Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Charm Offensive

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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

228 reviews

avaa1000's review against another edition

Dnf due to everyone’s disregard of one Charlie’s aversion to touch. They touch him an uneven dart amount. They were also incredibly rude to Charlie.
See:

“Sorry.” He stared at her hand but doesn’t take it. “Uh, you… also meet.”

“Does he think that was a sentence?” Jules asks Dev. “God, we’re screwed.”

Also this exchange was wildly uncomfortable:

“What’s wrong Charlie?”

“I… I can’t kiss Angie. I don’t even know her.”

Dev nods in slow understanding. “Right, but you’re getting to know her, and kidding is a part of this whole process. You know kissing was going to be required when you came on this show, right?”
He did know. Abstractly.

That was awful!

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relin's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

It was a very cute romp! I enjoyed the premise and the way they fell for each other. And the ways they worked on themselves before being together!

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thetinysnail's review against another edition

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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

4.25

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chris_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

4.5

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annakh16's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.75

I wanted to like this more than I did - but alas, here we are. There are a few good things and some that fell short for me with this book, as well as things to honestly be critical about.

The dialogue doesn’t feel authentic in places - some sections on asexuality and the patriarchal tropes of reality TV feel like they’re taken from textbooks, rather than conversations.

I also have a pet peeve regarding characters describing something/someone in really unrealistic ways. “His eyes remind him of the violin he played in his high school orchestra.“? - “of the colour of the sky during the thunderstorms of his childhood.“? Said no one ever. Like come oooon.

There is also a lot that is rushed over in my opinion. I don’t think the romance is given enough space - a lot of scenes are summarised rather than written out. Therefore, we don’t get much conversation between Dev and Charlie and suddenly they’re head over heels in love. The same goes for the reality TV show.

I must admit that Dev kind of annoyed me. The main conflict was that he didn’t realise dating shows are not about love? You’re 28! It just felt contrived and hence made it difficult to root for. The ending also seemed like a huge stretch, but not in the fun way.

While we’re with Dev: I am once again asking for a romance novel that doesn’t have some random glossed-over violation of boundaries. My guy, going through someone else’s things in the bathroom isn’t okay just cause you’re their handler! Especially because all of Charlie’s medication was in there.

Unfortunately, I also agree with the reviewers pointing out that some of the mental health topics weren‘t handled in the best way - regarding “I could never be with someone who isn’t healthy“, Charlie‘s OCD kind of disappearing as soon as he finds love etc. Others here have made these points better though.

There are things I liked about this though. This book had some great, emotional lines. (And the phrase “wedding industrial complex“ is hilarious). The above criticisms aside, Charlie‘s mental health journey was moving and I rooted for his character.

What really pushed up the rating however was the ace-spec representation. Seeing Charlie navigate first love and first times was honestly very meaningful to me personally.

So: a quick and sometimes emotional read, but overall a disappointment.

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eeefann125's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.25

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amris's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

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booklifeisthelife's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny 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? No

4.5

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were delightful and the romance cute and so supporting. I loved the mental health and neurodiversity representation but also focus. This book doesn't shy away from the struggles of depression, anxiety, panic discords, obsessive compulsive disorders or anything else. It shows you may not always be loved for your differences until you meet the right people. I enjoyed the lgbtqia+ rep as well. There is a few awakenings in this that was wonderful to read. I loved that while it might take some time for you to realize your worth you will eventually get there. You will realize what you deserve. It's a struggle I know personally so it gives me hope. I mentioned earlier the romance was supportive. Both mains supported and helped each other. They both made each other feel seen. They both helped each other realize they deserved more than they thought they did. This was an emotional book. I got frustrated a few times during this but I also felt the characters were real. They made choices I didn't agree with or I found frustrating but I understood why they did. It fit their character. The only small issue I have is

besides an off hand mention of Dev's script being looked at by professionals it wasn't really talked about. I wanted to see more about it. I felt it was important to show but oh well. /spoiler> I liked the ending of this, how things are finished.
All in all I loved this book.

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.5

The love story was cute. It was a major strain on my suspense of disbelief for there to be a grown ass man believing that people are really falling in love on a reality show. I get the sense that the author was trying to put a lot of big ideas in this book, but they either fell flat or didn't get resolved. For example, what happened with

Dev's screenplay?

I agree with another reviewer who said that the message that someone can't be healthy without therapy is to ignore that many people have complicated relationships with psychiatry. When Charlie said,

"I can't be with someone who isn't healthy,"

that lowered my esteem for the character considerably. It also seemed like his OCD kind of ... went away once he was getting involved with Dev?? Yeah, this book could have used more follow-through on those big ideas and/or focusing more intently on the story at hand.

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brynn_books's review against another edition

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emotional 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

I really enjoyed the book! I love the representation of the main characters mental illnesses and how they validated each other's experiences.

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