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ambularf's review
5.0
I love a story with a normal ending. It was refreshing to have a book that was so divisive in its opinions. It made me think about both sides of the political spectrum.
cadeyladey's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
arejaytay's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
renreadsalot's review
5.0
“Love conquers all, except geography, and history, and contemporary, sociopolitical reality”
What a book.
Loving someone despite them being everything you are against? Though I absolutely love the book, I’m not convinced. How can you willing compromise your belief system for love. It’s not even like Josh was changing or evolving, he was so stuck in his ways and wanted convince jess the same.
Putting politics aside (even though that is completely impossible to do in this life!), I was enamoured by their love story, pathetic? Maybe but he truly did love her and she loved him. However she especially loved how deeply he loved her.
He called her pretty, he said he knew her. He even stopped eating strawberries for her. These little things meant so much to her insecure heart. It quiet all the voices that said she wasn’t good enough and soothed all her negative dating experiences. However the one big thing he couldn’t do for her, completely change his point of view. He is able to ‘compartmentalise’ and separate her from everything she is and stands for. And writing this review now it makes me wonder if he really did love her? Did he really know who she was? I’m not sure anymore. From what I’ve read, I did, I do, think he loves her and I was swooning. However the last few pages of the book I was convinced they wouldn’t end up together, that it just wouldn’t work in the long term.
Jess is my hero, honestly, she was insecure, raw and real and to have a mc like this means a lot. I found myself questioning the same thing she was, laughing over the same things she was and crying whenever she was. I felt all her emotions and I appreciate the author for creating a character like this.
Would I read this book again? Yes. Multiple times. I’ll probably get the paperback too.
75 percent of this book is the epitome of romance to me, however the last 15… I’m not too sure. I doubt there will be a sequel but if there is I wonder what will happen with Jess and Josh? Is marriage in their cards? will they still be together? can the ignore the political divide tearing them apart? How long will they be able to pretend that our sense of self and political beliefs are separate entities? Curious.
But overall I loved the book
What a book.
Loving someone despite them being everything you are against? Though I absolutely love the book, I’m not convinced. How can you willing compromise your belief system for love. It’s not even like Josh was changing or evolving, he was so stuck in his ways and wanted convince jess the same.
Putting politics aside (even though that is completely impossible to do in this life!), I was enamoured by their love story, pathetic? Maybe but he truly did love her and she loved him. However she especially loved how deeply he loved her.
He called her pretty, he said he knew her. He even stopped eating strawberries for her. These little things meant so much to her insecure heart. It quiet all the voices that said she wasn’t good enough and soothed all her negative dating experiences. However the one big thing he couldn’t do for her, completely change his point of view. He is able to ‘compartmentalise’ and separate her from everything she is and stands for. And writing this review now it makes me wonder if he really did love her? Did he really know who she was? I’m not sure anymore. From what I’ve read, I did, I do, think he loves her and I was swooning. However the last few pages of the book I was convinced they wouldn’t end up together, that it just wouldn’t work in the long term.
Jess is my hero, honestly, she was insecure, raw and real and to have a mc like this means a lot. I found myself questioning the same thing she was, laughing over the same things she was and crying whenever she was. I felt all her emotions and I appreciate the author for creating a character like this.
Would I read this book again? Yes. Multiple times. I’ll probably get the paperback too.
75 percent of this book is the epitome of romance to me, however the last 15… I’m not too sure. I doubt there will be a sequel but if there is I wonder what will happen with Jess and Josh? Is marriage in their cards? will they still be together? can the ignore the political divide tearing them apart? How long will they be able to pretend that our sense of self and political beliefs are separate entities? Curious.
But overall I loved the book
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
Parts of the book were hard to read, Josh’s point of view on a lot things, in particular, though I still believe that in the end, everything wasn’t fine given the state of the country today. But I loved his character for being the kind of person who was brave enough to stand up for what he believes, loving enough to keep trying, and confident enough to be challenged. He also reminds us of the importance of discourse and forgiveness. I feel like he was the real hero of the book, and I don’t say that lightly, given Jess was the protagonist and the BIPoC with the trauma to overcome. Still, I loved how much she grew throughout the book and trust she will continue to grow. I’m rooting for these two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Death of parent, Racism, Cancer, and Drug abuse
allikazoo's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
marta_degennaro's review
4.5
Incredibly engaging romance story set in the new work stock broker world that examines politics, class and race in America in the most nuanced way. Such an eye opening book and even though I do not have any experience of being in an interracial relationship, I very much related to the idea of convincing yourself that everything’s fine even though things feel iffy/off in a relationship purely because you’re in love and there’s this narrative that love trumps all
kerrcas's review
challenging
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thought-provoking read centered around racial dynamics in the workplace and interracial relationships. I wouldn’t place it in the “romance” category.
readingwithhorror's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5