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infjkiki'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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Classism
imstephtacular's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Mental illness
Minor: Bullying, Medical content, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Death, Cancer, Vomit, Sexism, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Racism, and Grief
bg_oseman_fan'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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Mental illness, Outing, Sexism, Classism, Misogyny, Cursing, Transphobia, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Drug use
stacy837'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Drug use, and Infidelity
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Transphobia, and Child abuse
mefrias's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Child abuse
walskishere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think Ellie was a pitiful human. There's a way to write a sad character in a tough situation, but it's not how Ellie was written. I found a lot of her actions of the "poor me" variety, which got old quickly. I think the real thing that got me about her behavior is the way that she thought no one else had problems; her problems were the biggest ones in the world. She kept insisting no one else fails except her and it was like I was speaking with a child, who naturally has no self-awareness.
Another thing that I didn't like about the book is the lack of apology from Jack about the vile things she says to Ellie once Ellie and Andrew are found out. Yes, I can understand someone would actually say those things in this situation, and I'm fine with that. But she never apologizes to Ellie after they make up, which I'm totally not okay with. Yes, Ellie hurt her. Yes, she had a right to be upset. But to say such hurtful things to someone you supposedly love and NOT apologize after agreeing to be together? Wild behavior.
I think the last part of this book that I didn't care for was the unbelievability of the Jack-Ellie mistletoe kiss. I'm ready to suspend my disbelief about fake-dating. But, in WHAT universe would the family, especially Katherine considering the cheating reveal later, be cheering for Ellie and Jack to kiss? There's absolutely no way that EVERYONE in that house would realistically be encouraging that. Meemaw? Sure. Lovey? Perhaps. Andrew? Maybe. Dylan and Katherine? No way.
Runner-up dislike reason: some characters seemed like caricatures?
I did really enjoy the relationships in this book; I just wish some characters appreciated their relationships more. The banter was funny, and the group dynamic at the end was really cool to see. I really appreciate the theme of found family and forgiveness. The class commentary was subtle, but I liked it.
Overall, this is a solid book. I'm not sure if I would read it again, but there were some really, really good parts I highlighted. I might recommend this to the right person.
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
skudiklier'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
Edit to add: I actually kind of forgot what The Charm Offensive was about, and now that I went back to look at my (5 star) review for that book, I'm even more convinced that Alison Cochrun is one of my new favorite romance authors. In both books, I was super sucked in and read them basically in one sitting. But even better, in both books I felt like even the parts of romances that I don't like (e.g., when they have a fight and break up near the end, usually over some miscommunication) were handled much better in these books than in most romance novels. Like, Cochrun clearly puts a lot of effort into making sure the relationships are as healthy and realistic as possible, while still giving us all the normal pieces of a romance and keeping the drama amped up. I'm just so impressed! And I can't wait for Cochrun's next book.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Sexual content, Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cursing, Biphobia, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer, Stalking, Outing, Vomit, Acephobia/Arophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Grief, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Toxic parents, cutting off family memberssarrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
My second complaint was the weird hate on physical activity/fitness. This is a trend I see in traditionally pubbed romances and it's always subtle but annoying. The character/author? will look down on fit people/they're described in stupid or gym rats, etc. Yet within the same book they're objectified. For example in this one the main character states she hates public displays of physical activities, and seems to look down on one of our main side characters - belittling him because he's fit and 'hot'. By the end though she's very into her love interest chopping wood and watching/imagining the muscles involved.
It doesn't make a lot of sense and it wasn't SUPER explicitly hate so it just irked me more than anything but its something I noted (as someone who is ridiculed and shamed and bullied for going to the gym and trying to be strong I am very sensitive to this stuff).
Graphic: Child abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
modernmatilda'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
5.0
Ellie spent last Christmas falling head over heels for a woman in the bookstore. They spent an incredible day together in the snow. But when morning came, everything fell apart. This Christmas, desperate for money, hope, and an escape, she agrees to be fake engaged to her coffee shop's landlord, Andrew, in order for him to inherit family money (and share a portion of the funds with her). But when she arrives at the cabin to spend Christmas with Andrew's family, she meets his sister... the woman from last Christmas.
Seeing characters in romance novels struggle and grow through their mental health challenges is MY FAVORITE!!!!!!
Moderate: Infidelity, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Minor: Biphobia
buttermellow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Biphobia and Child abuse