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elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.5
Genuine and self-aware, Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date (starring the relatable, perpetually single Iris and the relatable, sweet Stevie) conveys its central method strongly: we all deserve to love and to be loved. It is the best installment of Bright Falls, cementing the trilogy in my romance series hall of fame and Ashley Herring Blake as an instant read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Vomit, and Infidelity
drtx_bwt's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Biphobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Homophobia
Minor: Infidelity
nefariousbee's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I got to say, the author's clumsy attitude towards the portrayal of different queer experiences really improved. it's still clumsy, but in a way that you can see that the author took the criticisms to her heart. I love to see it. when I remember how in Delilah's book the word lesbian was never even uttered, and now we're playing around with it with the classic thespian - lesbian joke... lovely. the progress is there.
but not to make this only about the queer community aspect of this, even tho I have many more thoughts, it's just that, what would it be for, you know.
anyway. you can clearly see the author has been writing for a while. she's skilled in all the needed places - she will draw you in, get invested, get you to cry and laugh and make you horny. AND she'll make you think about your life choices? who'd have thunk?
overall, a solid pick of an American adult sapphic romance novel nevertheless. it is very much American, still very middle class, but it's doing its thing very well
but not to make this only about the queer community aspect of this, even tho I have many more thoughts, it's just that, what would it be for, you know.
anyway. you can clearly see the author has been writing for a while. she's skilled in all the needed places - she will draw you in, get invested, get you to cry and laugh and make you horny. AND she'll make you think about your life choices? who'd have thunk?
overall, a solid pick of an American adult sapphic romance novel nevertheless. it is very much American, still very middle class, but it's doing its thing very well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Biphobia, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit and Bullying
bisexualwentworth's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
- 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
4.75
I loved this book. I loved the whole series, but this one in particular hit really close to home and was definitely my favorite overall. I related to Iris in a lot of ways and to Stevie in a few ways too (especially the anxiety). I loved seeing Iris's friendship with Simon, which was set up wonderfully in the background of Astrid's book. Stevie reminded me a lot of my own partner, and aspects of the relationship felt really familiar to me in some very sweet and fun ways.
The sexy parts of this book are VERY sexy. Wow.
I had so much fun with all of the queer Shakespeare, though I do wonder why people always choose to genderbend Much Ado About Nothing when so much of that play is about gendered power dynamics. Like I would love to see this queer production and I'm sure it would bring me a lot of joy, but it also confuses the text and the themes A LOT to make Hero a man and Benedick a woman.
I wish, along with many other readers, that we'd gotten an additional Iris-and-Stevie-focused epilogue. The ending felt lacking in that way. The actual ending was VERY satisfying, though. I did cry.
The sexy parts of this book are VERY sexy. Wow.
I had so much fun with all of the queer Shakespeare, though I do wonder why people always choose to genderbend Much Ado About Nothing when so much of that play is about gendered power dynamics. Like I would love to see this queer production and I'm sure it would bring me a lot of joy, but it also confuses the text and the themes A LOT to make Hero a man and Benedick a woman.
I wish, along with many other readers, that we'd gotten an additional Iris-and-Stevie-focused epilogue. The ending felt lacking in that way. The actual ending was VERY satisfying, though. I did cry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Biphobia, and Vomit
Additional content warning for slut shamingaelis_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I hated it. I was hoping for aromantic (or asexual) representation and I didn't get it, which was fine (even if it was disappointing).
But then, the book went on to show that people who "don't date", who just do sex or who are aromantic are broken and would be so much happier if they stop being broken and just started getting in relationship instead.
The book also does a terrible job at NOT slut shaming its main character. Really, by the end of the book you will be convince that sex without feelings is just not worth it. And the sex is so much better with feelings.
Also, they do say that Stevie is NOT on the asexual spectrum but, honestly? It also feels like they are saying that people who don't do sex are all broken somehow and they just need someone to magicaly fix them.
So yeah, this book felt really judgy but don't worry! If you are aromantic or asexual, true love will cure you!
And yeah, I know that this wasn't the message this book was aiming for, but it's still was the message that I got. This book wanted so much to be inclusive of LGBT+ people but just ended up being the most arophobic book I have ever read.
Maybe if in one of the three book their was some ACTUAL aro or ace character, things would have been different. But here? We just get a "oh no, I'm not aro/ace" and that's it and we never ever even see the shadow of an aro/ace character. Even less a happy aro/ace character who would be perfectly fine with not having a romantic or sexual relationship.
In short, the representation in this book was just truly terrible and I hated it.
But hey, congrats I guess. You are this year "worst book I've read".
-------
As a side note, I though there was way too much sex scene in this book, but that might just be me.
But then, the book went on to show that people who "don't date", who just do sex or who are aromantic are broken and would be so much happier if they stop being broken and just started getting in relationship instead.
The book also does a terrible job at NOT slut shaming its main character. Really, by the end of the book you will be convince that sex without feelings is just not worth it. And the sex is so much better with feelings.
Also, they do say that Stevie is NOT on the asexual spectrum but, honestly? It also feels like they are saying that people who don't do sex are all broken somehow and they just need someone to magicaly fix them.
So yeah, this book felt really judgy but don't worry! If you are aromantic or asexual, true love will cure you!
And yeah, I know that this wasn't the message this book was aiming for, but it's still was the message that I got. This book wanted so much to be inclusive of LGBT+ people but just ended up being the most arophobic book I have ever read.
Maybe if in one of the three book their was some ACTUAL aro or ace character, things would have been different. But here? We just get a "oh no, I'm not aro/ace" and that's it and we never ever even see the shadow of an aro/ace character. Even less a happy aro/ace character who would be perfectly fine with not having a romantic or sexual relationship.
In short, the representation in this book was just truly terrible and I hated it.
But hey, congrats I guess. You are this year "worst book I've read".
-------
As a side note, I though there was way too much sex scene in this book, but that might just be me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Biphobia
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