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avaa1000's review against another edition
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“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.”
“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!
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
quillyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sadly, it just wasn’t for me. 🫠
There were some nice elements, but a lot I couldn’t forgive. Porticularly the portrayals of Charlie’s anxiety and panic disorders, and Dev’s depression. I know these are complex, varied conditions. But to me, it felt stereotyped and unrealistic. But, it was good to see some representation for two guys that struggle with mental health conditions, support each other, and eventually seek the help they need to start recovery.
It just feels a shame that so much of the plot relies on miscommunication (or complete lack of communication), and there is little character development until the close. 🤕
Felt like a bit of a slog tbh!
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
foxmochi's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
celestialg's review against another edition
- 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
This book is seriously so near and dear to my heart. There were moments of dialogue that could have been written by me because of how much they rang true.
My favorite read in a long time.
Content warning: It’s a queer romance, but it also isn’t an uber spicy book, but then again isn’t a closed door romance. In my opinion, the love scenes are mature content, but not explicit. I would still consider it smut, however. Hope that helps lol
Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying and Domestic abuse
astareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I'm feeling generous cause I didn't drop a whole one.
Also, what's up with the constant vomit?!
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying and Vomit
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
simkei's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Outing
samanderson24's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
pickerelette's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
rey_therese07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Biphobia, Blood, and Vomit
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry
decklededgess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
My opinion of this book treads a fine line. As a Bachelor franchise fan, I was thoroughly entertained by the producer manipulation exposé this book was attempting to be. Not to mention, I'm guessing this was likely inspired by Colton Underwood's season and what it could have been had he been given the chance to explore his own sexuality instead of a pre-written hetero fantasy. Since one of the producers was a romantic lead, I felt this book was a bit more sympathetic to the producer side of things. In the show, it's evident that the producers err on the side of abusive and manipulative instead of listening ears and while that's evident, the more toxic producers aren't even given a name. Instead the cast of characters are all queer folks who get a bit of a redemption arc. So overall, the Bachelor behind the scenes aspect is a bit more rose coloured glasses than I would expect but otherwise it's not too shabby.
As for the romance, I wasn't a big fan? It's pretty bland in the line of most romances. The author was balancing a forbidden romance, mental health issues, and critique of a reality tv show so it was perhaps too many eggs for this one basket.
I wasn't a big fan of Dev's characterization even if I did like his character overall. He's South Asian but there's no context for his identity save one paragraph about his parents' immigration to USA. And while South Asian folks can vary in their attachment to identity, I found that in Dev's case it was more a side effect of the white author writing a Desi character for the sake of having a non white lead.
The author's attention to mental health was probably the most successful aspect of this book. Charlie's OCD was written well and with respect, Dev's depression was also addressed appropriately. I'm not personally familiar with the nuances of these mental illnesses but I found at times that Charlie teetered the line of autistic and Dev was showing more signs of bipolar disorder than just depression alone. From a place of rudimentary familiarity with all four those were my observations.
Overall, fine.
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts