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lolajh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
They went the whole book without even saying “Let’s give them something to talk about”? Come on
Going into this I was already unsure about it when the relationship is between an employee and her boss, but I guess I just had higher hopes about how they’d deal with this compared to how it actually happened. The thing is the two of them did not get to know each other at all outside of a work setting and the power imbalance between them never really settled down.Also Jo liking being called boss was weird 😃
I feel like the two of them were working together for just so long while all this was going on and I can’t even really think of an alternative way for this plot to have been properly handled other than just taking these characters out of the same workplace.
I did however like the commentary on workplace sexual harassment, especially the extent to which it happens in the entertainment industryand I wish that the book could’ve delved more into that in the end because Jo’s whole passion project concerning it was kind of just left unfinished.
Going into this I was already unsure about it when the relationship is between an employee and her boss, but I guess I just had higher hopes about how they’d deal with this compared to how it actually happened. The thing is the two of them did not get to know each other at all outside of a work setting and the power imbalance between them never really settled down.
I feel like the two of them were working together for just so long while all this was going on and I can’t even really think of an alternative way for this plot to have been properly handled other than just taking these characters out of the same workplace.
I did however like the commentary on workplace sexual harassment, especially the extent to which it happens in the entertainment industry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
cats33's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia, Racism, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit
merlesstorys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.0
“Something to talk about” by Meryl Wilsner is a lovely book that is easy to read (which I read in one day because I just couldn’t stop).
Both Jo and Emma felt age appropriate and, even though I’m a tad younger than Emma, I could heavily emphasize with her. Their relationship with each other built up more or less nicely, even though the lack of communication really fucked me up sometimes (like I wanted to tell Jo that she should tell Emma things that the latter was related to) and with that also a lot of missed character understanding for each other.
Their relationships with other persons in the book were rather in the background/they kinda only ever talked about their love interest.
I do loved that their running gags were happing out of situations on and not off page (re: Asthma)
What I definitely didn’t like were the things teased but never or way less detailed - why I’ll briefly mention because I don’t want to spoiler anyone.
The leak and the persons behind. Emma’s personal thoughts on Avery/her feeling left behind. The pretty uncomfortable scene with Emma’s idol. Search for new assistants. Life on set. Writing a script. More Hollywood glamour.
And that’s probably not even all I kind of missed.
But, in general, I enjoyed Jo and Emma’s story very much.
Both Jo and Emma felt age appropriate and, even though I’m a tad younger than Emma, I could heavily emphasize with her. Their relationship with each other built up more or less nicely, even though the lack of communication really fucked me up sometimes (like I wanted to tell Jo that she should tell Emma things that the latter was related to) and with that also a lot of missed character understanding for each other.
Their relationships with other persons in the book were rather in the background/they kinda only ever talked about their love interest.
I do loved that their running gags were happing out of situations on and not off page (re: Asthma)
What I definitely didn’t like were the things teased but never or way less detailed - why I’ll briefly mention because I don’t want to spoiler anyone.
The leak and the persons behind. Emma’s personal thoughts on Avery/her feeling left behind. The pretty uncomfortable scene with Emma’s idol. Search for new assistants. Life on set. Writing a script. More Hollywood glamour.
And that’s probably not even all I kind of missed.
But, in general, I enjoyed Jo and Emma’s story very much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Sexism, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
kshertz's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s a love story…kind of. It’s mostly how a boss and the assistant are very good friends for basically the whole book and fighting their attraction to each other. It’s a cool story but way too platonic for me. Nothing happens until the last like 30 pages! But it’s set up well. It’s probably meant for someone who doesn’t need smut and just wants a sweet little love story ❤️
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racism, and Sexism
brinotbrie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Outing, Sexism, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
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
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not.
Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I really enjoyed this slow burn, forced-proximity, workplace, will-they-or-won’t-they, age gap sapphic romance !!! I do think it dragged on a bit during the middle, but I appreciated the setting against Hollywood and the film / tv industry in general. It was familiar, fun, and I could absolutely see this being adapted on tv as a fluffy little romcom 😍 Jo & Emma were such goobers and played into the trope I like to call “two idiots who need to kiss already” 😅😂😇
I thought Meryl took such great care with the topics touched upon, such as sexism, power dynamics, homophobia, ageism, racism, the lack of diversity “in the room” in Hollywood, the invasive American paparazzi, & parasocial relationships. Even though it wasn’t my favorite book by Meryl Wilsner, I am still their stan forever!
💨 Steam: 1/5
Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I really enjoyed this slow burn, forced-proximity, workplace, will-they-or-won’t-they, age gap sapphic romance !!! I do think it dragged on a bit during the middle, but I appreciated the setting against Hollywood and the film / tv industry in general. It was familiar, fun, and I could absolutely see this being adapted on tv as a fluffy little romcom 😍 Jo & Emma were such goobers and played into the trope I like to call “two idiots who need to kiss already” 😅😂😇
I thought Meryl took such great care with the topics touched upon, such as sexism, power dynamics, homophobia, ageism, racism, the lack of diversity “in the room” in Hollywood, the invasive American paparazzi, & parasocial relationships. Even though it wasn’t my favorite book by Meryl Wilsner, I am still their stan forever!
💨 Steam: 1/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This was a sloooooowwwburn and even with me loving slowburns I did miss a little bit of build up over 90% of the story until finally something happened.
But firstly, this book couple has a 14 year age-gap(28/42 I believe) which I am never a fan of especially also adding the boss/employee dynamic. I appreciate that nothing really happened until Emma no longer worked for her, but this part still made me feel a little bit icky...
Still what I loved was the envolvement of their siblings and also getting to watch these other relationships grow.
Sadly when visiting the awards together we do not get an inside of what happens after the red-carpet incident only them quite a few times mentioning how much fun they had together which I believe could have helped making their connection more facetted as for except for one time the author did not write scenes in which both simply have fun with each other.
Spice: 1.25/5 (only like one scene at the end...the scene was good, but...)
But firstly, this book couple has a 14 year age-gap(28/42 I believe) which I am never a fan of especially also adding the boss/employee dynamic. I appreciate that nothing really happened until Emma no longer worked for her, but this part still made me feel a little bit icky...
Still what I loved was the envolvement of their siblings and also getting to watch these other relationships grow.
Sadly when visiting the awards together we do not get an inside of what happens after the red-carpet incident only them quite a few times mentioning how much fun they had together which I believe could have helped making their connection more facetted as for except for one time the author did not write scenes in which both simply have fun with each other.
Spice: 1.25/5 (only like one scene at the end...the scene was good, but...)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Racism and Sexism
stacy837'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Medical content
sydneybedell's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexism
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
So little spice! And soo slow burn! But still, a good book, if a bit sad for a romance. I did enjoy it overall. Tons of diversity! And yay for trying to take down the bad men in Hollywood. I just wish the lead-up to the romance had been shorter and the duration of the book with the romance part in it had been longer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Medical content, Cursing, Alcohol, and Racism