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shelvesofivy's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I received an ARC from the author and am super grateful to have gotten the chance to read this story!
As a whole, I loved meeting Emma and Noah and seeing their strong, loving friendship. It's clear how much they care for each other and always want to do right by each other.
While I'm not aro and can't speak to the specific aro rep, it's clear that it was done with care; the main characters treat the topics of being aro and what would go into a QPR just as seriously and honestly as we may see relationships in allo stories talked about. And even not being aro, I still saw myself in the pages—especially with Emma's doubts and insecurities surrounding platonic feelings, physical affection, and feeling "clingy."
The main things keeping this from 5 stars were, for me, just in the writing style. A lot of information was just stated outright, rather than shown. It felt a little bit like being spoon-fed these individual characters and scenes. There were also times when I wished there was more sentence length variation, but that's a stylistic thing that doesn't affect the story as a whole.
Overall though, I still adored reading this and am so so happy that we have this sweet and positive qpr story ♡
As a whole, I loved meeting Emma and Noah and seeing their strong, loving friendship. It's clear how much they care for each other and always want to do right by each other.
While I'm not aro and can't speak to the specific aro rep, it's clear that it was done with care; the main characters treat the topics of being aro and what would go into a QPR just as seriously and honestly as we may see relationships in allo stories talked about. And even not being aro, I still saw myself in the pages—especially with Emma's doubts and insecurities surrounding platonic feelings, physical affection, and feeling "clingy."
The main things keeping this from 5 stars were, for me, just in the writing style. A lot of information was just stated outright, rather than shown. It felt a little bit like being spoon-fed these individual characters and scenes. There were also times when I wished there was more sentence length variation, but that's a stylistic thing that doesn't affect the story as a whole.
Overall though, I still adored reading this and am so so happy that we have this sweet and positive qpr story ♡
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Drug use
bladelikesbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
‘By Your Side’ is a queerplatonic short story about Emma evaluating her current relationships and what she needs from her loved ones.
Firstly, love that the author included a list of trigger warnings in the beginning and usually when authors do this I tend to add a lot more to the list but with this I think I only added two. Also, I think this is the first book I’ve ever read that had a playlist in it and of course I had to listen to it while reading. (Loved the song choices by the way - such a great fit for the story)
The book starts with Emma ending up in a low situation and it really only goes up from there which I really enjoyed. Apart from a little gossipy high school moment by some back ground characters, I felt like most of the characters in this were really stable people and the way they discussed their emotions and how they comforted each other was so mature and I personally loved that.
This book and these characters’ relationships really made my heart feel so warm. Their communication with each other, the use of love languages, the open queerness… ugh I frickin adored it. Especially how open the dialogue was between the main friend group and even Emma’s own thoughts where she was talking about forced heteronormative relationships.
Platonic love is something I’ve felt for a few people throughout my life and whenever I’ve tried to describe it to people they always misunderstand or tell me I’m just in love with them so to see these characters affirming each others feelings for each others as deeper than friends but not romantic makes me so sad happy. I hope to one day be understood the way they understand each other.
Also, the possibility of them all entering a polyamorous relationship in the future… I LOVED THAT. In conclusion, this was brilliant, please go read it as soon as it comes out !!!
Rep - Aromantic; Bisexual; Platonic Relationship; Queer; They/Them
TWs/CWs - Alcohol Consumption; Arophobia; Brief Description of Food; Cheating; Cursing; Drug Use (Weed, BGC); Emotional Abuse (Past); Ignorance; Smoking (Cigarettes); Suicide Ideation (Brief); Victim Blaming
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Emotional abuse
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