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shadow_reader12's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Emotional abuse
orangeowl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I didn't realize it would be an alternating viewpoints to tell the story, so I was glad there were two narrators to avoid confusion.
It's a Christmas romance, so some was, as predictably, predictable. But enough plot twists to keep it interesting and some questions you need to get close to the end to have answered.
Readers/Listeners should be aware that the topic of emotional abuse is covered from one of the pairs recent exes, so if that may be difficult for you, know it is at least mentioned in I believe to be 4 chapters, andthe emotional abuser makes contact and is in this telling for a chapter or two .
Death of loved ones, and mental struggles of older family members are also part of this story.
I appreciated that not only do the predictable couple grow closer together, the family whose home it is set in also gets closer through the story.
[This is the first book review I've ever written, so sorry if it's rough.]
It's a Christmas romance, so some was, as predictably, predictable. But enough plot twists to keep it interesting and some questions you need to get close to the end to have answered.
Readers/Listeners should be aware that the topic of emotional abuse is covered from one of the pairs recent exes, so if that may be difficult for you, know it is at least mentioned in I believe to be 4 chapters, and
Death of loved ones, and mental struggles of older family members are also part of this story.
[This is the first book review I've ever written, so sorry if it's rough.]
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Gaslighting, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
kirareads's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Gaslighting, and Death
lauren_reads_outside's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5🌟 for vibes, it turns out that the only thing better than fake dating to love trope is fake dating to being in love with his sister trope (on a sample size of 2, this one and Kiss her once for me)
Heavier than expected with the past relationship abuse and I did mentally scream why on earth did you not just say you were bi instead of straight in your fake dating ruse, but all the couples and characters were so cute and it was on the whole a great Christmas read
Heavier than expected with the past relationship abuse and I did mentally scream why on earth did you not just say you were bi instead of straight in your fake dating ruse, but all the couples and characters were so cute and it was on the whole a great Christmas read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death and Cancer
skyfluff's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, Dementia, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
alisonfaith426's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
booksandteatime's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Dementia, and Emotional abuse
jourdanicus's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
A cute Love Actually readalike, got me out of a slump when I saw it suggested for me on Spotify. I really enjoyed the setting. The characters felt a little unlikeable at first but maybe I'm just not a huge fan of enemies to lovers. There was a bit more of a tone of "oh I'm enjoying this delicious holiday treat more than I should!" than I care for so I tagged fire a minor trigger of fatphobia because I prefer my holiday books to just describe the delicious food and be free of ANY hint of guilt over it.
Definitely recommend for fans of light, queer, holiday romance who enjoy enemies to lovers and/or fake dating, and stories that are wrapped up and a neat and tidy "happily ever after" bow.
Definitely recommend for fans of light, queer, holiday romance who enjoy enemies to lovers and/or fake dating, and stories that are wrapped up and a neat and tidy "happily ever after" bow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Dementia, and Death
njh_books's review
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was really hoping for a cute cheesy queer Christmas story and it was that at times, but it fell flat quite a lot as well.
I did enjoy the POV switching, was fun.Misti the dog was great. Give me a book on Ben and Roberta as kids and now having reconnected.
The book also examined aging & memory issues as an older person and abusive relationships well and had some insights that were touching and well-written.
The ending with Ellie just asleep in Margot's arms was cute, but just felt kind of strange with all the other chaos around at that exact moment. The ending felt rather rushed...
Actually, a lot of these major scenes felt rushed or cut off to quickly, to the story's detriment. While I did see some bonding before Ellie and Margot got together, it still was quite quick and kind of left you wondering why they we into one another (besides the physical attraction).
The epilogue, to me, read like a bad summarize the last year of your life in two pages...it was lackluster, not really satisfying, and could've been left out (don't get me started on the vegan cheese in the burrito part).
Probably won't ever read again, but did at least one Christmas-y read this year...
I did enjoy the POV switching, was fun.
The book also examined aging & memory issues as an older person and abusive relationships well and had some insights that were touching and well-written.
The ending with Ellie just asleep in Margot's arms was cute, but just felt kind of strange with all the other chaos around at that exact moment. The ending felt rather rushed...
Actually, a lot of these major scenes felt rushed or cut off to quickly, to the story's detriment. While I did see some bonding before Ellie and Margot got together, it still was quite quick and kind of left you wondering why they we into one another (besides the physical attraction).
The epilogue, to me, read like a bad summarize the last year of your life in two pages...it was lackluster, not really satisfying, and could've been left out (don't get me started on the vegan cheese in the burrito part).
Probably won't ever read again, but did at least one Christmas-y read this year...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Grief, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Death
clawclawclaw's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death