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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
challenging
inspiring
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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
Another very nice lesbian rom-com. No particular plot to keep us hanging, which means everything is resting on the author's ability to make us feel her characters' emotions. And she's managing just fine! Cried once, laughed many times. Loved it, although some things are left unexplained towards the end - Darcy and her mom's, what's that about, you know? I like a book who answers every question it asks.
Other than that, it truly was a nice read :)
Other than that, it truly was a nice read :)
lighthearted
medium-paced
I thought I hated romance but actually I just hate that so little of it that actually looks like ME, so this was an absolute delight
emotional
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
I picked this up expecting a standard trope-y romance, but there was something about it as I read that made this really stand out.
For a book that leans into tropes so hard (fake dating, enemies-ish to lovers, golden retriever/black cat), it actual subverts a lot of the tropes. At first glance I thought I knew what this was going to be, and I kept expecting to get hit with the same old plot points I've come to expect.
The biggest one, the one the whole book sets you up for is the standard miscommunication trope. When a love story is going very well but half the book is left, you just know someone's going to overhear something out of context and storm off. What I love about Written in the Stars is that Bellefleur.
Darcy and Elle are definitely trope-y characters. I know for a fact that if I met Elle in real life I would not be able to stand her. But there's a reason these tropes exist. We can't help but root for two people that are so different to come together and find common ground.
I will say, the whole dating app astrology thing is weird, and was probably the biggest struggle for me. I know you need a generic Hallmark movie subplot to keep things on the rails, but it's just kind of awkward. Also Darcy's brother is an ass and you can't convince me otherwise. The main storyline romance is amazing, but the set dressing I could take or leave.
This was just shy of perfect, but if you like Emily Henry or others in that vein, I think you will love this. 4/5
For a book that leans into tropes so hard (fake dating, enemies-ish to lovers, golden retriever/black cat), it actual subverts a lot of the tropes. At first glance I thought I knew what this was going to be, and I kept expecting to get hit with the same old plot points I've come to expect.
The biggest one, the one the whole book sets you up for is the standard miscommunication trope. When a love story is going very well but half the book is left, you just know someone's going to overhear something out of context and storm off. What I love about Written in the Stars is that Bellefleur
Spoiler
has that tense moment of overhearing, but it isn't really out of context. When Darcy says it's complicated, she says that because to her it really is complicated. Darcy and Elle have different needs and want different things from the relationship at the start, and they have to legitimately work through that. It feels like a real romance between two real people who really need to work out their differences. There's no "they get married and ride off" at the end. They both know there's a possibility that things don't end up working out, but theyre willing to take that chance. Chef's kissDarcy and Elle are definitely trope-y characters. I know for a fact that if I met Elle in real life I would not be able to stand her. But there's a reason these tropes exist. We can't help but root for two people that are so different to come together and find common ground.
I will say, the whole dating app astrology thing is weird, and was probably the biggest struggle for me. I know you need a generic Hallmark movie subplot to keep things on the rails, but it's just kind of awkward. Also Darcy's brother is an ass and you can't convince me otherwise. The main storyline romance is amazing, but the set dressing I could take or leave.
This was just shy of perfect, but if you like Emily Henry or others in that vein, I think you will love this. 4/5
i read this a week ago and remember literally nothing about it
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my second read by the author and by far the best written romance, I’ve read to date. The true-to-like dialogue and narrative insight were a breath of fresh air throughout the story, and the detailed character idiosyncrasies brought it fully to life.
I did have a couple of gripes on plot - when, if ever, did Darcy ever study for the big exam?? And the non-consequential reveal to Brendon from a business aspect, while relieving, felt a little confusing - they could have been honest from the get-go? But in writing my critics here to the plot, I realized that a romantic take on them could “excuse” them, so letting them go!
Spicy scenes get full marks: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Not sure I will read the spin-off with Brendon, but definitely looking forward to other stories with this level of writing from the author.
I did have a couple of gripes on plot - when, if ever, did Darcy ever study for the big exam?? And the non-consequential reveal to Brendon from a business aspect, while relieving, felt a little confusing - they could have been honest from the get-go? But in writing my critics here to the plot, I realized that a romantic take on them could “excuse” them, so letting them go!
Spicy scenes get full marks: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Not sure I will read the spin-off with Brendon, but definitely looking forward to other stories with this level of writing from the author.