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kato_goldacker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Friends to lovers slow-burn with good Trans Representation.
(go to end for conclusion)
Loved it. When I found this one I knew I had to read it simply because it is exactly what I wanted.
Alexis Hall has some really beautiful writing and ways of describing things, as well as the ability to spark inspiration or thought with the way he puts things. This had a lot of inspiring, beautiful lines and romantic, soft, yearning moments that I really enjoyed, I marked a lot of parts in this book. Hall did a great job with writing a relatable trans character, too.
I did feel that, overall in its execution it’s not a masterpiece of a book, as I still felt like some things were perhaps missing or too simple. I also wasn’t always entirely sure about the pace of the book, I would call it a slow-burn romance, which I liked, but it did change pace a bit later. I don’t think it’s extraordinary story-writing or anything -generally I felt like there were things missing for me to make it a GREAT book, but I couldn’t exactly pinpoint what it was. Depth, the feeling of a more detailedly thought-through plot / story, most likely.
Still, I loved it, and I’m so happy there’s a book with this story.
The characters were lovely and the playful, intimate and teasing interactions and the yearning and pining between Gracewood and Viola were really fun to read.
I’m also really happy we got a bit of spicy/intimate scenes, which I think is great seeing trans characters nicely represented in.
I don’t think you always need an absolutely great story with a unique plot that wasn’t ever written before. Popular tropes can still be enjoyable, and I don’t think it’s necessary to have an entirely period-accurate representation in every LGBTQIA+ novel, especially since -some people argue- it can be nice for us to have something simple, cheesy and stereotypical for once too, just like there’s tons of (non-LGBTQIA+) straight fiction like that.
Conclusion
So I’d say, if you’re not looking for a terribly original storyline but for a happy, hopelessly romantic, historical friends to lovers slow-burn, featuring good and positive trans representation, you will really like this.
About Triggers
I put all from this list I think are (briefly) in the book,
Of course it is for yourself to know but I just need to say I didn’t find this much triggering, even though I am quite sensitive to a lot of those. If drug use is really triggering for you it might be a different thing, for me it is mainly violence related as well as any sexual abuse or transphobia related ones, but I was mostly fine reading this and, despite containing all of those listed triggers, I found this was book that still felt light.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Drug abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Outing, War, Gun violence, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia
lynxpardinus's review
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Ableism, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: War, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Deadnaming
kelisabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Infertility, Classism, Violence, Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Transphobia, Vomit, War, Grief, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
mayaism_01's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, War, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Gun violence
scoobygirl93's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, War, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Deadnaming, and Injury/Injury detail
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Ableism, and Addiction
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexism, War, Blood, and Deadnaming
ireadinbed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Very well written, the characters were so lovable, it subverted a lot of my expectations and really let my brain conjure a lot of texture in my brain movie.
Maybe one too many big hinge mom3nts but i was hooked!
Will read more from this author.
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Violence and Vomit
Minor: Gun violence and Transphobia
jonezzzing's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Ableism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gun violence, War, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Kidnapping
babudarabu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Deadnaming, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual content, War, Kidnapping, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexism, Cursing, and Dysphoria
Just a small heads-up for my fellow transfems:reading_rainbow_rachel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse