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nyeran's review against another edition
4.0
“Which, for the record, I am nothing like an hipster at all. I have an appreciation for art that sometimes includes the absurd, but my outfits are born out of incredible laziness, not any sense of style. All my ugliness is a side effect of being too tired to care.”
Questo libro mi è piaciuto più di quanto mi sarebbe piaciuto se l'avessi letto in qualsiasi altro momento. Devo ringraziare il season finale di Roswell, New Mexico, quindi.
♠ È vero, spesso i monologhi interiori di Nolan si avvicinavano pericolosamente al delirio pretenzioso del io sono sensibile, al gente non mi capisce perché sono diverso e speciale, e sono un nerd del cazzo che non riesce a parlare di altro se non di quanto è nerd, i miei amici sono speciali come me e la gente è brutta e cattiva. Si avvicina ma non supera la linea, Nolan è una persona normale, nerd e socialmente inetta certo, ma normale. I suoi pensieri non ti fanno roteare gli occhi e imprecare tutti i santi conosciuti contemporaneamente. Inizialmente però Nolan si sente un po' superiore, non lo dice esplicitamente o con arroganza, ma è così e quando gli amici di Bern glielo fanno notare non si mette sulla difensiva perché 'voi non mi capite bla bla bla' ma accetta, seppur riluttante, la loro opinione e prova a fare meglio. Mi ha ricordato moltissimo il Sam di T.J.Klune.
♠ Comunque, è palese che la Goslee scriva fanfiction, anche senza leggere la sua bio nel profilo, perché ha azzeccato il trope alla perfezione. C'è tutto, pianificare i dialoghi e gli atteggiamenti per essere sicuri che chi di dovere veda e sappia, i sentimenti che non devono nascere ma eccoli qua, gli amici che non sanno che è una finzione e non devono saperlo, le famiglie che per una volta non sono disfunzionali ma piene di amore.
Però qualcosa non ha funzionato, tanto per cominciare la brevità della storia non ha permesso un approfondimento curato dei personaggi e non si capisce se Bern sia bisessuale, sappiamo che al primo anno ha chiesto a Nolan di uscire e lui l'ha scacciato fraintendendolo però poi ha frequentato una ragazza per due anni e la loro rottura ha scatenato il fake-dating ma quindi? Ira è stato innamorato di Nolan per tutto questo tempo? Sembra strano visto che dopo la rottura con Gia viene visto con gli occhi rossi di pianto, ma quindi quando si è innamorato di Nolan tanto da rimanerci male quando lui ecide di interrompere la finzione? Ecco queste cose non vengono spiegate, approfondite, chiarite e ok, il libro è spensierato e divertente però un po' vuoto di tutto il resto.
Questo libro mi è piaciuto più di quanto mi sarebbe piaciuto se l'avessi letto in qualsiasi altro momento. Devo ringraziare il season finale di Roswell, New Mexico, quindi.
♠ È vero, spesso i monologhi interiori di Nolan si avvicinavano pericolosamente al delirio pretenzioso del io sono sensibile, al gente non mi capisce perché sono diverso e speciale, e sono un nerd del cazzo che non riesce a parlare di altro se non di quanto è nerd, i miei amici sono speciali come me e la gente è brutta e cattiva. Si avvicina ma non supera la linea, Nolan è una persona normale, nerd e socialmente inetta certo, ma normale. I suoi pensieri non ti fanno roteare gli occhi e imprecare tutti i santi conosciuti contemporaneamente. Inizialmente però Nolan si sente un po' superiore, non lo dice esplicitamente o con arroganza, ma è così e quando gli amici di Bern glielo fanno notare non si mette sulla difensiva perché 'voi non mi capite bla bla bla' ma accetta, seppur riluttante, la loro opinione e prova a fare meglio. Mi ha ricordato moltissimo il Sam di T.J.Klune.
♠ Comunque, è palese che la Goslee scriva fanfiction, anche senza leggere la sua bio nel profilo, perché ha azzeccato il trope alla perfezione. C'è tutto, pianificare i dialoghi e gli atteggiamenti per essere sicuri che chi di dovere veda e sappia, i sentimenti che non devono nascere ma eccoli qua, gli amici che non sanno che è una finzione e non devono saperlo, le famiglie che per una volta non sono disfunzionali ma piene di amore.
Però qualcosa non ha funzionato, tanto per cominciare la brevità della storia non ha permesso un approfondimento curato dei personaggi e non si capisce se Bern sia bisessuale, sappiamo che al primo anno ha chiesto a Nolan di uscire e lui l'ha scacciato fraintendendolo però poi ha frequentato una ragazza per due anni e la loro rottura ha scatenato il fake-dating ma quindi? Ira è stato innamorato di Nolan per tutto questo tempo? Sembra strano visto che dopo la rottura con Gia viene visto con gli occhi rossi di pianto, ma quindi quando si è innamorato di Nolan tanto da rimanerci male quando lui ecide di interrompere la finzione? Ecco queste cose non vengono spiegate, approfondite, chiarite e ok, il libro è spensierato e divertente però un po' vuoto di tutto il resto.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
Fun first person gay teen fake dating story. Not much backstory here; mostly dialogue and interior POV narration of anxious nonconformist junior Nolan, adopted as a teen, who is constantly low-level bullied by his het and "normal" classmates. Early in the story, Nolan's adopted sister, bossy senior Daphne, kind-bullies him into asking cute senior Si (the only out gay football player in school) to the prom. Only Nolan's classmate Bern, recently ugly-broken-up-with by longtime girlfriend Gia, butts in and accepts Nolan's silent request (Daphne made him a banner saying "GO TO PROM WITH ME?" so inarticulate Nolan wouldn't even have to speak). Bern implies that he and Nolan will be fake-dating, to show Gia that Bern isn't crushed by her rejection, which Nolan, who tends to go along to get along, goes along with, even though Bern was one of the ones who bullied him freshman year. Only maybe Nolan might have defensively misread that interaction? Maybe Bern actually likes him just a little?
Loved Goslee's/Nolan's narrative voice—spot on for a self-focused, cluelessness, queer, and deeply unconventional adolescent. And loved Nolan's adopted family, quirky and loving as he is. Sweet without being at all sentimental or cloying. Lovely, too, to have a mc teen whose bisexuality isn't made a big deal of, it just is.
Loved Goslee's/Nolan's narrative voice—spot on for a self-focused, cluelessness, queer, and deeply unconventional adolescent. And loved Nolan's adopted family, quirky and loving as he is. Sweet without being at all sentimental or cloying. Lovely, too, to have a mc teen whose bisexuality isn't made a big deal of, it just is.
netslummer's review against another edition
3.0
Nolan gets roped into a weird prom-posal with the guy he's got a big crush on by his meddling sister. Which leads to fake dating the OTHER guy in the room for reasons.
Idk this book did what it set out to do. Read it quickly but didn't feel overly attached to it. Some of the characters are just the same character but with different names. Some other characters are memorable and great. If you read the blurb and are interested, you can expect a fairly good time. You're not going to be disappointed but I don't think this is going to rock anyone's world?
Idk this book did what it set out to do. Read it quickly but didn't feel overly attached to it. Some of the characters are just the same character but with different names. Some other characters are memorable and great. If you read the blurb and are interested, you can expect a fairly good time. You're not going to be disappointed but I don't think this is going to rock anyone's world?
baldmarlin's review against another edition
4.0
FAKE DATING TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE JEALOUS????? You had me immediately.
What I liked: Nolan could be a bit of an ass at times, but the way him and his friends interact are true to live and real. Daphne and Nolan had the type of sibling relationship we all dream of having and I love the details about the competitiveness in the games they all play as a family.
I loved Bern and his soft grins and soft voice when it comes to Nolan and his patience (oh my god he's the most patient fake boyfriend ever).
What I didn't like: Nolan truly could be a bit of an ass, like I said. A lot of his problems would have been solved if he had just communicated his feelings towards his friends, his sister, and his fake boyfriend. The backstory about him being uncomfortable with asking for help made it better and more understandable, but good lord Nolan. Feelings are good!
What I liked: Nolan could be a bit of an ass at times, but the way him and his friends interact are true to live and real. Daphne and Nolan had the type of sibling relationship we all dream of having and I love the details about the competitiveness in the games they all play as a family.
I loved Bern and his soft grins and soft voice when it comes to Nolan and his patience (oh my god he's the most patient fake boyfriend ever).
What I didn't like: Nolan truly could be a bit of an ass, like I said. A lot of his problems would have been solved if he had just communicated his feelings towards his friends, his sister, and his fake boyfriend. The backstory about him being uncomfortable with asking for help made it better and more understandable, but good lord Nolan. Feelings are good!
marley's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my, the amount of second hand embarrassment. Seriously, this book is filled with it. However, it is a lighthearted, fun-filled read. It did the fake dating trope in a way that I've not seen it before, and it really worked, no matter how much of a numbskull Nolan was at times.
However, because of the shortness I felt that there was not a huge amount of development. Fake dating should always have pining by the bucket load, and this was a bit more of a glass.
Overall, however, it was an enjoyable read, and it's nice to see the number of mildly embarrassing LGBTQ YA romcoms increase.
However, because of the shortness I felt that there was not a huge amount of development. Fake dating should always have pining by the bucket load, and this was a bit more of a glass.
Overall, however, it was an enjoyable read, and it's nice to see the number of mildly embarrassing LGBTQ YA romcoms increase.
paja2004's review against another edition
4.0
book gone and I still don’t get what part of family is Missy from… but guess that’s my fault
heyyoufinch's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
mattyb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia and Vomit
charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I'm so sad and frustrated. This book had the potential to be so much more. Let me start with the positives. I think the author has a great writing style with humour and dialogues that will resonate with young adults. Some of the scenes were really cute, funny or wholesome. Which is why I'm so sad that this book wasn't it.
"You never ask me for anything. Anything. You're, like, passively waiting for me to do things all the time, even hand you the motherfucking salt."
THIS. This was my biggest problem with the book. Nolan, our main character is the most passive character I've come across in a while. Everything just happens to him. He gets pushed into everything by his sister Daphne (figuratively and literally!!) and seems to have no dreams, drive, or character motivation. It makes for a rather boring narrative.
Everything just felt extremely disjointed. The cast of characters was huge and we barely knew anything about the side characters so I ended up getting confused many times. I kept asking where is this story going? And why does it feel so long for a 200-page book? It just feels like 150 pages of build-up.
Coming to the romance, it was kind of cute but very frustrating. It felt mostly physical. We get Nolan internally drooling over Bern which is fine really but their fake dating romance lacks a lot of substance. It feels like something is missing. Maybe it's the fact that Nolan never really excepts his feelings until the last couple of pages and we don't get much of an indication of feelings from Bern either.
Almost every character in this book says that they're 'bad at feelings' which begins to feel like a cop-out from the author because yeah, no feelings are ever brought up or discussed. It's such a shame because I thought Nolan and Bern were cute together but I wasn't invested in them at all. Of course everyone knew they would get together but the romance is all the feelings and dates and everything felt like it was going as per a script but lacked any emotional exploration.
Phew, I guess that was a rant I needed to get off my chest.
I didn't hate this book, certain things were still enjoyable but gosh it has such missed potential.
"You never ask me for anything. Anything. You're, like, passively waiting for me to do things all the time, even hand you the motherfucking salt."
THIS. This was my biggest problem with the book. Nolan, our main character is the most passive character I've come across in a while. Everything just happens to him. He gets pushed into everything by his sister Daphne (figuratively and literally!!) and seems to have no dreams, drive, or character motivation. It makes for a rather boring narrative.
Everything just felt extremely disjointed. The cast of characters was huge and we barely knew anything about the side characters so I ended up getting confused many times. I kept asking where is this story going? And why does it feel so long for a 200-page book? It just feels like 150 pages of build-up.
Coming to the romance, it was kind of cute but very frustrating. It felt mostly physical. We get Nolan internally drooling over Bern which is fine really but their fake dating romance lacks a lot of substance. It feels like something is missing. Maybe it's the fact that Nolan never really excepts his feelings until the last couple of pages and we don't get much of an indication of feelings from Bern either.
Almost every character in this book says that they're 'bad at feelings' which begins to feel like a cop-out from the author because yeah, no feelings are ever brought up or discussed. It's such a shame because I thought Nolan and Bern were cute together but I wasn't invested in them at all. Of course everyone knew they would get together but the romance is all the feelings and dates and everything felt like it was going as per a script but lacked any emotional exploration.
Phew, I guess that was a rant I needed to get off my chest.
I didn't hate this book, certain things were still enjoyable but gosh it has such missed potential.