Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Melt With You

Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Melt With You by Jennifer Dugan

7 reviews

wardenred's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Chloe used to be my best friend.
And then more.
And then nothing.

There's one thing to be said for this book: it is immensely readable. I got through most of it in one go despite not liking the story much, just because the prose flowed so well and it was so easy to keep turning pages—like eating popcorn. When my attention began to drift, there was always something to pull me back in, whether it was a clever turn of phrase, a point of tension popping up at the exactly right spot, or a fun background happening.

There were some road trip moments that were genuinely enjoyable, such as the whole part with the middle-of-the-nowhere campsite and the elderly lesbian couple that ran it. I also liked Fallon's friends and all the facetiming scene. They were both really nice and reasonable and I wish they were more prominent in the plot. As for the main characters, though... eh. For a while, they were tolerable; the way Fallon kept breaking the fourth wall and acknowledging how strange her choices may look (BUT EMOTIONS) made it easier to stomach the drama. Eventually, though, that got kinda old. Also, her supposed "type A, always have a plan, etc" personality is such an informed attribute, OMG. She clearly likes making plans, yeah, but following through with them? And actually thinking through the things that matter? Nah. She just keeps going with the flow and reacting emotionally instead of thinking, and Chloe keeps doing the same thing but differently, and it was so frustrating to read a whole book of that. Or rather, of all the miscommunication born out of this.

I don't really mind miscommunication as a trope, tbh, but I feel that it is best handled in moderation. Here, the characters miscommunicated before the start of the story, kicking off the entire thing, and then they kept miscommunicating for the entire book, and then in the final act Fallon even acknowledged that there was a lot of miscommunication here! ...And then kept merrily miscommunicating along, committing all the same mistakes: assuming instead of talking, creating false impressions, putting words in Chloe's mouth, etc. And Chloe basically kept on doing the same thing, too. The characters never learn to communicate. There is no process. There is no evidence of them knowing each other all that well in the first place, despite having been friends for ages. Yeah, Chloe remembers Fallon's hobbies and coffee order, but, well. In her own words, it's not that deep. And since there's no process, the moment of communication at the very end feels like it happens by sheer accident, and I get no evidence that they will ever learn to talk to each other. None. Nill. In fact, I closed the book with a distinct impression that as soon as the honeymoon phase fades, there'll just be more drama and problems with obvious solutions (JUST TALK!!!) that no one will bother to implement even if someone provides step-by-step instructions.

I think I would have enjoyed the story more if it wasn't a romcom, but instead some kind of drama leaning deep into this teenage girl messiness, exploring the leads relationship for what it is, perhaps delving into their family history more. After all, both of them have

Mums who prefer manipulation over honest talk

(still mad about that plot twist, so not okay), so that must have left a mark. Show me the crash and the burn and how sometimes, two people just can't communicate with each other to save their lives because being honest and vulnerable would dredge up too much shit from their entire shared history, and I'm here for it. As a romcom, though... I just don't buy it.

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axel_p's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? Yes

3.0

Cute
Not enough romance

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stacy837's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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liz_bro's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

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modernmatilda's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

I will read anything Jennifer Dugan writes. But a story about friends-turned-lovers-turned-enemies-turned-?? set on a roadtrip in an icecream truck? Yup. Yup yup yup.

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moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted

3.0

After a post-hookup falling out, ex best friends still have to work at their mothers' ice cream truck. It's up to them to get it to an important event. So friends or no, they have to embark on a road trip that will make or break their friendship.

There were lots of cute things about this. I loved the premise and the ice cream puns, and an opposites attract dynamic can be adorable. The writing style was quirky with little fourth wall breaks that were fun. I also think this book does a good job discussing consent. It is sex-positive and centers consent, but there isn't graphic sexual content, which I think makes it more accessible to some readers.

However, a lot of this book hinged on miscommunication that just lasted way too long. I do think that *some* of that miscommunication would have made sense for the book, but it went on too long and was frustrating. I definitely think that it could work for some readers, but maybe not for me.

If you're looking for a cute summer romance with discussion of friendship and ice cream puns, and are okay with/enjoy miscommunication in a romance plot, definitely pick it up.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

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hopeful 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

4.5

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an arc of this one.

After a year of trying to get over her one-time-hookup and long-time-bestfriend, Chloe, Fallon is horrified to learn that she will not only have to spend the summer working on their moms' ice cream truck with Chloe, but that they will have to roadtrip together and work a festival alone. But Fallon is not about to tell Chloe that what she had thought of as a hookup really meant a lot more to Fal...

This was so adorable I absolutely could not stand it. I loved the slowburn and the relationship building and character growth! I love both Fallon and Chloe. Dugan writes characters so authentic and realistic it feels like they could just step off the page and fall into my life...can they?

I loved this! So cute! Definitely pick it up!

Pub Date: May 17, 2022

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