Reviews

XOXO by Christina Lee

kaykaysbookshelf's review against another edition

5.0

What to expect: childhood cancer, childhood friends to lovers, bi awakening, bi & gay rep, football player & dancer, secret relationship

Spice: 2.5/4

climbergirl's review against another edition

4.25

I enjoyed it but also want more. It felt unnecessarily drawn out for what it ended up being. Lark's family is great. 

thebookishren's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀. 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱.

Lark and Henry were childhood friends who met when they were both in the hospital for cancer. Seven years later, Lark is on scholarship for ballet at the prestigious Roosevelt College and the star quarterback is none other than Henry. And let’s just say, their re-meet cute was awkward asfffffff. But once Henry came around, it got a little better.

So this one was surprisingly heavy. Cancer plays a big role in this one as well as peer pressure, closeted fears, and social class disparities. Sometimes it all overshadowed the love story. It had some decent spice but it felt kinda glossed over as well.

I honestly went back and forth on my rating with this one. The writing was pretty good and it definitely had moments that made me SWOON, but overall I felt like something was missing. I didn’t really feel the relationship develop. I almost felt…removed from the story. Not sure if that was a ‘me’ thing or not so I’m gonna put this one on my reread shelf to read again at a later time.

axy's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

vrrrmm's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

djm_chal's review against another edition

fast-paced

2.5

natashaniezgoda's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Cute. Sweet. Kinda surface-level which is surprising with both the health and mental-health plot lines. I did adore Lark’s mom and sister!

The epilogue was not needed.

aplace_inthesun's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I listened to this on audio and am a little torn in terms of reviewing it. 

As an audio it’s good. I liked both the narrators though thought Henry might have been a little more brusque in his demeanour. Am I stereotyping .. maybe? 

The plot is good but the dialogue gives very stilted YA vibes despite it being firmly in the NA camp in terms of sexual content. Had the conversations and some of the banter seemed less juvenile it would have made this a significantly different book. The college aspect seemed like a high school more than a college as well which added to that YA feel. 

katidid17's review against another edition

3.0

✅new adult (college)

✅sports

a_j0n_3s's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

4.0