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bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book so cute and the narrator was spot on with the voices.
cheye13's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I loved the concept and the characters, but this writing style was absolutely not for me. It felt like a lot of telling rather than showing, and as much as I loved the friend group and wanted to know the characters, I was held at arms' length.
I think I wanted the story to lean further into hard topics – a mental block about commitment, queer (specifically trans) loneliness, even loss of family members. I think dual POV could've helped the romance land better and made a more rounded story. I am the loudest champion of closed-door romances, but even more direct discussions of negotiating a new queer sexual relationship would've given the story more depth.
I think I wanted the story to lean further into hard topics – a mental block about commitment, queer (specifically trans) loneliness, even loss of family members. I think dual POV could've helped the romance land better and made a more rounded story. I am the loudest champion of closed-door romances, but even more direct discussions of negotiating a new queer sexual relationship would've given the story more depth.
dsauriol1991's review against another edition
4.0
I think this book was a great look at finding the right kind of relationship for you. Declan and Sidney work so well together. They’ve got wonderful banter and communication. I will say some of the way they talked to each other kind of came off clunky, but that could just be my impression. It’s still a cute story with some really good character growth.
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Declan's chances at love weren't looking too great after he left his to-be-husband at the alter. But when he meets Sidney, a nonbinary YouTuber, a new opportunity arises: he can participate in Sidney's series The Love Study, where they put the participant on dates with various people. However, The Love Study doesn't go exactly as planned...
I'm going to start this review off by simply saying this book just wasn't for me. The premise did sound interesting to me, but I tend to prefer romance novels that have more depth and substance to them than just the central romance. (However, if you are looking for a rather lighthearted, comedic romance novel with great representation, this one is for you!) I really wanted to see conflict that was related to more than just Sidney and Declan. My other issue was with the writing itself. I felt like the characters talked (and in Declan's case, thought) in a way that seemed much younger than the age they were supposed to be. As someone who tends to be a bit more serious, I really wasn't a big fan of vocabulary such as "amazeballs." It didn't necessarily distract me from the story, but I did think it was a bit childish. But hey, that's just my personal preference.
Other than that, I appreciated the diversity in characters. If you're looking for a book that has a wide range of LGBTQ+ identities, this one definitely achieves that. I also thought there were quite a few sweet, touching moments. I'm not exactly sure why I struggled so much with The Love Study (I'm going to assume it was mainly the characters and the writing style), but I do think someone who enjoys a much more casual form of writing would like this one.
Declan's chances at love weren't looking too great after he left his to-be-husband at the alter. But when he meets Sidney, a nonbinary YouTuber, a new opportunity arises: he can participate in Sidney's series The Love Study, where they put the participant on dates with various people. However, The Love Study doesn't go exactly as planned...
I'm going to start this review off by simply saying this book just wasn't for me. The premise did sound interesting to me, but I tend to prefer romance novels that have more depth and substance to them than just the central romance. (However, if you are looking for a rather lighthearted, comedic romance novel with great representation, this one is for you!) I really wanted to see conflict that was related to more than just Sidney and Declan. My other issue was with the writing itself. I felt like the characters talked (and in Declan's case, thought) in a way that seemed much younger than the age they were supposed to be. As someone who tends to be a bit more serious, I really wasn't a big fan of vocabulary such as "amazeballs." It didn't necessarily distract me from the story, but I did think it was a bit childish. But hey, that's just my personal preference.
Other than that, I appreciated the diversity in characters. If you're looking for a book that has a wide range of LGBTQ+ identities, this one definitely achieves that. I also thought there were quite a few sweet, touching moments. I'm not exactly sure why I struggled so much with The Love Study (I'm going to assume it was mainly the characters and the writing style), but I do think someone who enjoys a much more casual form of writing would like this one.
iduska's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
leatherbee's review against another edition
5.0
So sweet. Even the scenes that I thought would be cheesy were well done and worked. Pete Cross gave a perfect performance, capturing Declan’s energy so well.
jrv45's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
danileighta's review against another edition
Super cute, excellent queer representation, and very flirty. The main relationship felt very real, if overly cerebral. I do wish the "love study" had gone on longer before settling into our two main characters, but overall this was a sweet read. I'll admit I skipped some parts because the overanalyzing of interactions while the interactions were happening started to drag for me, though Declan was so charming even while fretting over everything.
I'm not sure how this one is classified, but I can see the YA crowd loving it. If you like queer romance and don't mind characters who spend way too much time in their heads, pick this up for a light read. I won't rate it because it would be too misleading, but I did enjoy it and think you will, too =)
I'm not sure how this one is classified, but I can see the YA crowd loving it. If you like queer romance and don't mind characters who spend way too much time in their heads, pick this up for a light read. I won't rate it because it would be too misleading, but I did enjoy it and think you will, too =)
kangokaren's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable read - I love the relationship creation and the demonstration of how communication can really work.
bisonprints's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0