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alisonfaith426's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you're looking for a sapphic Christmas story that's just a bit surface level, this is a lovely seasonal read. It's easy to see where the plot is going, and of course everything works out. It honestly reads kind of like a Hallmark Christmas movie, and I'm okay with that becuase that's exactly what I was looking for!
I do wish some of the characters were a bit more developed, and I had a hard time telling the difference between Margot and Ellie's voices from time to time (even with them having different narrators). They did have pretty good chemistry as a main couple, though.
Also, the side plot about trying to figure out how the dog got pregnant was hilarious and I'm honestly glad I read it just for that.
I do wish some of the characters were a bit more developed, and I had a hard time telling the difference between Margot and Ellie's voices from time to time (even with them having different narrators). They did have pretty good chemistry as a main couple, though.
Also, the side plot about trying to figure out how the dog got pregnant was hilarious and I'm honestly glad I read it just for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Cursing
bookishmillennial's review
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. 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. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Narrated by: Kim Bretton, Emma Fenney
Okay, I didn't read the premise when I began listening to this (thank you Libro FM for the ALC - providing this honest review on my own accord), but once I caught on to the plot, I immediately thought, 'Is this not Kiss Her Once For Me?' Look, I know KHOFM is not the absolute first of its kind, but the similarities were just wild. One of the characters is even named Ellie and this is marketed towards Alison Cochrun fans. WILD choice, that's all.
Anyway, besides this being the UK version of KHOFM, I thought it was an entertaining enough listen! We get the dual first-person POV of Margot and Ellie. Margot is recently single (just broke up with her longtime girlfriend Taylor), and Ben needs someone to bring home for the holiday, so his parents will get off of his back about "finding his person". They agree to fake date, but the moment that Ben's sister Ellie meets Margot, she is suspicious of Margot and her intentions. Margot is also navigating a rollercoaster of emotions as her ex Taylor texts her throughout the holiday, and Ben acts as a listening ear and friend to Margot, validating her experiences.
I don't want to spoil how everything obviously goes to shit and "the gig is up" but it gets quite messy. However, I love mess! It's very funny (when it doesn't include me!). I thought the side characters of Ben & Ellie's family were sweet & relatable; I thought the family dynamics felt familiar & realistic (though I recognize all families are super different), & wouldn't mind sitting down to hang with them! I also enjoyed how Margot recognized how her friendships were affected by her toxic romance too, & she tried to salvage things with her friend Nikita. Overall, I can see this becoming others' holiday faves, fit for the 25 Days of Christmas marathon on Freeform.
This is closed door/fade-to-black.
cw: emotional abuse, toxic relationship, alcohol, bullying, cursing, gaslighting, stalking, classism
Narrated by: Kim Bretton, Emma Fenney
Okay, I didn't read the premise when I began listening to this (thank you Libro FM for the ALC - providing this honest review on my own accord), but once I caught on to the plot, I immediately thought, 'Is this not Kiss Her Once For Me?' Look, I know KHOFM is not the absolute first of its kind, but the similarities were just wild. One of the characters is even named Ellie and this is marketed towards Alison Cochrun fans. WILD choice, that's all.
Anyway, besides this being the UK version of KHOFM, I thought it was an entertaining enough listen! We get the dual first-person POV of Margot and Ellie. Margot is recently single (just broke up with her longtime girlfriend Taylor), and Ben needs someone to bring home for the holiday, so his parents will get off of his back about "finding his person". They agree to fake date, but the moment that Ben's sister Ellie meets Margot, she is suspicious of Margot and her intentions. Margot is also navigating a rollercoaster of emotions as her ex Taylor texts her throughout the holiday, and Ben acts as a listening ear and friend to Margot, validating her experiences.
I don't want to spoil how everything obviously goes to shit and "the gig is up" but it gets quite messy. However, I love mess! It's very funny (when it doesn't include me!). I thought the side characters of Ben & Ellie's family were sweet & relatable; I thought the family dynamics felt familiar & realistic (though I recognize all families are super different), & wouldn't mind sitting down to hang with them! I also enjoyed how Margot recognized how her friendships were affected by her toxic romance too, & she tried to salvage things with her friend Nikita. Overall, I can see this becoming others' holiday faves, fit for the 25 Days of Christmas marathon on Freeform.
This is closed door/fade-to-black.
cw: emotional abuse, toxic relationship, alcohol, bullying, cursing, gaslighting, stalking, classism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gaslighting, Stalking, Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Classism
bambooboy's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Light, enjoyable. My main issue is that--and I know I'm in the minority here--I cannot take British accents seriously. They're very goofy to me, especially whatever regions these narrators are from.
I saw some complaints about the shallow way the author touched on verbal abuse but I am glad they did not have a huge subplot about it. It would have made what was a fun, light, enjoyable read very depressing.
I did enjoy the inclusion of it, however, as it's a good sign for LGBT lit. For so long we have been trying to be treated as human, and as such any signs of abuse etc. wouldn't be given the spotlight, so cis/het readers wouldn't have anything to use as evidence of our unworthiness; it's also depressing to read about sad LGBT relationships after all the bury your gay tropes and doomed trans cautionary tales we've been given historically. For me, the inclusion of this dimension to Margo shows we are on our way to wholly human portrayals of LGBT characters. Not doomed, not perfect.
Also, the "Margo is my straight girlfriend" plot point was kind of weird. Why couldn't Margo have said she was bi? Bisexuals listen to girl in red, too!
I can't believe I welcomed in spooky season with a Christmas-themed romance! Very enjoyable. Would have read it even faster if I had had a text copy, such was my desire to devour.
I saw some complaints about the shallow way the author touched on verbal abuse but I am glad they did not have a huge subplot about it. It would have made what was a fun, light, enjoyable read very depressing.
I did enjoy the inclusion of it, however, as it's a good sign for LGBT lit. For so long we have been trying to be treated as human, and as such any signs of abuse etc. wouldn't be given the spotlight, so cis/het readers wouldn't have anything to use as evidence of our unworthiness; it's also depressing to read about sad LGBT relationships after all the bury your gay tropes and doomed trans cautionary tales we've been given historically. For me, the inclusion of this dimension to Margo shows we are on our way to wholly human portrayals of LGBT characters. Not doomed, not perfect.
Also, the "Margo is my straight girlfriend" plot point was kind of weird. Why couldn't Margo have said she was bi? Bisexuals listen to girl in red, too!
I can't believe I welcomed in spooky season with a Christmas-themed romance! Very enjoyable. Would have read it even faster if I had had a text copy, such was my desire to devour.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, Dementia, Pregnancy, Outing, and Sexual content
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