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samchase112's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is the true enemies to lovers we need! Pure hate becomes pure passion -- I love it! Ethan and Alison's banter was fantastic, and although the switch is immediate, you can feel it building and the characters themselves take a while to come to terms with it. My complaints here are that Ethan's character wasn't quite fleshed out; I really don't understand him as a character, and although it's through Alison's eyes, I wish we got to know him as a person a lot more.
Alison was also really unlikable at times, and I can see why many people wouldn't like that and not get enjoyment out of the book because of it, but I see why the authors did it. She's unlikable for a reason. Any more growth by the end of the story would have felt disingenuous. Nevertheless, that means she may grate on lots of readers--and that's okay.
This book is for fans of enemies to lovers, for sure, as long as you don't mind lots of high school drama and immature characters :)
Alison was also really unlikable at times, and I can see why many people wouldn't like that and not get enjoyment out of the book because of it, but I see why the authors did it. She's unlikable for a reason. Any more growth by the end of the story would have felt disingenuous. Nevertheless, that means she may grate on lots of readers--and that's okay.
This book is for fans of enemies to lovers, for sure, as long as you don't mind lots of high school drama and immature characters :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Bullying, and Sexual content
Minor: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
spearly's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
who do we need to bully to change this cover
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It’s odd to me now, how I’d considered every paragraph of high school only prologue while I wrote chapter upon chapter of newspaper productions and driving lessons, fights and fantasies and food poisoning. Under the lights, I feel grateful for the exhilaration of an unfinished story and the necessity of every page before this one.
Ugh. My heart.
This was dang cute. It lands perfectly in that place in the YA genre where I find I can really enjoy the book without having to view it as my high-school self. I didn't need to age myself down to understand the conflict, the drama, the friendships, the rivalry, because Wibberley toed that line between teens and young adults so well. The writing was cohesive and mature. The characters were 3-dimensional and well-rounded, and the story flowed perfectly.
I've seen this compared to Today Tonight Tomorrow. I've seen people rate this a little lower because of how it measures up. I haven't read Today, Tonight, Tomorrow yet, though it is on my TBR, but I will just say I'm grateful I read this first, because I got to enjoy it on its own merits. And I'm sure when I do eventually get to read Today, Tonight, Tomorrow, I'll enjoy it, too.
Also, lets put our hands together for a true enemies-to-lovers. How often in the trope does one of the lovers (usually the guy) admit he's really loved the other all along? That he's been pining since the moment they met? Don't get me wrong. I love the pining. It still gets my heart fluttering. But there is something refreshing about seeing our main couple come together into their feelings.
A solid YA. I think the only thing I would have liked more is if it was told in dual POV. And again.... LET'S GET A NEW COVER ON THIS BITCH, VIKING BOOKS!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
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