Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist by Edward Thomas, Brooke Bloomingdale, Codi Hall

5 reviews

livinonaprairie's review against another edition

Go to review page

Poor editing and stilted dialog kept bringing me out of the story 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bujo_bellel's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

I quite enjoyed this book, very Christmas-y indeed. There were quite a few parts where Nick had been rather intimate with Noel (even when he was still with Amber) which I found was unusual since he was already taken so I was uneasy when those parts came up. I really liked all the song and show/movie references which was a nice touch although I have no clue what those songs were but I get more recommendations!! I have spotted quite a few grammar mistakes which annoyed me a lot. There were quite a few mordern references like Tiktok, which I did not particularly like only when it was randomly thrown in when it didn't make sense to be there, but I quite liked it when it had the right context, like how Nick and Noel will send each other songs on Spotify, which I found really cute. This book was really funny, I really loved and adored the characters and the character development was really nice to see. Some of their makeout sessions were a bit random but I didn't really mind. I was quite amused by brand knockoffs when the author changes the name of the brands because of copyright since the sames were really out there. I really liked how Noel's granny underwear really had Grannies on them, which was hilarious!! I really liked that there was a playlist at the end of the book so that I can go ahead and listen to those songs :) Also Amber's quite an ass and I'm glad she changed!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sophiemartin's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny 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

3.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sami_leigh's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

⭐️⭐️.75/5
🌶️🌶️/5

“Every time I’m with her, it’s like the world shines a little brighter.”

🎄 Friends to lovers
🎄 Slow burn
🎄 He falls first
🎄 FMC overcomes trauma surrounding death of parents 
🎄 Family Christmas Tree Farm
🎄 Some well established secondary characters 
🎄 Fake dating (briefly to make exes jealous)
🎄 Found family
🎄 Epilogue

🚩 Toxic masculinity & sexism in characters’ speech & thoughts towards each other. Writing normalises men being shamed as ‘effeminate’ & ‘enuch’, women as ‘ho’, ‘bitch’, and slut-shamed.
🚩 Little growth in characters surrounding sexist & toxic remarks
🚩 Moderate typos

⚠️ Pregnancy, moderate violence, car accident (not on page), death of parents (not on page), misogyny/sexism, toxic relationship, toxic friendship, vomit, MC returns from active duty in military.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

theespressoedition's review

Go to review page

lighthearted slow-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

3.0

This book surprised me - in both good ways and... not-so-good ways.

It has my favorite trope in the world: best friends-to-lovers! And the chemistry between Nick and Noel is adorable, spicy, and terribly frustrating... because Noel has reservations at every turn.

Okay, so she's dealt with a lot of heartbreak in her life. Her parents passed away so she thinks everyone is going to leave her. Completely understandable. What wasn't understandable was the fact that Nick had been her best friend for ages, she was basically "adopted" into his family when her own parents passed and they've never given up on her, and basically every other person in her life has proven that they're not going anywhere. So the fact that she's hung up from the get-go on the fact that if she and Nick enter a romantic relationship, he's going to bail at some point really bugged me. Especially because it's obvious that Nick is crazy about her.

Then there's Amber. An absolute bitch. And I don't usually use language like that in my reviews. But, I think she's the most horrible character I've ever read. Some of this story was realistic, but the way Amber acted throughout: riling up Noel, trying to get Nick back at every opportunity, even causing issues for Gabi (Gabby? I don't know - I listened to the audiobook so my spelling could be off)... it all seemed SO unrealistic. And like halfway through the story we're supposed to kind of feel bad for her because she's had a tough go of things too? Nope. I don't feel a shred of sympathy for her. But Noel's actions towards her were both justified and also totally ridiculous.

Anyways, basically, I hated Amber and tolerated Noel. Nick and his friends and family were the saving grace of this book for me. They were funny, loving, and put up with so much of the drama! 

While I mostly enjoyed the story, I found myself wishing it would've ended about halfway through. It drew things out for a long time and that kinda irked me. But when I initially put it down, I didn't think, "Oh, I hated that," but more, "Eh, that was cute but I wouldn't read it again." So I guess that sums it all up.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...