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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Invested from the first chapter. I am generally not a fan of big plot points involving a lack of communication, but this was a minor issue given that I enjoyed April and Marcus so much. This was the first time I’ve read a book with a fat heroine and not been cringing throughout. I have no experience with fanfic and was skeptical of the premise before reading, but I found it interesting and well done.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
emotional
funny
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 haven’t heard of this author before. I was a little hesitant about reading it at first due to the fact it is about a tv show and cosplay. I don’t watch tv and I was afraid I couldn’t relate. This book was awesome. It sucked me into the story line and the characters. After I figured out what was going on in the story I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read something else by this author.
Spoiler Alert is a complicated, sweet, steamy, emotional, romantic comedy that explores issues of hiding parts of yourself, self-esteem, self-identity, self-acceptance, learning disabilities, fat-shaming, freeing yourself from parental and societal baggage and damaging relationships, and learning to accept love without needing to earn it. Told with alternating flashbacks between the present and the past, the novel explores the development of the relationship between Marcus Caster-Rupp, star of popular TV show Gods of the Gates, and April Whittier, a huge fan of the show. Readers who are into online fandoms and fanfiction may get a kick out of the in jokes and the character’s fandom lifestyles which are captured from an insider’s perspective with lively, detailed, and colorful description with crisp writing and pacing that brings the story to life and keeps the story moving from beginning to end without any lags. The characters both primary and secondary are well-developed and relatable in their imperfections.
Both Marcus and April are living secret lives, but who would have thought that those secrets were so intricately connected. Marcus discovered fanfiction, writing fic for the show’s most popular ship on the Internet—Aeneas/Lavinia, as a way of dealing with his frustrations with his character Aeneas’ arc, but it became so much more to him. However, it must stay a secret, or it can cost him his career. April not only writes fanfiction for her OTP Aeneas/Lavinia, but she also creates and dresses up like her favorite characters in cosplay, both of which she keeps hidden and separate from her real life.
Plus-sized, April is brave, confident, independent, and at peace with her body, and she doesn’t have time for people in her life who cannot accept her without trying to change her. Tired of hiding her fandom life, she posts a picture of herself from a con dressed as Lavinia, which goes viral. The online community reacts to her picture with positive replies from supporters and cruel comments from trolls. Marcus sees the photo and the comments and asks her out on a date to shut the trolls down, at first.
While Marcus is seriously into April from the first moment he first sees her, April is not into it, or him, at all. I love just how much Marcus is all about April and her body and wants her as she is, especially since she is not just a few pounds overweight like usual in romances. Marcus is used to people being into him for shallow reasons and wanting him for the façade he puts on for the world without ever looking beyond it. But April just was not. Not only that, but she was determined to get past that and find the real Marcus. Once they get past their awful first date, the chemistry between these two is fiery and they provide balance for each other’s lives. Marcus and April helped each other reach that last step of growth that they had been needing to achieve, giving them the courage to do those things they needed to do to become their better selves.
With refreshing characters, a fascinating story, and charming storytelling, Spoiler Alert is a moving and entertaining love story that is not to be missed.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
Both Marcus and April are living secret lives, but who would have thought that those secrets were so intricately connected. Marcus discovered fanfiction, writing fic for the show’s most popular ship on the Internet—Aeneas/Lavinia, as a way of dealing with his frustrations with his character Aeneas’ arc, but it became so much more to him. However, it must stay a secret, or it can cost him his career. April not only writes fanfiction for her OTP Aeneas/Lavinia, but she also creates and dresses up like her favorite characters in cosplay, both of which she keeps hidden and separate from her real life.
Plus-sized, April is brave, confident, independent, and at peace with her body, and she doesn’t have time for people in her life who cannot accept her without trying to change her. Tired of hiding her fandom life, she posts a picture of herself from a con dressed as Lavinia, which goes viral. The online community reacts to her picture with positive replies from supporters and cruel comments from trolls. Marcus sees the photo and the comments and asks her out on a date to shut the trolls down, at first.
While Marcus is seriously into April from the first moment he first sees her, April is not into it, or him, at all. I love just how much Marcus is all about April and her body and wants her as she is, especially since she is not just a few pounds overweight like usual in romances. Marcus is used to people being into him for shallow reasons and wanting him for the façade he puts on for the world without ever looking beyond it. But April just was not. Not only that, but she was determined to get past that and find the real Marcus. Once they get past their awful first date, the chemistry between these two is fiery and they provide balance for each other’s lives. Marcus and April helped each other reach that last step of growth that they had been needing to achieve, giving them the courage to do those things they needed to do to become their better selves.
With refreshing characters, a fascinating story, and charming storytelling, Spoiler Alert is a moving and entertaining love story that is not to be missed.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
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
Overall I liked the story, but I just can’t give a book four stars when one of the main characters is withholding information from the other for the majority of the book.