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culzean's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Classism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Cursing
sami_leigh's review
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
4.75
The banter -both in person and via text- in this book had me uncontrollably snort laughing throughout.
Olivia is a beautifully real and relatable character, her ability to laugh at herself and persevere through the less-than-ideal circumstances life continues to hurl at her is both uplifting and endearing.
Colin is a well thought out character in that the more you get to know about him the more you understand and appreciate him and his relationship and choices regarding Olivia. There has been a missed opportunity to learn more about his family, though, and how such a rigid upbringing and exceedingly high expectations shaped him. I do however have my fingers crossed for a spin-off story following his sister, Jillian!
I appreciate the intermingling of side characters as any story feels two dimensional without them, however I want to know more about why Olivia’s entire family underestimate her constantlyand why there was no resolution to this at the story’s close; only Colin notes a changed view of Olivia and an appreciation for her take on life, while her family continue to treat her as a child and are downright insulting. They literally berate her that Colin, her boyfriend of months, could never actually like her, which is both ignorant and condescending beyond belief.
Overall, the only reason this isn’t a 5 star for me is that I wanted it to be more fleshed out with the family relationships and -as the book champions feminism and makes statements eluding to this view throughout -one statement by Colin threw me off near the end there.
Ultimately it’s a *chef’s kiss* from me!
“[she was] more about living in high-definition, wide-awake, full on colour. Or something more poetic than that. But once I’d seen it, I couldn’t unsee it. It was in everything she did, and it was why everyone was drawn to her the way they were.”
🌶
Olivia is a beautifully real and relatable character, her ability to laugh at herself and persevere through the less-than-ideal circumstances life continues to hurl at her is both uplifting and endearing.
Colin is a well thought out character in that the more you get to know about him the more you understand and appreciate him and his relationship and choices regarding Olivia. There has been a missed opportunity to learn more about his family, though, and how such a rigid upbringing and exceedingly high expectations shaped him. I do however have my fingers crossed for a spin-off story following his sister, Jillian!
I appreciate the intermingling of side characters as any story feels two dimensional without them, however I want to know more about why Olivia’s entire family underestimate her constantly
Overall, the only reason this isn’t a 5 star for me is that I wanted it to be more fleshed out with the family relationships and -as the book champions feminism and makes statements eluding to this view throughout -one statement by Colin threw me off near the end there.
Ultimately it’s a *chef’s kiss* from me!
“[she was] more about living in high-definition, wide-awake, full on colour. Or something more poetic than that. But once I’d seen it, I couldn’t unsee it. It was in everything she did, and it was why everyone was drawn to her the way they were.”
🌶
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Sexism
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