying this because I don’t like the book. I genuinely don’t like it when a legal adult dates a minor whether it's fake or not.
Overall, I can’t say that I got a real great grasp on the book as a whole considering I didn't even get halfway through it, but the above issues were just so excessive and made my reading experience unenjoyable, to the point that I called it quits. I’m not one to DNF a book because I want to be able to fully say that I read the book and was able to get through it, but this one just made it on my very short list of DNF books. Even the most slow and agonizing reads were more enjoyable than Noah’s self-absorbed issues.
** I put the question mark because according to other reviews Noah doesn’t stay with the guy but i can’t say this with certainty since I didn’t read that far
I actually picked this book up from a local thrift store. Reading the inner flap, the premis of the book was promising and had potential. The Book cover was also really cute and I enjoyed the design. Additionally, it was written by a POC and about the LGBTQ+ community which also attracted me because I need to expand my reading horizons.
It all goes downhill from there.
Starting off with the main characters, Noah, as a person. I’m all for characters that start out as misunderstood or are rude/mean/act a certain negative way as long as the plot and storyline redeem them or show you valid reasons for you to agree with their shitty behavior and empathize with them. This book didn’t do that. A lot of what Noah did felt rude, entitled, and childish. What did I consider rude, entitled and childish about him?
- Spent $400 dollars on his parents credit card at cafes and bus fare, then got angry that they froze the credit card and told him that he needed to get a job
- Treats his best friend less like a best friend and more like his website manager
- Treats his brother’s girlfriend with contempt despite her being nice in all their interactions and pointing him towards a possible job opportunity
- Doesn’t put any effort in getting a job, ends up working at a summer camp with his brother, and then gets angry that he has to work at the summer camp
- Gets vomited on and gets frustrated (valid) but then proceeds to have no empathy for the person who vomited on them and borderline cusses them out, caring more about their suede pants than about if the person is okay (not valid)
- Finds out the person who vomited has a “wealthy white person name” and rants about how their probably got the job really easily and are here for funsies to pass time while MC has “no choice” but to work and only got this job because his brother pulled some strings (mind you the brother offered this job weeks in advance and wouldn’t of had to pull strings if Noah had gotten a job somewhere else sooner like he was supposed to, had said yes to his brothers offer when he originally offered, or had never blew the $400 on the credit card in the first place)
But I digress.
The book has some romantic themes going on and I wasn't entirely sure what to feel about them either. I didn’t get a lot of romance, considering I only made it to page 128, but what I read wasn’t my cup of tea. The first(?)** couple got together as a fake couple. Okay okay, cool. I can get behind that. It's for the plot. What I couldn’t get behind were a few things:
- The romantic prospect was seemingly straight? But then was totally down for dating another guy? After only knowing him after two or three instances? Like, sure he reads your blog but he said it was for his cousin? Okay maybe I just don’t know shit but…
- They end up kissing so soon after getting together, like on the first date. I would have thought that on a plotline level they would have waited a little longer because the romantic tension really does something.
- Noah is 16 and the guy he's fake dating is 18, out of highschool. Technically its only two years but morally and legally I don’t like it. And I’m not just saying this because I don’t like the book. I genuinely don’t like it when a legal adult dates a minor whether it's fake or not.
Overall, I can’t say that I got a real great grasp on the book as a whole considering I didn't even get halfway through it, but the above issues were just so excessive and made my reading experience unenjoyable, to the point that I called it quits. I’m not one to DNF a book because I want to be able to fully say that I read the book and was able to get through it, but this one just made it on my very short list of DNF books. Even the most slow and agonizing reads were more enjoyable than Noah’s self-absorbed issues.
** I put the question mark because according to other reviews Noah doesn’t stay with the guy but i can’t say this with certainty since I didn’t read that far
chill_8's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
dsauriol1991's review
3.5
Another book I enjoyed but didn't love. Noah starts off a little entitled but the growth he goes through is very well done. His meet cute with Drew is truly just a meet cute because Drew sucks but that was the point of his character. I also learned about neo-pronouns in this book thanks to the delightful Devin who uses e/em pronouns. I think Noah and Devin's friends to more relationship was well done. I just wish the author would've also told us what was going on with Becca because girl seemed to be struggling and we didn't get resolution there.