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quasinaut's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A delightful reread, though I've never really understood why Simon is the Insidious Humdrum . Wraps up rather too quickly without an explanation that works for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
xtsukix's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cute :) I liked this a lot, even though its over 500 pages I finished it in less than 24 hours even though I should really get started on that essay due in 3 days. I found it (for the most part) very gripping - it was rare I wanted to put the book down. However, I wasn't super fond of the way it was written, especially towards the beginning, where it was mainly just detailing past exploits. I had to check multiple times that I was reading the first book in the series because it felt like the opening of a sequel which feels the need to explain everything that happened in the last 5 books in case you forgot. There were definitely a lot of times I was frustrated because I just wanted to find out what was happening in the moment, rather than 2-3 years ago - this lessened (mostly) the more the book went on though, to a manageable amount by the 40-50% mark.
Baz is great, love him, would die for him and all of that. Penelope? Also fantastic. Love her. What an angel. Agatha stayed along for too long, and every time her POV came up I was like :/ but she's fine I guess. The ending kinda felt like a stone in my stomach, but I'm hoping that gets resolved in the next book which, by reading the blurb, it sounds like it will. Looking forward to it, although a little worried about the reviews.
Baz is great, love him, would die for him and all of that. Penelope? Also fantastic. Love her. What an angel. Agatha stayed along for too long, and every time her POV came up I was like :/ but she's fine I guess. The ending kinda felt like a stone in my stomach, but I'm hoping that gets resolved in the next book which, by reading the blurb, it sounds like it will. Looking forward to it, although a little worried about the reviews.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Kidnapping
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Animal death, and War
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Vomit
wet_towlette's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I enjoyed the middle of this book like it was a fucking five star read, it definitely wasn’t that but, regardless the middle was extraordinarily entertaining and the romance was, subjectively, one of the best “enemies” to lovers I’ve read. Unfortunately, you have to suffer through the first 150ish pages first. And that sucked a lot, I was very close to dnfing. The ending also wasn’t the greatest for me but I think that’s because I predicted 2/3 of the plot twists. And I can’t even feel good about that because it was so blatant. Also, I hated when I had to read from Agathas POV. I’m not sure why I loathed it so much but I truly did. Anyway, it was another ya romance that got me giggling and shit so do with that what you will. Bro this book is like the selection, it’s kinda trash but I like it?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy
barleymowetc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This book was really fun. The story is very trope-y but that's what I went into it for so if you don't like kinda predictable things than this isn't for you. I liked the alternating perspectives and the magic system was really interesting. I think the pacing was a little off, a bit slow to start with a lot of background and basics to cover then the end was over quite quick. That being said I did enjoy it and I will be reading the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
20sidedbi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was wonderful in so many unexpected ways!! It's everything I wish Harry Potter had been.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, Homophobia, and Kidnapping
kadtide's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Classism
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Kidnapping
planetesastraea's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this book. The plot wasn't as much a problem as the main character was.
First I didn't find anything charming in the fact that he apparently harassed his room mate for years on the assumption that he was evil and only deserved death.
Most importantly I found his thoughts regarding his (ex) girlfriend entirely disturbing: after stating that he wasn't sure they were a good fit together anyway, he spins into a completely toxic behaviour when /she/ seems to want to break up. "She can't reject me", "She can't reject me for /him/", "He can't have her", "Maybe she isn't in her right mind if she rejects me", and last but not least, "I'll kill that guy and this way he won't have her."
There isn't a moment in the book that criticises the character's behaviour in this chapter in any way. What the hell?
First I didn't find anything charming in the fact that he apparently harassed his room mate for years on the assumption that he was evil and only deserved death.
Most importantly I found his thoughts regarding his (ex) girlfriend entirely disturbing: after stating that he wasn't sure they were a good fit together anyway, he spins into a completely toxic behaviour when /she/ seems to want to break up. "She can't reject me", "She can't reject me for /him/", "He can't have her", "Maybe she isn't in her right mind if she rejects me", and last but not least, "I'll kill that guy and this way he won't have her."
There isn't a moment in the book that criticises the character's behaviour in this chapter in any way. What the hell?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
rachel_kay5853's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
anna978's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Animal death, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Homophobia
kamiellen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
It's Harry Potter but not Harry Potter and I loved it. Penny is delightful, Watford is interesting in its own right, and I'm obsessed with how magic works in this world. I'm not a huge enemies-to-lovers fan, but Rowell kept me turning the pages and rooting for Simon and Baz the whole way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Blood, Abandonment, and Homophobia