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chaoticace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Misogyny
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
This is the first romance novel I've ever read, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! I completely understand why it got the praise and hype that it did!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
kellys_bookcase's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Terminal illness
beehives's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It really does read like a Reylo fanfiction that is only slightly self-aware. Not that fanfiction is bad - I've read some truly amazing fics - but that a lot of aspects of the characters' personalities seem to be missing or half-baked simply because fanfiction assumes you already know a decent amount of things. Also because the Kylo Ren character was named "Adam" and the book had several Star Wars fandom references (8 pack abs, lol) that the usual romance reader audience might not catch.
That said, I do like fake dating, and this book had its cute moments interspersed with the real(ish) experiences of dating in academia. I don't think this was the best fake dating trope I've ever read, but it wasn't the worst either.
That said, I do like fake dating, and this book had its cute moments interspersed with the real(ish) experiences of dating in academia. I don't think this was the best fake dating trope I've ever read, but it wasn't the worst either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Terminal illness
jennymer's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness
mimimagee'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I read this in one sitting! I personally felt like it was a little dry at first, but it was an overall engaging book throughout and you really grow to love Olive and Adam.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
alecatlin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Terminal illness
charlottefannon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, and Misogyny
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’m really torn on this one. On one hand it is really cute, and I don’t regret reading it, but I have a couple major problems with it:
1. It is just Nice. It’s a nice book. It’s not amazing or revolutionary, nor is it offensive. But it’s pretty forgettable, and I know for a fact I won’t re read it. And tbh I don’t even want it to take up room on my shelves it’s such a middle ground book.
And my biggest issue: after purchasing but before reading I found out that this is actually republished work. Republished fanfiction- of Reylo (Kylo Ren and Rey) from the Star Wars sequels. Now, all the power to Ali Hazelwood, I’m a fanfic writer myself and I think that it’s a great way to get into the industry. The fact that she wrote this and published it later is fab. (I don’t hate Reylo shippers either) But the fact that it is Reylo fanfic made me squicky. Then it became a domino effect of who’s who. Anh is Rose, I assume Malcolm is maybe Poe? Jeremy I think is Finn. Dr Aslan is Leia, Holden is Huxley, Adam’s lecturer who he hates is Luke, and the rest fall into place.
I don’t know why this ruined the book for me, maybe because I don’t like the ship Reylo particularly, maybe because I don’t think that Adam Driver is attractive but every scene with Adam the character all I could picture was the actor.
The book has some other issues, mainly pacing. The beginning is too fast, we’re thrown in the deep end and it’s like “woah”. Secondly Anh. I love Anh, genuinely. She’s great, and so the moments where she’s like “hey Olive go be cute with your bf” come out of the blue and are really jarring. And pretty invasive. And I’m glad Olive calls her out on it later in the book. Thirdly, the plot is a little thin. The plot relies too heavily on miscommunication and, this may be me being insensitive, but the “everyone who loves me leaves” feels like a get out of jail free card for the protagonist not to tell Adam she loves him. It’s paper thin, especially since she does have friends! Who she loves!
Also Olive’s demisexuality is great- but use the label and stop referring to people who have a sex drive as “normal”, I’m ace and I’m tired of that crap.
That’s all my gripes to be honest. Olive is a good protagonist, who I cared about. Adam is a pretty good love interest. He’s a feminist, he’s really protective of Olive but not in a creepy way, and he’s sweet!
But that’s about it. It’s a nice story, but nothing new or spectacular. It’s very middle of the road, with manufactured drama, but a protagonist you root for.
EDIT: in light of Hazelwood admitting she writes novels based on tropes her editor spoonfeeds her I’m decreasing my rating. Mediocre white women rule this industry, while people of colour get left behind. This is poorly written, under the guise of “feminism” and honestly the “steminist” label makes me barf.
1. It is just Nice. It’s a nice book. It’s not amazing or revolutionary, nor is it offensive. But it’s pretty forgettable, and I know for a fact I won’t re read it. And tbh I don’t even want it to take up room on my shelves it’s such a middle ground book.
And my biggest issue: after purchasing but before reading I found out that this is actually republished work. Republished fanfiction- of Reylo (Kylo Ren and Rey) from the Star Wars sequels. Now, all the power to Ali Hazelwood, I’m a fanfic writer myself and I think that it’s a great way to get into the industry. The fact that she wrote this and published it later is fab. (I don’t hate Reylo shippers either) But the fact that it is Reylo fanfic made me squicky. Then it became a domino effect of who’s who. Anh is Rose, I assume Malcolm is maybe Poe? Jeremy I think is Finn. Dr Aslan is Leia, Holden is Huxley, Adam’s lecturer who he hates is Luke, and the rest fall into place.
I don’t know why this ruined the book for me, maybe because I don’t like the ship Reylo particularly, maybe because I don’t think that Adam Driver is attractive but every scene with Adam the character all I could picture was the actor.
The book has some other issues, mainly pacing. The beginning is too fast, we’re thrown in the deep end and it’s like “woah”. Secondly Anh. I love Anh, genuinely. She’s great, and so the moments where she’s like “hey Olive go be cute with your bf” come out of the blue and are really jarring. And pretty invasive. And I’m glad Olive calls her out on it later in the book. Thirdly, the plot is a little thin. The plot relies too heavily on miscommunication and, this may be me being insensitive, but the “everyone who loves me leaves” feels like a get out of jail free card for the protagonist not to tell Adam she loves him. It’s paper thin, especially since she does have friends! Who she loves!
Also Olive’s demisexuality is great- but use the label and stop referring to people who have a sex drive as “normal”, I’m ace and I’m tired of that crap.
That’s all my gripes to be honest. Olive is a good protagonist, who I cared about. Adam is a pretty good love interest. He’s a feminist, he’s really protective of Olive but not in a creepy way, and he’s sweet!
But that’s about it. It’s a nice story, but nothing new or spectacular. It’s very middle of the road, with manufactured drama, but a protagonist you root for.
EDIT: in light of Hazelwood admitting she writes novels based on tropes her editor spoonfeeds her I’m decreasing my rating. Mediocre white women rule this industry, while people of colour get left behind. This is poorly written, under the guise of “feminism” and honestly the “steminist” label makes me barf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
bubbly_lara's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
What a fun read, I really liked the book. I appreciate a good fake-dating-trope and paired with a grumpy-and-sunshine trope, this was immensely entertaining. The boob in the mouth scene towards the ending did weird me out a bit, but did not take a way from the overall enjoyment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Terminal illness, and Cancer
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness