Scan barcode
hue's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Never been such a fan of characters hating each other for no apparent reason. Yes the whole being caught smoking weed and whatnot, whatever that was, but you did smoke the weed, Iliana. You can't blame everything on Rhodes. If this is what enemies to lover is becoming, I never want to pick up another such story again.
Sarah was absolutely the worst person in the entire story (though, sorry not sorry, all of the characters were such assholes one way or another). Not only was she a terrible person but a terrible friend as well. Not sure why Rhodes and Iliana were even friends with her.
The characters we're supposed to root for, Iliana and Rhodes, were terrible in their own gnarly ways. Neither felt horrible about hating someone with such vicious rage and constantly trying to pull the other down. How did this become a romance?? They have ZERO chemistry. Seriously.
Also, how in high heaven did Dusk get her degree? No wonder she accepted bribes!
So in conclusion, a poorly written story with shallow, unlikable (terrible) characters with barely any plot to follow. There are definitely better stories to read. This isn't one of them.
Sarah was absolutely the worst person in the entire story (though, sorry not sorry, all of the characters were such assholes one way or another). Not only was she a terrible person but a terrible friend as well. Not sure why Rhodes and Iliana were even friends with her.
The characters we're supposed to root for, Iliana and Rhodes, were terrible in their own gnarly ways. Neither felt horrible about hating someone with such vicious rage and constantly trying to pull the other down. How did this become a romance?? They have ZERO chemistry. Seriously.
Also, how in high heaven did Dusk get her degree? No wonder she accepted bribes!
So in conclusion, a poorly written story with shallow, unlikable (terrible) characters with barely any plot to follow. There are definitely better stories to read. This isn't one of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug use
pinkupengu's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content and Drug use
Minor: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
christinefredrickson's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Drug use
evbyrd's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Not for me, unfortunately. It's a romcom that is very light on both the romance and the comedy.
I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two romantic leads even though I was really looking forward to their dynamic. Having a secret identity (like their online accounts) is one of my favourite under-represented tropes in wlw fiction.But they fought as much online as they did in real life. Shouldn'tthe tension be that they a have this great relationship online in contrast to real life? The pov characters spent more time thinking 'my online friend is my closest confidant and truest love' than they spent time actually, you know, trusting and supporting each other. I felt like the story was just bouncing between the pov character hating everyone else (friends, romantic interest, family, teachers etc) and then hating themself. There was no ""good times"" to make me see what I should be rooting for, even though both pov characters reference people/relationships that are worth it. We never see that "good friendship" on the page (Iliana says this about Sarah,. This is of course a red flag for the plot in the back half of the book - the whole POINT is that Sarah isn't a good friend for her anymore. But Alice does the same thing with Cheshire. They talk about how they were best friends, but other than 1 conversation at the start of the book, they are either always fighting or awkwardly trying to not say something the other person will dislike. Sparks WHERE? Romance WHO?)
Griffin was cool, give me a book about him and his dance partner trying to get into different dance competitions without his parents finding out. He's the one who knew about the cool art installation in the first place. The sibling dynamic between Griffin and Rhodes CARRIED this book and it was only fine. It could only do that heavy lifting because Griffin was actually of the page.
Also more of Iliana's mom, maybe please? Her graveyard shift is used as a signal to the reader that Iliana's family is stuck in a cycle of trades jobs / physical labour, and yet this QUEEN is only on the page long enough to give Iliana advice ONCE and then in the background crowd scene at the climax. Give more nuance to how Iliana's home life impacts her personality & future plans. The topic comes up so much, but it's almost always just about how Iliana can't pay for college. She lives at home, tell us something about her home life maybe!
We got so much of Rhodes' family and TO WHAT END? Her mom basically disappears for the final third!!
I loved the premise, but the execution was frustrating. Nothing felt earned or justified, including every single kiss.
I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two romantic leads even though I was really looking forward to their dynamic. Having a secret identity (like their online accounts) is one of my favourite under-represented tropes in wlw fiction.
Griffin was cool, give me a book about him and his dance partner trying to get into different dance competitions without his parents finding out. He's the one who knew about the cool art installation in the first place. The sibling dynamic between Griffin and Rhodes CARRIED this book and it was only fine. It could only do that heavy lifting because Griffin was actually of the page.
Also more of Iliana's mom, maybe please? Her graveyard shift is used as a signal to the reader that Iliana's family is stuck in a cycle of trades jobs / physical labour, and yet this QUEEN is only on the page long enough to give Iliana advice ONCE and then in the background crowd scene at the climax. Give more nuance to how Iliana's home life impacts her personality & future plans. The topic comes up so much, but it's almost always just about how Iliana can't pay for college. She lives at home, tell us something about her home life maybe!
We got so much of Rhodes' family and TO WHAT END?
I loved the premise, but the execution was frustrating. Nothing felt earned or justified, including every single kiss.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
More...