Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - How You Get The Girl

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

How You Get The Girl by Anita Kelly

37 reviews

auteaandtales's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.5

My first Anita Kelly book and I’ve been missing out! The writing was so warm and engaging, everything felt so real, and I love that the author let us spend some extra time getting to know people and having intimate moments not just with the main characters but with the other characters, as well. This isn’t something I read a lot in romances and I loved that. Everyone was so caring and full of love for each other with empathy and compassion.

There’s stuff like figuring things out later on in life such as your sexuality and a career change, which I love! I hate that we have to know who we are and what we want so early on in life and things don’t realistically work out like that, a lot of the time. I especially loved the asexual rep. I rarely see it in adult romances and it brought so much joy to my heart.

Alongside that, there’s also rep for chronic migraine sufferers, nonbinary people, depression, lesbians and foster parents! With some heavier themes, also, that involve addiction and parental neglect. It was heavy but very well handled.

There was also lots of emphasis on consent, in all contexts, and about how whoever you are is whoever you are and it’s all okay.

All in all, a mostly comforting read that made me feel loved and supported with some heavier topics that were handled with all the respect they should have been handled with. I can’t wait to read more from Anita Kelly!!

Content Warnings

jippieyay's review

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

I thoroughly loved this book. Where I already enjoyed the first two books in this same universe, this was definitely my favourite.

Partly because of the insights into mental health issues/depression from a partner's viewpoint, which was very good to read because, struggling with depression myself, I sometimes find it hard to figure out whar that migjt looj like from the "outside". But also in general, i'd just really love to meet both Elle and Julie and learn basketball from them!

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charleyyyyy's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

🏀I was so excited for this book because of how much I loved the previous books in this series. So while it wasn't my favourite, I still had a great time reading it.

🐘I didn't find myself incredibly invested in the romance. I didn't feel the charicters connection all that strongly, and their feelings for each other felt a bit forced. I thought the whole 'practice relationship' aspect felt a bit....off. I did enjoy the way their romance was written, though, if that makes sense? Like, I enjoyed how it was chill, not overdramatic or over obsessed with each other or anythring. And I love how Kelly writes quiet, vulnerable moments that are full of feeling. I think that's one of the things I love best about Kelly's books.

✏️As well as the way Kelly always puts a large focus on the emotionally difficult things the charicters are going through in their lives. I could really relate and sympathise with the characters in this book because of that. I loved the way it was written. So while I didn't care as much about the romance, I still felt connected to the charicters, and their arcs.

🍴Also, a sapphic book where the characters actually use the word "lesbian"!!!! I also appreciated how Julie had never had sex before but her being a virgin wasn't fetishised or made a big deal of. In fact, the term "virgin" was never even used!

🏀It did feel a bit...old for me. I think it's a better fit for melenials, perhaps. I didn't get the references or the humour.

🐘It was easy to read, quick and entertaining, which was perfect for when I was preparing for my prelims and needed something to relax with.

✏️And I LOVED seeing the characters from the previous books, and what stage their lives and relationships are at now. Some things with them aren't perfect, and I really enjoyed that, it felt comforting. I'm really happy with the parts of them we got to see.

🏀I would recommend if you want an easy sapphic romance with a focus on sport and the charicters emotional struggles.

Content Warnings

baguettegay's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

modock's review

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful

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

4.0

Title: How You Get the Girl
Author: Anita Kelly
Series: Love & Other Disasters #3
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: February 13, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from Forever, a division of Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Mature • Charming • Authentic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When smart-mouthed Vanessa Lerner joins the high school basketball team Julie Parker coaches, Julie’s ready for the challenge. What she’s not ready for is Vanessa’s new foster parent, Elle Cochrane—former University of Tennessee basketball star. While star-struck at first, soon Julie persuades Elle to step into the unfilled position of assistant coach for the year.

Even though Elle has stayed out of the basketball world since an injury ended her short-lived WNBA career, the gig might be a way to become closer to Vanessa—and to spend more time with Julie, who makes Elle laugh. As the coaches grow closer, Elle has a hard time understanding how Julie is single. When Julie reveals her lifelong insecurity about dating and how she wishes it was more like sports—being able to practice first—it sparks an intriguing idea. While Elle still doubts her abilities as a basketball coach, helping Julie figure out dating is definitely something she can do. But as the basketball season progresses, and lines grow increasingly blurred, Julie and Elle must decide to join the game—or retreat to the sidelines.

💭 T H O U G H T S

How You Get the Girl, the third book in the Love & Other Disasters series by Anita Kelly, was quickly added to my 2024 most anticipated list after I read (and absolutely adored) Something Wild & Wonderful last year. I was grateful to get access to an eARC ahead of release and went into it completely blind.

Written in dual POVs, this Sapphic romcom introduced the reader to realistic and flawed characters that felt like friends. As a sport fan, I enjoyed the sports content. But I would say it's more sports adjacent than a sports romance. The aspect is fairly present in the beginning, but slowly fades as the narrative progresses. I think my enjoyment level would have been a little higher if the team and school setting would have played a larger role.

Anita Kelly writes and explores depression, chronic illness (migraines), queer identity, and fostering with great care. Certainly lighter in tone than book two, it still unpacks a lot - insecurity, injury, job displeasure, neglect. The chemistry between the two main characters was believable and they were so supportive of one another. I love how there are some real (albeit hard) conversations throughout and the themes of self discovery and found family were both fantastic.

Overall, How You Get the Girl wasn't Something Wild & Wonderful amazing, but it was still a solid romance with depth and great characters. I enjoyed getting a little glimpse into the lives of past characters and I definitely think I will be picking up book one at some point. I will continue to keep my eye on what this author publishes next.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• women's basketball fans
• readers looking for queer romance

⚠️ CW: mental illness, anxiety, depression, addiction, alcoholism, drug abuse, eating disorder, chronic illness, sexual content, addiction, foster care, injury/injury detail, abandonment, acephobia/arophobia, cursing

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"That labels weren’t meant to confine, only to bring comfort to those for whom they were useful. That Julie didn’t need to ascribe to any of them, if she didn’t want to"

"Any relationship that’s worthwhile, whether it’s friendship or romantic or sexual, only really works when you try."

Content Warnings