Reviews tagging 'Acephobia/Arophobia'

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

56 reviews

rayne_1906's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.75

3 hours 21 minutes - I absolutely loved this book. I loved the acespec representation and the depiction of mental health. All the characters, even the side characters and those only mentioned in brief sentences had so much personality, and the whole premise of the book kept me so engaged and entertained the whole time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Biphobia, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Sexism

paularize's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did! With most romance stories I struggle to buy the development of the relationship within the defined time but here it kind of made sense? It’s the nuanced discussions of mental health for me, they didn’t have to be so real with those (yeah fine ok I will start looking for a new therapist again). 

The conversations around asexuality and demisexuality made me tear up every time and need more books like that so badly (also more than one aspec character in my silly little book? In this economy???)

I was going to give this five stars until Choices Were Made at the ending that were just really weird to me?

Like?? I’m sorry but it’s one thing to show up in the background of scenes accidentally but it’s an entire different thing to be deliberately edited into an entire season without consent and I just don’t buy the little thing he signed as an excuse.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Homophobia, and Vomit

rtaire's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Ableism, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Vomit, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Minor: Misogyny

torikate7'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? Yes

5.0

A really fun read - I wasn’t sure how I’d like the reality TV storyline, but it was done really well. Super diverse cast of characters, very lovable - captured my heart quickly and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Vomit

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia

a_sleepy_berry's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Biphobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Vomit

Moderate: Alcoholism and Acephobia/Arophobia

cassielaj's review

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

Okay, twist my arm, I loved this book. I still have happy tears in my eyes. The hilarious premise of a “reality” fairy tale dating show is bolstered by an incredible cast of characters, asexual and queer representation across numerous spectrums and identities, a tribute to platonic love, and a wonderfully honest portrayal of mental illness, mental health, and learning to love yourself. Read it right away, thank me later

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual content, Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Cursing

kelly_e's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.75

Title: The Charm Offensive
Author: Alison Cochrun
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: September 7, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Delightful • Heartfelt • Witty

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales and happily ever after. His job on the hit show Ever After allows him to write the perfect love story time and time again. However, his own love life is exactly the opposite.

The latest season casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as Prince Charming. Charlie is far from a romantic and only agreed to do the show in order to salvage his own image. Dev is tasked with being Charlie's handler, and must help him connect with the women. As they begin to spend more time together, they open up to one another.

💭 T H O U G H T S

The Charm Offensive was one of my 12 recommendation from 12 friends for 2022, and it didn't not disappoint! Alison Cochrun has delivered a heartwarming rom-com with so much depth.

What I like:
- Charlie and Dev. Individually - they were both flawed and realistic. And together - their supportive relationship was a breath of fresh air.
- the mental health representation. I felt seen in a variety of ways, and for that alone I appreciate what the author has done.
- the queer representation. The conversation on sexuality is everything. It is open, it is honest, it is inclusive.
- wit. The banter between not only the main characters but the secondary ones as well had me laughing out loud at various points.
- character growth. I am here for rom-coms with depth, and this one has it's fair share and then some.

What I didn't like:
- the reality show backdrop. I definitely could have done without it, but understand the appeal.
- the chapter length. In my opinion, the chapters could have easily been shorter.

The open conversations on mental health and sexuality are what make this book a pure gem. The theme of embracing who we are is one I don't find often enough in my reading life. Sometimes there are stories that are a hug in book form, and this was certainly one of those. Highly recommend this one, and I cannot wait to read Alison Cochrun's upcoming release Kiss Her Once For Me

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of The Bachelor/Bachelorette
• readers looking for queer and/or mental health representation
• anyone who likes rom-coms with Disney vibes

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Sexuality isn't always a straight line from closeted to out-of-the-closet. You can take time to explore and evolve and figure out exactly what kind of queer you are, if that even matters to you."

"Labels can be nice sometimes. They can give us a language to understand ourselves and our hearts better."

"He doesn't often try to explain his mind to other people. On the rare occasions he does, other people don't tend to listen." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Ableism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, Vomit, and Biphobia

Minor: Racism, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Cursing, and Gaslighting

anxiety, depression, OCD

headachesince03's review

emotional relaxing fast-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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Biphobia, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcoholism, Classism, Racism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cursing, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism

saeruh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny slow-paced

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

5.0

So GOOD. So funny that I actually laughed out loud more than a couple times, so sweet and romantic, and so simply charming. I loved how both of the main characters dealt with mental illness and it never made them less than or undeserving of them. I thought it was a really great of depression and anxiety (i personally have both so can only speak to those) as well as OCD and panic disorder! Loved the casual non-binary representation. I’m still not the biggest fan of the third act breakup in romance books so that would be my only dispute but I’m pretty sure I’ve never read one without that trope. Dev and Charlie were just so sweet together together, they really cared about one another. did make me cry at work 👍

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Vomit and Violence

asexualandriod's review

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Homophobia, Ableism, Vomit, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, and Biphobia

Minor: Toxic relationship