Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
lighthearted
fast-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to like this book more than I did.
I like the idea of the key conflict in the story: struggling to combine your personal life with your public image and online personality in a way that won't destroy something in your life, while entering a new romantic relationship. However, I think this isn't explored as deeply as it should have been, which leaves the biggest moment of conflict somewhat underwhelming. Also, I think the book would be more enjoyable if the reader engaged with actual fanfics; as I don't and only have some outsider knowledge, I might not have gotten as immersive a reading experience.
I like the idea of the key conflict in the story: struggling to combine your personal life with your public image and online personality in a way that won't destroy something in your life, while entering a new romantic relationship. However, I think this isn't explored as deeply as it should have been, which leaves the biggest moment of conflict somewhat underwhelming. Also, I think the book would be more enjoyable if the reader engaged with actual fanfics; as I don't and only have some outsider knowledge, I might not have gotten as immersive a reading experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual content
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
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
I loved this. I loved everything about April, the way she looked beyond the surface. I loved the look at relationships with your parents and how they shape you. I loved the talk of dyslexia. Were some of the aspect on the nose, like April being a geologist, or the excerpts of Marcus' worst movies? Well, yes, but they made me grin anyway, so I wouldn't count that as a bad thing.
When it comes to the fake fandom, this wasn't the best I'd read. In a way, Dade made it easy for herself by choosing to create a series based on a fake book series based on the actual Virgil's Aeneid, but it felt a little like she thought she could get away with creating less of an in-series universe because the characters are already known. I don't feel like I got a true feel for Gods of the Gates, which is a shame. I didn't really feel the fannish excitement the characters got.
Even so, this was ramping up to be a true 5 star experience, but the ending threw me a little. Of course, the conflict that would break them apart was obvious from the start, but I really disliked the way it got resolved. I loved the first 378 pages (and was thoroughly excited, grinning broadly through most of - I'd guess - 2/3rd of it), so I refuse to go lower than 4.75 stars, but the ending felt completely and utterly untrue to the rest of the story and the characterisation of both Marcus and April (even more frustrating because within the first few pages of April's story, Dade so perfectly set up the conversation they should be having at the end of the book). Such a shame.
When it comes to the fake fandom, this wasn't the best I'd read. In a way, Dade made it easy for herself by choosing to create a series based on a fake book series based on the actual Virgil's Aeneid, but it felt a little like she thought she could get away with creating less of an in-series universe because the characters are already known. I don't feel like I got a true feel for Gods of the Gates, which is a shame. I didn't really feel the fannish excitement the characters got.
Even so, this was ramping up to be a true 5 star experience, but the ending threw me a little. Of course, the conflict that would break them apart was obvious from the start, but I really disliked the way it got resolved. I loved the first 378 pages (and was thoroughly excited, grinning broadly through most of - I'd guess - 2/3rd of it), so I refuse to go lower than 4.75 stars, but the ending felt completely and utterly untrue to the rest of the story and the characterisation of both Marcus and April (even more frustrating because within the first few pages of April's story, Dade so perfectly set up the conversation they should be having at the end of the book). Such a shame.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I abandoned this book halfway through. Just wasn’t going anywhere.
Predictable? Yes. Worth every gut wrenching second? Worth every giggle and nail biting emotion? 100 percent!
Fun, witty, and hot. Mixed into perfection with an emotional roller coaster that made it worth the ride.
Marcus and April are the perfect couple.
Fun, witty, and hot. Mixed into perfection with an emotional roller coaster that made it worth the ride.
Marcus and April are the perfect couple.
An entertaining read that I really enjoyed and I loved the entire storyline of the fan fiction and conventions. I liked the characters, and all their idiosyncrasies. This was one of the few books I’ve read where there is a ‘disability’ and I appreciated that. Very fluffy, toe curling smut, and a bunch of nerds.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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