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zoecrepp's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual harassment
This book deals with a lot of tough issues, especially childhood trauma, very well! However, I was incredibly disappointed by how the author dealt with the sexual assault in the story. I believe this is because the character getting molested was male and therefore, because of the societal biases towards men in those types of situations, the author decided it could be a joke. So I’d say if you are sensitive to any situation like that maybe avoid this book. Additionally , though the sex scene was steamy the author also needs to consider including more verbal consent because it not expressly stated at the beginning of the scene.cariam's review
lighthearted
slow-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? Yes
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not knowing much before going in was a great surprise. But also if you like slow burn and “guy falls first”, read this.
I’ve read a few other MZ books and although this one had a definite change in familial tone compared to the others I’ve read of hers, it made sense for the plot.
Only few things made me unhappy with this book, but overall it was great. I especially loved how it was missing the generic climax moment all romance books tend to have towards the end. It made reading this so much more enjoyable.
I’ve read a few other MZ books and although this one had a definite change in familial tone compared to the others I’ve read of hers, it made sense for the plot.
Only few things made me unhappy with this book, but overall it was great. I especially loved how it was missing the generic climax moment all romance books tend to have towards the end. It made reading this so much more enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
By the end of this book, I rooting for Vanessa and Aiden (more or less), and MZ's writing is very engaging and quick, but none of that is enough to fully redeem this book from how shallow I found Aiden's writing to be (he felt very flat to me for at least the first 60% of the book) and how poorly certain topics are handled, such as:
- Vanessa laughing until she cries when Aiden is groped without consent by a fan (stop normalizing the idea that it's "acceptable" or anything less than sexual assault when a man is harassed, even if he's a famous and attractive celebrity)!
- When Vanessa finds out a loved one is being abused by their significant other, her entire inner monologue for several chapters isn't "I can't believe my loved one is being abused, how can I help them?" but is instead "how dare they lie to me about this?" and is ridiculously, painfully self-absorbed and victim-shaming.
- Vanessa's older sisters are VERY abusive towards her, but Vanessa blames FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) for causing their violent and abusive tendencies, which is an immensely ableist and hurtful stereotype that a LOT of people with FASD have to deal with in the real world.
- There is a lot of fat-phobia that never gets properly addressed.
Other than feeling bad for her terrible childhood, I struggled with liking Vanessa as a character more often than not, and I couldn't bring myself to care about Aiden until waaay too far into the book. We learn some of his motives, of course, but I didn't feel that any of them ever actually explained his behavior or redeemed his treatment of Vanessa in the first half of the book. The chemistry between the two of them felt forced, and even by the time they finally got together (literally at 95% through the book — I love a slow burn, but damn), I think my emotions were less joy at seeing them confess their love for each other, and more relief at having finally finished this immensely disappointing book.
I can objectively see why so many people love this book, I think, but it didn't work as well for me as I hoped it would. If I had rated this the moment I finished the book, I might have given it 3 or 3.5 stars, but after sleeping on it, I have too many issues with it on a lot of levels, and to be totally honest, it's reminded me of why, despite loving the only other MZ book I read (Dear Aaron) years ago, I've been very hesitant to pick up more of her books. This book is older than that one was, and I'm open to trying another newer release of hers, but I think I'll probably leave Zapata's backlist alone for now.
✨ Representation: Vanessa's best friend is Latinx
✨ Content warnings for: memories of severe domestic abuse, claustrophobia, nyctophobia (extreme fear of the dark), alcoholic parents, absent parents, memories of foster homes, body-shaming, victim-shaming of domestic and sexual abuse survivors, ableism, "jokes" about sexual harassment
- Vanessa laughing until she cries when Aiden is groped without consent by a fan (stop normalizing the idea that it's "acceptable" or anything less than sexual assault when a man is harassed, even if he's a famous and attractive celebrity)!
- When Vanessa finds out a loved one is being abused by their significant other, her entire inner monologue for several chapters isn't "I can't believe my loved one is being abused, how can I help them?" but is instead "how dare they lie to me about this?" and is ridiculously, painfully self-absorbed and victim-shaming.
- Vanessa's older sisters are VERY abusive towards her, but Vanessa blames FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) for causing their violent and abusive tendencies, which is an immensely ableist and hurtful stereotype that a LOT of people with FASD have to deal with in the real world.
- There is a lot of fat-phobia that never gets properly addressed.
Other than feeling bad for her terrible childhood, I struggled with liking Vanessa as a character more often than not, and I couldn't bring myself to care about Aiden until waaay too far into the book. We learn some of his motives, of course, but I didn't feel that any of them ever actually explained his behavior or redeemed his treatment of Vanessa in the first half of the book. The chemistry between the two of them felt forced, and even by the time they finally got together (literally at 95% through the book — I love a slow burn, but damn), I think my emotions were less joy at seeing them confess their love for each other, and more relief at having finally finished this immensely disappointing book.
I can objectively see why so many people love this book, I think, but it didn't work as well for me as I hoped it would. If I had rated this the moment I finished the book, I might have given it 3 or 3.5 stars, but after sleeping on it, I have too many issues with it on a lot of levels, and to be totally honest, it's reminded me of why, despite loving the only other MZ book I read (Dear Aaron) years ago, I've been very hesitant to pick up more of her books. This book is older than that one was, and I'm open to trying another newer release of hers, but I think I'll probably leave Zapata's backlist alone for now.
✨ Representation: Vanessa's best friend is Latinx
✨ Content warnings for: memories of severe domestic abuse, claustrophobia, nyctophobia (extreme fear of the dark), alcoholic parents, absent parents, memories of foster homes, body-shaming, victim-shaming of domestic and sexual abuse survivors, ableism, "jokes" about sexual harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
maria2001's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
xxrosedarlingxx's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
4.5
Me ha encantado, pero hay dos cosas que no me han cuadrado.
La primera es como muchas cosas quedaban en nada, un ejemplo podria ser las inseguridades que tiene Vanessa con su cuerpo, las cuales nunca se solucionan o se hablan seriamente.
La otra cosa creo que recae más en gustos personales, porque a mi de verdad no me gustaba cuando eran muy obvias las intenciones de Aiden pero Vanessa no se daba cuenta, literalmente la habia besado segundos antes y ella seguía creyendo que era solo una amistad, lo cual se me hace muy tonta porque no es la primera vez que la autora lo hace y al final cansa.
Re-read 2013- 3.0
Go Aiden give us nothing.
Me ha encantado, pero hay dos cosas que no me han cuadrado.
La primera es como muchas cosas quedaban en nada, un ejemplo podria ser las inseguridades que tiene Vanessa con su cuerpo, las cuales nunca se solucionan o se hablan seriamente.
La otra cosa creo que recae más en gustos personales, porque a mi de verdad no me gustaba cuando eran muy obvias las intenciones de Aiden pero Vanessa no se daba cuenta, literalmente la habia besado segundos antes y ella seguía creyendo que era solo una amistad, lo cual se me hace muy tonta porque no es la primera vez que la autora lo hace y al final cansa.
Re-read 2013- 3.0
Go Aiden give us nothing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Drug abuse
rachrreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
“Home is where you are. I would go anywhere for you if you wanted me to be there.”
Man I love them. The slow burn was amazing.
The beginning was a little slow and I also found it hard to like Aiden. For a second there I was scared I was going to hate this book, but thankfully he began to melt. We love to see it.
Also the ending 😭🥰💜
Man I love them. The slow burn was amazing.
The beginning was a little slow and I also found it hard to like Aiden. For a second there I was scared I was going to hate this book, but thankfully he began to melt. We love to see it.
Also the ending 😭🥰💜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse and Car accident
Minor: Toxic relationship
anoveldestination's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is worth being patient for. The ending felt so deserved, and I loved the character development. Even though they don't end up together until 95% of the book is over reading this book is worth it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual harassment
shuelace's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
golden_like_dior's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Car accident
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence
thecelestewise's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This should have been a 5 star, I loved the sloooow burn and the two characters immensely. However, the final chapter made me uncomfortable. I felt the ~spicy~ scene was not needed and the book would have read better without it. It was awkward and didn’t feel true to the character arc. I also found it clumsy how they kept just referring to Aiden as the wall of Winnipeg, we understand the significance of who he is you don’t have to keep repeating it. Overall , I still enjoyed it and absolutely loveeeeeed the characters and plot!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment