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venetiana's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
3.25
Overall, this book sadly really didn't do it for me. Without spoiling stuff, some emotional reactions were overwritten, the background felt too violent for me, and I unfortunately guessed too many things before they happened.
Also, I really didn't appreciate how some heavy and violent stuff was only dealt with and "solved" in passing, like the topic wasn't serious.
Still, some good/cute things inbetween.
A smaller but real bummer: there did not need to be any H*rry P*tter mentions in this book (why do we need to reference a transphobe's work??!!), and there were several. No thank youuu.
Also, I really didn't appreciate how some heavy and violent stuff was only dealt with and "solved" in passing, like the topic wasn't serious.
Still, some good/cute things inbetween.
A smaller but real bummer: there did not need to be any H*rry P*tter mentions in this book (why do we need to reference a transphobe's work??!!), and there were several. No thank youuu.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, and Gun violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Blood, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Stalking, Transphobia, Grief, Outing, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Vomit, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
little_white's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Torture
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Gun violence
fanboyriot's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
Read for:
♡ Idiots in Love
♡ Crime Family
♡ Only One Bed
♡ Forbidden Romance
♡ Angst with a Happy Ending
I enjoyed this book. It was a simple and cute story with forbidden romance vibes. The main characters were cute together.
However, it did kinda feel like it was missing something. There was little backstories and I think parts just kinda felt bland; not to mention the dialogue felt a bit forced at times.
It's a good book to binge read. The angst is light and there were way more wholesome vibes than I was expecting. And so many music and movie mentions, which I always appreciate.
Spice: 🌶
(First Person POV)
Rep: Gay MC, Gay LI
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Homophobia, Medical content, Misogyny, and War
grimm_bear's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bro i cannot believe what i just read hasn’t been adapted into a movie
the twist in this book caught me wholeheartedly by my surprise after reading the first part of part 3 i couldnt put the book down like what just happened? i need to know what matt is going to do like huh?
and the romance is so UGHSVSHDVJDBD i cant with them they just go together so well
and the advice of leaving a situation you cant live in and cant change was just so nice to hear after having to do the same
and the romance is so UGHSVSHDVJDBD i cant with them they just go together so well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Gun violence, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Murder, Sexual content, Death, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Misogyny
kristynpittman's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
An unfortunate case of great idea, poor execution.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia
averyconfusedhomosapiensbooks's review against another edition
"So trusting, like a little lamb"
Enough said.
Enough said.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, and Homophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
samms_corner's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I've been excited about this book for a while and I was not disappointed. I loved the characters and the story but there was some parts of the writing I didn't like.
The constant use of pop culture references mainly in the first part really got on my nerves. A few here and there would be fine but there was multiple lists of different games/books/movies and it felt like the author was just promoting his favourite media.
There was quite a few plot jumps between chapters and it felt like I missed so much context. Obviously I wouldn't want a full recount of every single action, but a bit more context at the beginning of a new chapter would be nice.
I managed to finish it in two sittings. It didn't drag on for too long but it was a bit more fast paced than I like personally.
The plot twist genuinely had me shocked Jason's mum being a COP like damnn and he was bugged too
There was so many cute moments between Matt and Jason but I also think Matt deserves more than someone who only dates him so he can give information to a cop while lying and manipulating him
Overall I'd recommend this if the plot seems interesting to you, it's pretty much exactly what I was expecting from reading the synopsis.
The constant use of pop culture references mainly in the first part really got on my nerves. A few here and there would be fine but there was multiple lists of different games/books/movies and it felt like the author was just promoting his favourite media.
There was quite a few plot jumps between chapters and it felt like I missed so much context. Obviously I wouldn't want a full recount of every single action, but a bit more context at the beginning of a new chapter would be nice.
I managed to finish it in two sittings. It didn't drag on for too long but it was a bit more fast paced than I like personally.
The plot twist genuinely had me shocked
There was so many cute moments between Matt and Jason but I also think Matt deserves more than
Overall I'd recommend this if the plot seems interesting to you, it's pretty much exactly what I was expecting from reading the synopsis.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia
1quillb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.4/5
“Even though I resist it, everyone in my family wants me to be a part of this world.
And that’s kind of the appeal of being a criminal.
Whatever you want, you get.”
Matt is part of a crime family in Florida. He meets Jason one night and immediately they become close friends, and then something more. But when Matt starts suspecting that Jason is part of a rival family, the Donovan’s, things start going downhill.
I really enjoyed reading this! It has a very Romeo-and-Juliet vibe, but is obviously very modern. I love all the music mentioned (The Killers, You Me At Six, With Confidence, etc) and how you really feel like you’re there when you read it. I also found Matt to be a very relatable character, which makes the whole story that much more interesting, even if the plot isn’t very realistic.
I rate this 4 stars instead of 5 because a portion of the book is devoted to Matt being afraid of talking to Jason about his family. This makes sense, but I think it was brought up a little TOO much, even if it’s very important to the plot. Also, the ending was very fast-paced and unfulfilling, and the whole plot of the book is very minimal and character-dependant. This book is less about plot and more about the relationship between Matt and Jason (which I like, but I know many other people find boring).
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers, lgbt books, and Romeo and Juliet like books. Also for anyone who is a fan of the All For The Game or Captive Prince series.
Trigger warning for the book include small mentions of homophobia, as well as violence (like setting fires and firing guns).
“Even though I resist it, everyone in my family wants me to be a part of this world.
And that’s kind of the appeal of being a criminal.
Whatever you want, you get.”
Matt is part of a crime family in Florida. He meets Jason one night and immediately they become close friends, and then something more. But when Matt starts suspecting that Jason is part of a rival family, the Donovan’s, things start going downhill.
I really enjoyed reading this! It has a very Romeo-and-Juliet vibe, but is obviously very modern. I love all the music mentioned (The Killers, You Me At Six, With Confidence, etc) and how you really feel like you’re there when you read it. I also found Matt to be a very relatable character, which makes the whole story that much more interesting, even if the plot isn’t very realistic.
I rate this 4 stars instead of 5 because a portion of the book is devoted to Matt being afraid of talking to Jason about his family. This makes sense, but I think it was brought up a little TOO much, even if it’s very important to the plot. Also, the ending was very fast-paced and unfulfilling, and the whole plot of the book is very minimal and character-dependant. This book is less about plot and more about the relationship between Matt and Jason (which I like, but I know many other people find boring).
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers, lgbt books, and Romeo and Juliet like books. Also for anyone who is a fan of the All For The Game or Captive Prince series.
Trigger warning for the book include small mentions of homophobia, as well as violence (like setting fires and firing guns).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia
alouette's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a nice and fun read, don't try and take this one seriously- even if the subject matter seems serious, the writing style does not fit with it, and even if the author should've taken that into consideration while writing, i still don't mind. the beginning was a bit stilted (especially the dialogue) but i think the plot was good (if predictable) and very fast-paced (in a nice way), and i liked matt's inner monologue. i liked the ending before the epilogue a lot as well! sometimes there comes a time where instead of trying to fit in and fix the world around you, you accept that you belong somewhere else entirely, and i love how jason helped matt realize that. there definitely should have been more characters of colour, though, especially considering this book is set in the present day.
overall, this wasn't some life-changing adventure of a book, just an easy read that i personally enjoyed!
overall, this wasn't some life-changing adventure of a book, just an easy read that i personally enjoyed!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Homophobia, Murder, and Death
Minor: Medical content and Car accident
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