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elizabethhundley's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt
nataliebootlah's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
What a cute read! And not your typical romance, which I enjoyed.
After minor brain surgery, Sadie Montgomery wakes up with face blindness. She can see faces—eyes, nose, mouth—but her brain struggles to recognize who is who. As a human, it’s horrifying. As an artist, it’s potentially career-ending, especially when you’ve landing a top spot in a prestigious photorealistic portrait contest.
This feel-good fiction is about so much more than falling in love. It’s about growing up, finding independence, realizing asking for help isn’t the end of the world, learning to let go, dealing with medical battles, and being true to yourself. I won’t say that it was predictable (read the acknowledgments!), but the anticipation throughout the story was a fun ride.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt and Bullying
emmareidy's review
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Bullying
Minor: Suicide attempt and Infidelity
figsofpeach's review
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt and Grief
kzarate's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The story line was too predictable, there were inconsistencies that bugged me, and the supporting characters felt very one dimensional.
Ma’am if all you couldn't see were faces, why did you have to rub up on this man’s whole ass torso and not just his face?
Ma’am if all you couldn't see were faces, why did you have to rub up on this man’s whole ass torso and not just his face?
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt
seregelda's review
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Loved it, but unfortunately it's published by St. Martin's Press (which I didn't realize until halfway through) whom we are boycotting.
One annoying thing though, a surgeon's daughter would/should know not to treat scrapes with hydrogen peroxide, that is old-timey first aid that leaves scars!
One annoying thing though, a surgeon's daughter would/should know not to treat scrapes with hydrogen peroxide, that is old-timey first aid that leaves scars!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders
idk_indigo's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It is fortunate that Sadie has no decent friends in her life (Sue doesn't count, we'll get to that later) because they would all feel a very apt obligation to remind her that she is literally the dumbest FMC to ever exist. I am absolutely baffled by each & every one of her terrible, TERRIBLE decisions. I genuinely cannot stress this enough, but...girl wtf? Blah blah blah, characters are human too, blah blah blah, flawed characters, blah blah blah. I love me some flawed characters (trust me, I do) but Sadie was like genuinely a threat to herself & to society. Like yeah, sure, she could be semi-relatable (don't we all struggle with vulnerability?), but homegirl was just not adept to deal with reality at all. I couldn't tell if I wanted to hand her a mug of hot cocoa & tuck her into bed or if I just wanted to stare at her in shock & bemusement as I wonder how she hasn't yet been flagged as a social experiment.
I think all of the characters were pretty uni-dimensional as well. Parker, for one, was literally just boring. I wanted to be like, "Girl shut up, you're in your 30's; being this obsessed with your stepsister, whom you lived with for a decade & have known for most of your entire life, is scarily obsessive." She admits to everyone on multiple occasions that she has no life besides tormenting Sadie; she shows up constantly, everywhere; she doesn't seem to have a job, & we know nothing else except that she has a pet & is an asshole. I think Parker would benefit from a hobby or a part-time job or a friend or a personality, or something, anything, just please get her out of the scene.
The father is simultaneously the most & least important side character in the entire book.
I know there is a stepmother & I know her name is Lucinda, next question please.
Don't even get me started on Sue & her sudden disappearance from, like, the most important part of Sadie's career (& frankly, life)? Obligation, schmobligation, but giiiiiiiiiiiiiirl!!! I would not have been friends with Sue after that, & we would've been straight up enemies after the surprise party full of people whose faces I couldn't see?!? I would just hope Susie has something recognizable so I can identify her as I'm throwing hands on the rooftop, I don't care who sees. Then to have the whole situation chalked up to Sue being extroverted? Tying up my hair, handing over my bag, one of us is going to regret their decisions tonight & it's not going to be me...
Even the love interest is boring; his whole personality is being helpful, which is great for Sadie because her whole personality is pretending that she never needs help...but also, sir...I do really like him tho, he seems like a hottie & I've always had a thing for vet MC's...
But the worst part of this book, by a long shot, is the miscommunication trope. I am never typically a fan of a miscommunication. It's definitely far from my favorite, but it's usually not a vibe killer for me. Stuff happens & miscommunication, while an amateur & enraging move, is normal. That's reality. But OH MY GOD! I don't think I have ever wanted to unread a scene in any book as much as I did this one.
It was obvious from the start what would be happening, but eh, whatever, romance novels are always predictable & that's what we love about them. But the whole thing just seemed so outrageously, painfully stupid that I thought, "Well, that can't possible be what actually happens, that would be too stupid, right? Right...?" The answer is no, it apparently wasn't too stupid.
The realization scene was excruciating.
I have read 2 Katherine Center books before this, & I loved both of them so so so much! They were so well-written, so fun, so wholesome! I will be honest, I do think Katherine Center can be credited as the segue into my love of romance, I really do. I am so excited to read The Bodyguard as well, it has been on my tbr for ages (I got the BOTM copy when it first came out, but please don't tell anyone I'm that far behind).
I did enjoy this book, it was fun to read & it genuinely gave me such a good laugh. I definitely think I read this at the exact right time in my life. It was fun, uplifting, it had the perfect amount of trauma without being depressing, & the perfect type of trauma that wasn't triggering.
#iloveditbutitmademeangry #fucksusiethoughlikewhatafuckedupthingtodo #whittisaredflag
I think all of the characters were pretty uni-dimensional as well. Parker, for one, was literally just boring. I wanted to be like, "Girl shut up, you're in your 30's; being this obsessed with your stepsister, whom you lived with for a decade & have known for most of your entire life, is scarily obsessive." She admits to everyone on multiple occasions that she has no life besides tormenting Sadie; she shows up constantly, everywhere; she doesn't seem to have a job, & we know nothing else except that she has a pet & is an asshole. I think Parker would benefit from a hobby or a part-time job or a friend or a personality, or something, anything, just please get her out of the scene.
The father is simultaneously the most & least important side character in the entire book.
I know there is a stepmother & I know her name is Lucinda, next question please.
Don't even get me started on Sue & her sudden disappearance from, like, the most important part of Sadie's career (& frankly, life)? Obligation, schmobligation, but giiiiiiiiiiiiiirl!!! I would not have been friends with Sue after that, & we would've been straight up enemies after the surprise party full of people whose faces I couldn't see?!? I would just hope Susie has something recognizable so I can identify her as I'm throwing hands on the rooftop, I don't care who sees. Then to have the whole situation chalked up to Sue being extroverted? Tying up my hair, handing over my bag, one of us is going to regret their decisions tonight & it's not going to be me...
Even the love interest is boring; his whole personality is being helpful, which is great for Sadie because her whole personality is pretending that she never needs help...but also, sir...I do really like him tho, he seems like a hottie & I've always had a thing for vet MC's...
But the worst part of this book, by a long shot, is the miscommunication trope. I am never typically a fan of a miscommunication. It's definitely far from my favorite, but it's usually not a vibe killer for me. Stuff happens & miscommunication, while an amateur & enraging move, is normal. That's reality. But OH MY GOD! I don't think I have ever wanted to unread a scene in any book as much as I did this one.
It was obvious from the start what would be happening, but eh, whatever, romance novels are always predictable & that's what we love about them. But the whole thing just seemed so outrageously, painfully stupid that I thought, "Well, that can't possible be what actually happens, that would be too stupid, right? Right...?" The answer is no, it apparently wasn't too stupid.
The realization scene was excruciating.
I have read 2 Katherine Center books before this, & I loved both of them so so so much! They were so well-written, so fun, so wholesome! I will be honest, I do think Katherine Center can be credited as the segue into my love of romance, I really do. I am so excited to read The Bodyguard as well, it has been on my tbr for ages (I got the BOTM copy when it first came out, but please don't tell anyone I'm that far behind).
I did enjoy this book, it was fun to read & it genuinely gave me such a good laugh. I definitely think I read this at the exact right time in my life. It was fun, uplifting, it had the perfect amount of trauma without being depressing, & the perfect type of trauma that wasn't triggering.
#iloveditbutitmademeangry #fucksusiethoughlikewhatafuckedupthingtodo #whittisaredflag
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
madanxiety's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.75
Miscommunication tropes are not for me. And God, it was so obvious so early on, and it was just 10 hours leading up to finally addressing it. I also hated the cartoonish evilness of the step-sister. I would've liked to have seen her perspective a bit more. The motivations discussed at the end just felt kind of tacked on. The fact that she literally ran away just felt so ridiculous, albeit in-character.
I liked the interesting perspective with the face blindness. And I guess I liked the romantic dynamic. I finished it quick enough! But I think I was more motivated by just finally getting to the revelation than like any love for the characters.
I liked the interesting perspective with the face blindness. And I guess I liked the romantic dynamic. I finished it quick enough! But I think I was more motivated by just finally getting to the revelation than like any love for the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The Author’s Note is so so beautiful, an ode to love stories. 😍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Chronic illness, Bullying, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide attempt