Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales

81 reviews

dlrosebyh's review

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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

3.75

For a charge, Darcy Phillips may provide you with the answer to any of your relationship problems. She uses her influence wisely (most of the time), passionately detests Alexander Brougham. Whenever it comes to her best friend Brooke, who is in love with someone else, may not have the finest judgment. And lastly, she does not appreciate being blackmailed.

But that's precisely what happens when Brougham discovers her in the act of retrieving letters from locker 89, where she's been operating her dubious legal, anonymous relationship advising service. At least at a generous hourly rate, Darcy reluctantly agrees to serve as his personal dating coach in exchange for keeping her identity a secret. Exactly what was the intention? assist him in getting his ex-girlfriend back.

Darcy has a valid reason for hiding her identity. Some things she's ashamed of will come to light if word gets out that she's hiding behind the locker, and there's a high chance Brooke won't ever talk to her again. So all she needs to do is assist a bratty, entitled, annoyingly, and attractive guy in winning over a woman who has already fallen for him? What might possibly fail?

To sum up this book in one word? Heartwarming. I believe this is one of the first novels I've read with a bisexual female character ending up with a man— and I guess that's due of the biphobia. it's so lovely to read about a bisexual female heroine adoring a man. When bisexuals like someone who is the opposite gender from them, society will accuse them of not being "bisexual enough," and this book extensively addresses that issue.

I suppose there was a period where I was annoyed with Darcy because, God, she can be toxic at times. I do, however, understand her viewpoint. Despite being predictable and cliche (it reads like a Netflix movie), this book is nevertheless beautiful if you can get beyond those.

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deadgirlwalking23's review against another edition

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  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0


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kottengoesbork's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.25


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ylienna's review against another edition

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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

3.0


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imstephtacular's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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callmeluh's review against another edition

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funny inspiring 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

3.75

Un grand merci aux éditions Slalom pour l'envoi de ce livre !

Ce livre me fait de l'œil depuis des mois et des mois (probablement depuis sa sortie VO en fait), donc j'avais très hâte de me plonger dedans.
Je l'avoue, j'ai eu un peu de mal à rentrer dans l'histoire. J'ai trouvé que l'intrigue a mis un peu de temps à se mettre en place, ce que je trouve dommage. Et comme les chapitres font tous environs 20 pages, ça n'a pas aidé non plus.
Je n'ai aussi clairement plus l'habitude de lire des traductions, donc je pense que j'ai été un peu déstabilisé.e au début.

Néanmoins, ça ne m'a pas empêché d'apprécier ma lecture. Darcy est un personnage est tellement attachant, et je me suis beaucoup retrouvé en elle, notamment dans les passages où elle parle de sa sexualité.
Maintenant, j'aurai aimé qu'il y est un peu plus de "show" et moins de "tell". Je m'explique : on nous dit très rapidement dans le livre que Darcy est amoureuse de Brooke, sa meilleure amie. Et même si c'est très clairement un crush à sens unique, je n'ai pas vraiment ressenti les sentiment qu'elle éprouve pour Brooke au cours de ma lecture. On nous le dit plus qu'on nous le montre.
D'ailleurs on ne peut pas dire que j'ai porté Brooke dans mon cœur. Je n'ai pas trouvé qu'elle était une bonne amie envers Darcy, qui est quand même censée être sa MEILLEURE amie. Bref, passons.

J'ai adoré le personnage de Brougham. C'est vraiment le genre de personne incomprise, aux premiers abords ils semble hautain et hyper sûr de lui, alors qu'il s'est simplement érigé une barrière pour se protéger des autres, principalement à cause de ses parents.
J'ai tellement aimé sa relation avec Darcy. Elle ne démarre pas sur un bon pied, certes (vive le chantage), mais ils apprennent petit à petit à se connaître, et j'ai trouvé que leur amitié était l'une des plus belles relations du livre (en plus de celle que Darcy entretien avec sa sœur).

Est-ce que j'aurai aimé une intrigue légèrement différente ? Oui. Mais en même temps, j'ai aimé la direction que l'autrice a pris ici (surtout que je n'ai pas vraiment apprécié le personnage de Brooke).

Perfect on Paper est une lecture toute douce, qui m'a néanmoins donné la larme à l'œil à certains passages (la discussion sur la biphobie internalisée m'a détruite). C'est exactement le genre de roman que j'aurai adoré lire à l'âge des personnages, et punaise je ne peux que vous conseiller de le lire.

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chronicallytck's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

Cute! Can’t complain too much. Was a little boring, but cute overall. I was expecting a lesbian romance story, so this definitely threw me for a curveball, but I Loved the way they covered biphobia & queerness in general. 

Also the chad + Ryan from high school musical references were my favorite part. 

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caitlin_doggos's review

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hopeful 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

3.75


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dododenise's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-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

4.0

I went into this book with very little expectations, just hearing that it was great by a lot of queer people who’s opinions I trust. And they could be trusted again. This book was really enjoyable and touched many important things.
I haven’t seen biphobia handled like this before and it was so refreshing. Such an important bi main character that I feel like can be important to so many bi people out there. Even to me, a panromantic person, this felt like a warm hug. 
It was very obvious in this book that Sophie is a psychologist. I saw a lot of views/facts in this book that I recognise as a newbie psychology student. Loved that those psych aspects were integrated and it made me connect even more with the story. 
Sometimes the teen drama got a bit too much for me though, which just weighted heavy on my chest. I feel too much and those stupid teens do too, and then they make stupid decisions and I’m just sad alongside with them. So yeah, that took me down a bit sometimes. But I ended up loving most of the characters anyway, especially Brougham. He’s such a sweetie, please be my friend. 

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allisonplus's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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