Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Icebreaker

If at least 100 pages of sex and partying were cut out, maybe this could've been a decent romance. There were actually some interesting plotpoints and the love interest was not toxic at all, which is probably the reason I actually finished this one. It feels very juvenile and I'm obviously too old to read college romances, even though I'm only 25.

Also, I hated the epilogue so much, I don't understand why romance authors think this always has to be a happily ever after, even when the character actually expressed they don't want it earlier in the book.

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svthebz's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I could not get past the fact that the main character acted and sounded like a young teenage girl and kept having to remind myself that they were, in fact, in college. Kinda gave me the ick. Some of the sentence structure had me re-reading a couple times to understand what was being said. Not a plot line in sight. Just stuff happening and Aaron being a complete narcissistic and manipulative prick. Also, it reminds me to take TikTok book recommendations with a very tiny grain of salt. I imagine the vast demographic aimed for this book is for a younger crowd embarking on a spicy reading journey. It certainly is, and how it begins comes quite literally out of *nowhere*

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sophiesbooks_16's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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alivotta's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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cjetty's review against another edition

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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

2.75

I love quick spicy book, and this was a quick spicy book. I think this one was over recommended and my expectations were too high.

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lyddiele's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

kotareadsbooks's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

There’s a v weird ovsession with birthing order? Idk maybe it’s bc I’ve moved around a lot in birth order during my life but i don’t think I’ve ever heard it brought up in convo as often as it is in this book

Stassie is a commitment phobe and that’s fine but usually there’s a reason? Also she really did not resist commitment nearly as much as i feel she should’ve given her label as a commitmentpbobe. So there’s that.

Nathan - first off not a moan worthy name imo. It maybe it’s just that one of my nephews is named Nathan

He’s a nice guy but not v realistic and that’s not to be man hate-y or bitter but just bc he’s just so darn patient with stassie’s bs but still isn’t honest w her ab her partner’s bs

Also there is not a SINGLE queer character i can think of in this book

The sec is good, big fan.

There IS a near death scene i didn’t see coming and there is also a food sex scene that…isn’t for me and didn’t see coming but okay. Glad that got interrupted. Speaking of food

There’s a lot at play in this book, they spend a lot of time on a lot of things stassie struggles with and i feel like it’s not super legit just bc she apparently has a bestie who just doesn’t notice she has a legit eating disorder? Also tw for that. And it’s like. Her recovery is p easy and like glossed over so well.

Nathan helps out with skating but is just miraculously a good stand in for a skater who is legit expecting to go to the Olympics?? Sure jan

They’re weirdly good communicators for people who’ve never been in legit relationships and have so many mental/emotional problems they don’t work thru well

LOTS of talk about unexpected pregnancy. Maybe it’s the lesbian in me but good god i went to a women’s college and STILL didn’t hear this much ab it.

She regularly calls him bub, which is…weird to me. It also increases in frequency as the book progresses. Ick

Is stassie small? Can’t tell. Is Nate just SO much bigger than her? Can’t tell. Make it clearer, Hannah grace.

There also was a non con kiss tw

The ending. Disgusting.

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