Reviews with content warning for Medical content - Like Real People Do

While there are clear signs the author is a fanfiction writer, the writing is solid and the story really well paced. The moment I thought I would start getting bored, the author hooked me back easily, which does not always happen for me.

The characters are wildly adorable and while there is practically a thousand progressive conversations and therapy talks, there is enough problematic from Alex to make up for the lack of problematic in Eli.

Overall, super cute and fun!

Content Warnings

frantic_vampire's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I think I might have found another contender for my top favorite book of the year! This was amazing and I just didn’t want to put it down. I had a stupidly happy smile on my face the whole time I was reading. And I might have been giggling to myself as well, because the characters in this are just so sweet and anxious and relatable. I’m also pretty sure that this is the fastest I’ve devoured a 400+ page physical book in a while. I genuinely don’t know what I’m going to do with myself while I wait for my copies of book two and three to get here.

I loved that this book has its roots in fanfic! And yes, in some of the broader strokes of the story telling you can tell which fandom gave this story its basic structure. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. In fact, I really loved that about this book, it felt like home even though these are completely new characters and a whole new story. Eli and Alex are both so sweet and anxious and I could read about them endlessly. I also absolutely adored the cast of side characters! I honestly can’t wait to dive into the next book. Like Real People Do is getting a solid five stars!

Content Warnings

itsapaxycab's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.75

Love love love this book it was so sweet and fun my teeth were rotting. Seeing that the author was a fix author first it makes sense (not in a bad way just in a fluff way). It is an incredible book and it’s a SERIES??? THERES MORE?!!?

Content Warnings

aromanticreadsromance's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny 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

4.5

Listen. I know this is fanfiction and it's probably not extremely well-written, but I LOVE THEM, Your Honor.

Content Warnings

horns_and_ember's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

fanboyriot's review

Go to review page

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

5.0

Yep, absolutely loved this book—just everything about it was lovely. The characters were detailed and very lovable–Jeff and the best soft bro, Kuzy need to be protected at all costs. Hawk and Bells were the best too. I loved how Abuela was so wholesome.

Eli and Alex were so cute and had such a lovable dynamic. The banter, the softness, the honesty, just everything. It was such a healthy relationship and I adore them so much. Eli excitedly telling people how they met while Alex is in the background like: "do we really need to tell people that" will never get old.

Not to mention the acknowledgements page, I think that was the best one I've read. I love fanfiction so much and it's nice to see others with the same appreciation. Such a great book and I'm so happy I read it.

Idiots in Love
Mental Health Rep
Healthy Relationship
Gay Hockey Romance
Wholesome Friendships

(Third Person POV)

Content Warnings

tkhenry99's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.5

the dialogue and relationships between all the characters are super fun, but things definitely get repetitive (there were way too many “do you need to call your therapist?/no i have an appointment in 2 days” exchanges).

i didn’t like that most of the character development seems to happen off-page. alex does a lot of work with his therapist which we NEVER see, but those scenes would probably have been really interesting and would have added a lot to the story. alex also randomly says he has OCD in the middle of the book, but there’s literally nothing else about his OCD in the book. you only see him work through his anxiety, so it seemed random to include that.

also, for a book that seems obsessed with being PC, the author uses the term “dreadlocks” twice, which isn’t very PC…..

Content Warnings

tragicgloom's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

More...