Scan barcode
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Classism
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was very glad to read about a bisexual protagonist who gets a narrative which doesn't treat her identity as a spectacle. Rosaline does, however, have to deal with some biphobia and some truly awful behavior. One of the potential love interests slowly becomes more and more unpleasant as the show continues, in a way which allows for several possible moments where a reader can realize that something is wrong and this isn't just a choice between two perfectly fine relationship options. I don't want to spoil how things go, but the slow escalation of toxic behavior is a really great example of how this kind of person can stay in someone's life well past the first warning sign, depending on what other pressures and stressors are in play. I've seen some other reviews which were upset at Rosaline for not realizing how bad this person was much earlier, and this frustrated me, because they seemed to not understand the narrative arc and her growth as a character. The book would have been dull and half the length if she'd immediately known who to end up with and just gotten there fast. Instead, her slow realization highlights how insidious classism can be, particularly the way that this person got past her guard because he engaged in the "acceptable" forms of bigotry. By not having Rosaline perfectly clock this person as a socially-adept asshole, there's room for her to have an arc of realization and struggle over how to deal with this new information.
Part of Rosaline's story off-camera is renegotiating her relationship with her parents. They have this idea of who she could have been which is incompatible with who she is, and she's felt bad that she didn't have the career they envisioned because she had Amelie instead. She doesn't regret her daughter, and doesn't particularly seem to long for a career in medicine, but it's hard to be settled and confident in the life she actually has when there's never enough money and her parents don't let her forget for an instant how much they've done to help her make both ends meet.
Things I love, in no particular order: Amelie and her various interests (I also loved anglerfish when I was a kid); the process of filming the baking show; the other cast members; Rosaline's relationship with her ex-girlfriend/best friend.
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual assault, and Classism
Moderate: Biphobia, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity and Racism
queerloras's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Abortion, and Pregnancy
thefatpaperback's review
3.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia
eamily's review
- 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
Graphic: Biphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Outing
rey_therese07's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
jenkneebee's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
Minor: Fatphobia
angelareads's review
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Biphobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, and Abortion
kp_writ's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy