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kfmcf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Uuuugggh I had high hopes for this book. Here's what I'll give it as it's best quality though - it's got really well written spice. The author makes the moments seem relatable and not so perfect that they are unattainable or totally unbelievable. She also throws in humor that let's you really see the characters at their most intimate moments and I appreciate that.
However, the actual meat of this book is a bit of a slog. It takes absolutely forever to really kick off and it chugs. The author writes the exposition in huge chunks of text that become really exhausting to read. This is also challenging because the story is written in alternating first person POVs. So this exposition being so flat out feels really odd.
Also. These characters. Are really blah. They feel like they have nothing under the surface which _kills_ me because I really want to like them. But they're "flaws" aren't really flaws. They're kind of environmental hazards.
This book also really feels like it was written by a woman. The men feel very unrealistic. There's a point where Max actually thinks something along the lines of "wow I can't believe I never thought about her challenges as a woman of color, I'm such a (something like dumb white guy)." Like, I get what the other was going for but oh my gosh subtext exists. Nobody thinks like that. He is allowed to have a revelation of that kind but it was so nail on the head that I had to step away from the book for a couple minutes.
Lastly, was this book sponsored by Lyft?! The amount of times the brand showed up in this book was startling. Like I get that rideshares are important in cities but like holy cats it was so often and unnecessary.
All in all, I will might try out the sequel down the line. I was hoping it would be about either Dean or Jaslene so having it be about the former is fine. I'm interested to see if these characters get a little more oomph to them.
However, the actual meat of this book is a bit of a slog. It takes absolutely forever to really kick off and it chugs. The author writes the exposition in huge chunks of text that become really exhausting to read. This is also challenging because the story is written in alternating first person POVs. So this exposition being so flat out feels really odd.
Also. These characters. Are really blah. They feel like they have nothing under the surface which _kills_ me because I really want to like them. But they're "flaws" aren't really flaws. They're kind of environmental hazards.
This book also really feels like it was written by a woman. The men feel very unrealistic. There's a point where Max actually thinks something along the lines of "wow I can't believe I never thought about her challenges as a woman of color, I'm such a (something like dumb white guy)." Like, I get what the other was going for but oh my gosh subtext exists. Nobody thinks like that. He is allowed to have a revelation of that kind but it was so nail on the head that I had to step away from the book for a couple minutes.
Lastly, was this book sponsored by Lyft?! The amount of times the brand showed up in this book was startling. Like I get that rideshares are important in cities but like holy cats it was so often and unnecessary.
All in all, I will might try out the sequel down the line. I was hoping it would be about either Dean or Jaslene so having it be about the former is fine. I'm interested to see if these characters get a little more oomph to them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Emotional abuse
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