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jbalkovec's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
mickisaway's review against another edition
4.0
ah yes. the homosexual urge literally film a horror movie with the help of your friend (who you have a homoerotic tension going on) in less than a month. that’s unfortunately very relatable
shoutout to Jesse Sparks my man you made me laugh a lot. surprisingly? this is the first time i found a rom-com both genuinely funny and romantic
shoutout to Jesse Sparks my man you made me laugh a lot. surprisingly? this is the first time i found a rom-com both genuinely funny and romantic
lavenderwarlock's review against another edition
4.0
This is a pretty good book. At first, I struggled to get into it with the stream-of-consciousness style dialogue from Jesse but it improves quickly and I was super hooked on it. Jesse is a very fun and sweet protagonist and the other characters are as well. The conflict around Jesse, Casper and Morgan having a strained relationship is very interesting and while it was pretty predictable that Casper and Jesse were going to end up together it was still engaging. The movie production was very interesting and I liked the development that Bree had during the movie. I wasn't a fan of the Louis plotline really, it felt unnecessary to turn him into a villain. The twist wasn't needed and there was already plenty of character conflict and overarching conflict like stealing the filming equipment. I really liked Louis, it would have made no difference to remove his random and sudden character change. I liked the character development for Dean. I thought that the treatment of Ethan was a bit much though, this is such a lighthearted book but this teenager gets gaslighted about a real crime the main character committed and gets a permanent mark on his record cus he was an asshole and homophobic. I'm not defending him but why does Dean get a chance to change and Ethan gets Sent To The Farm. Overall though it's a good book and I'd recommend it.
talkingchicle's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don't think there are enough words to say how much I adored this book! One of my very close friends had open heart surgery at the same age as the main character of this book and I remember when she messaged me to say she had just finished the first book that ever made her feel seen. So for that alone this book has given me more than I could have ever hoped for. This is a shining example of why representation is so important, because it means people like my friend get to see themselves in the things they love. I love how this book addresses Jesse's very real fears in this. It's done in such an authentic way that I forgot this was a fictional story.
The charm of this book is what made me fall first. I pulled me in like a soft embrace, Then came the fantastically written characters, each one with their own personalities, but its Jesse that steals the show. He is funny, adorable, nerdy and goofy plus he is a horror movie buff. A boy after my own heart (pun intended).
This was a remarkable tale of friendship, acceptance and love. Not just love in relationships but also self-love. This made me laugh, made me angry and also made me cry and I loved it.
I don't think there are enough words to say how much I adored this book! One of my very close friends had open heart surgery at the same age as the main character of this book and I remember when she messaged me to say she had just finished the first book that ever made her feel seen. So for that alone this book has given me more than I could have ever hoped for. This is a shining example of why representation is so important, because it means people like my friend get to see themselves in the things they love. I love how this book addresses Jesse's very real fears in this. It's done in such an authentic way that I forgot this was a fictional story.
The charm of this book is what made me fall first. I pulled me in like a soft embrace, Then came the fantastically written characters, each one with their own personalities, but its Jesse that steals the show. He is funny, adorable, nerdy and goofy plus he is a horror movie buff. A boy after my own heart (pun intended).
This was a remarkable tale of friendship, acceptance and love. Not just love in relationships but also self-love. This made me laugh, made me angry and also made me cry and I loved it.
amanda_shortman's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I was excited about this book from the moment I first heard about it - a queer, YA, rom com with disability rep? Yes please!
Having followed the author on socials for a few years now, I knew Jesse's story of finding out he needs open heart surgery had been pulled from his own experience. So I expected a lot of detail, plenty of emotion, and a well rounded story that neither minimised nor glorified illness. I knew I was safe in Hussey's hands.
What I didn't expect was such a layered story that managed to fit in so much else. Within just under 400 pages we find complicated family dynamics, the devastating nature of Dementia, internalised homophobia, outright homophobia, body image issues, and friendships being pushed to their limits.
And yet this isn't a heavy book. Hussey manages to explore all those themes whilst also weaving in a whole bunch of positives - strong family ties, friends who truly love each other, and a creative project to dream of. There were so many times I found myself laughing out loud, causing others to ask what was so funny.
If you are looking for a fun read with a lot of heart (pun very much intended) then you can't go wrong with this.
Having followed the author on socials for a few years now, I knew Jesse's story of finding out he needs open heart surgery had been pulled from his own experience. So I expected a lot of detail, plenty of emotion, and a well rounded story that neither minimised nor glorified illness. I knew I was safe in Hussey's hands.
What I didn't expect was such a layered story that managed to fit in so much else. Within just under 400 pages we find complicated family dynamics, the devastating nature of Dementia, internalised homophobia, outright homophobia, body image issues, and friendships being pushed to their limits.
And yet this isn't a heavy book. Hussey manages to explore all those themes whilst also weaving in a whole bunch of positives - strong family ties, friends who truly love each other, and a creative project to dream of. There were so many times I found myself laughing out loud, causing others to ask what was so funny.
If you are looking for a fun read with a lot of heart (pun very much intended) then you can't go wrong with this.
drakoulis's review against another edition
5.0
Jesse's life turned into a movie (not a zombie one) with a happy ever after!
A glorious recommendation from Simon James Green led me to purchasing this book, and after reading this story, I can totally see why Simon loves it: Jesse could be Noah's alter ego.
Jesse is a hilarious main character: he talks all the time, he is awkward, nerdy, loves filmmaking with an undying passion and loves his friends even more.
With his open heart surgery looming at the horizon, and the body insecurity that brings alongside it, Jesse distracts himself by diving headfirst in his latest passion project: filming a zombie movie with his best friends.
The romance is the slowest of slow burns, so be prepared to groan and scream at the love interest (the reader can figure that out pretty quickly) while rooting for Jesse and sympathizing with his frustrations. Nobody likes feeling that his friends keep secrets from him after all!
Shoutout to the band songs, a homage to other YA LGBT books which has me cackling!
A glorious recommendation from Simon James Green led me to purchasing this book, and after reading this story, I can totally see why Simon loves it: Jesse could be Noah's alter ego.
Jesse is a hilarious main character: he talks all the time, he is awkward, nerdy, loves filmmaking with an undying passion and loves his friends even more.
With his open heart surgery looming at the horizon, and the body insecurity that brings alongside it, Jesse distracts himself by diving headfirst in his latest passion project: filming a zombie movie with his best friends.
The romance is the slowest of slow burns, so be prepared to groan and scream at the love interest (the reader can figure that out pretty quickly) while rooting for Jesse and sympathizing with his frustrations. Nobody likes feeling that his friends keep secrets from him after all!
Shoutout to the band songs, a homage to other YA LGBT books which has me cackling!
ruthscott's review against another edition
It's finally happened, I'm too old for this writing style.
jbt1234's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.75
I really enjoyed this one. It was cute and silly, with great humour, and a surprisingly engaging social mystery; secrets between friends and an appropriately Saw-like contextual montage reveal at the end.
My rating comes from a more professional assessment, as while the story and characters were delightful, the writing itself was middling in quality.
1. The plot is original, well-developed, and engaging throughout.
2. Characters are well-developed, with clear motivations, growth, and depth.
3. The setting is somewhat described but lacks depth or uniqueness.
4. The writing is solid, with some memorable quotes and a mostly effective structure.
5. There's a clear and well-explored theme but it lacks unique nuance or depth.
My rating comes from a more professional assessment, as while the story and characters were delightful, the writing itself was middling in quality.
1. The plot is original, well-developed, and engaging throughout.
2. Characters are well-developed, with clear motivations, growth, and depth.
3. The setting is somewhat described but lacks depth or uniqueness.
4. The writing is solid, with some memorable quotes and a mostly effective structure.
5. There's a clear and well-explored theme but it lacks unique nuance or depth.
quinniantheduck's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Terminal illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
nowh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.25