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michmoo's review against another edition
A fairly cute romance in the portion that I read, but I took a break from reading it and wasn’t interested enough to return to it.
I have to admit that the more time I had to really consider how often the FL talks about her Harry Potter underwear getting wet, the less likely it became that I would finish the book. I mean I appreciate that HP was one of her special interests but the repetition of the undies mentions and their varying dampness was mildly off putting.
Also the ML is a huge (size wise) virgin, which could be a plus or minus depending on the reader. I have no opinion either way.
Also the ML is a huge (size wise) virgin, which could be a plus or minus depending on the reader. I have no opinion either way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Ableism, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Transphobia
pandalesque's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
I preffered this to the first book so I'll continue the series.
Steam/Spice 🔥🔥.5/🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
- I liked the Autistic and Chronic Illness Rep, though I can't really speak to authenticity and if it's an actual good/non-harming representation. Only thing I can say is, when talking about F. maybe having ADHD but instead having Autism, I know that people on the spectrum are more likely to have ADHD and that she could have both and it's not mutually exclusive.
- I liked Francesca as characters didn't quite connect with Soren though. Found Frankie interesting especially being on the spectrum and having chronic illnesses but being a social media manager. Her future dreams and how much work it is to mask all of her struggles. But also her actually working with it/against it (moving against pain, products that help her, therapies...)
- Liked the talk about friendships, family and her actual friendships
- Liked the italian and swedish words woven in though I know that "zenzero" wasn't pronounced well by the narrators
- Also liked the section about the period talk
Soren felt less "natural" I thought making him a Shakespeare lover while being an athlete... felt like an attempt to make him "Not like other men/athletes on the team" but I didn't quite eat it up.
Felt like they're more mature than 25.
Better handled in this book:
- Last book I noticed the casual talk about god/god's will... Which I didn't like I thought this time I it was well weaved into the story/handled bcs of Frankie's catholic background, it made more sense to me.
- I appreciated that this time there was the explicit mention of STDs not only birth control when having intercourse/sex without protection.
-
What took me out of the story and find not appealing:
- Found the Shakespeare thing cringy
- When social issues were talked about like JKR being a turf, toxic masculinity, other feminist statements or else... it didn't feel authentic/natrual to me... rather performative (e.g. in hospital with the child talking about men crying, bar brawl ( her thinking she shouldn't love it, but does), the talk about burgers and eating meat. W. not caring about greenhouse gasses and T. felt a bit like the women are aware of what they're doing but don't care, R. then intervening... (didn't like the implication that they're cool because they eat meat/don't care. Being a cool girl that can hang with the guys... not being like everyone else in LA...))
- Him being a virgin but making her come left and right without a lot of instructions, with him being totally confident or him informing himself what to do or asking his brothers...
Some reoccurring themes (from the last book) in Liese's writing that I don't particularly like:
- I found the obsession with and references to HP unnecessary and cringe-y (especially her "spell casting"...)
- "perfect" athletic bodies no matter who (athlete or not, always a huge dick...)
- Having sex without condoms
- The childish nicknames for female genitalia even though they're able to talk serious about sex, periods or otherwise
- The sometimes very black and white portrayal of femininity vs. masculinity (protectiveness, physical strength, facial hair vs. soft body/skin, their sents...) but then again adding attributes/hobbies to round them out/make them interesting (Love for books and Shakespeare, liking sports,...)
Steam/Spice 🔥🔥.5/🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
- I liked the Autistic and Chronic Illness Rep, though I can't really speak to authenticity and if it's an actual good/non-harming representation. Only thing I can say is, when talking about F. maybe having ADHD but instead having Autism, I know that people on the spectrum are more likely to have ADHD and that she could have both and it's not mutually exclusive.
- I liked Francesca as characters didn't quite connect with Soren though. Found Frankie interesting especially being on the spectrum and having chronic illnesses but being a social media manager. Her future dreams and how much work it is to mask all of her struggles. But also her actually working with it/against it (moving against pain, products that help her, therapies...)
- Liked the talk about friendships, family and her actual friendships
- Liked the italian and swedish words woven in though I know that "zenzero" wasn't pronounced well by the narrators
- Also liked the section about the period talk
Soren felt less "natural" I thought making him a Shakespeare lover while being an athlete... felt like an attempt to make him "Not like other men/athletes on the team" but I didn't quite eat it up.
Felt like they're more mature than 25.
Better handled in this book:
- Last book I noticed the casual talk about god/god's will... Which I didn't like I thought this time I it was well weaved into the story/handled bcs of Frankie's catholic background, it made more sense to me.
- I appreciated that this time there was the explicit mention of STDs not only birth control when having intercourse/sex without protection.
-
What took me out of the story and find not appealing:
- Found the Shakespeare thing cringy
- When social issues were talked about like JKR being a turf, toxic masculinity, other feminist statements or else... it didn't feel authentic/natrual to me... rather performative (e.g. in hospital with the child talking about men crying, bar brawl ( her thinking she shouldn't love it, but does), the talk about burgers and eating meat. W. not caring about greenhouse gasses and T. felt a bit like the women are aware of what they're doing but don't care, R. then intervening... (didn't like the implication that they're cool because they eat meat/don't care. Being a cool girl that can hang with the guys... not being like everyone else in LA...))
- Him being a virgin but making her come left and right without a lot of instructions, with him being totally confident or him informing himself what to do or asking his brothers...
Some reoccurring themes (from the last book) in Liese's writing that I don't particularly like:
- I found the obsession with and references to HP unnecessary and cringe-y (especially her "spell casting"...)
- "perfect" athletic bodies no matter who (athlete or not, always a huge dick...)
- Having sex without condoms
- The childish nicknames for female genitalia even though they're able to talk serious about sex, periods or otherwise
- The sometimes very black and white portrayal of femininity vs. masculinity (protectiveness, physical strength, facial hair vs. soft body/skin, their sents...) but then again adding attributes/hobbies to round them out/make them interesting (Love for books and Shakespeare, liking sports,...)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Ableism
Moderate: Violence, Sexual harassment, and Bullying
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