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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Okay. I tried reading this book previously this year and stopped. I liked the premise a lot. It was a fun parallel with the GOT show and their actors. But it got slow for me. I decided to pick it back up because a friend really enjoyed it. So I finished it this time, but here's my take.
As a plus-sized woman (also one that's a scientist, highly relatable to the April character) reading this romance, I took big issue with 1. April's very still packed baggage about her body and 2. The author's use of descriptive words.
April as a character is extremely sensitive about anything that could even be in a neighboring state of ridicule about her body. The author gives her a backstory that makes sense to justify this, but she is so far from being okay with herself in this novel. She is triggered by people talking about healthy food, working out, turning lights off, and other mundane things that are just going to occur around her. She eventually shows enough growth to be able to admit these things are triggering her, but that's where the growth stops. She is so so SO far from body acceptance that it hurt me as a reader. Maybe she'll grow? But we won't know because the book ended.
I never want to read the word ROUND again in my life. I want someone with the ebook version of this to do a word count for how many times the author used ROUND to describe the body of a fat woman. Round is a shape, not a descriptor of someone's body (at least not 50+ times). If I was looking for directions on how to draw April (OR Lauren, another fat female character in the story described as ROUND) as a cartoon character, this would have been very instructive. But I'm trying to picture her. Is she made of spheres??? The drawing on the cover did more for my imagination than any of the words written in this book. Round isn't insulting and doesn't have a negative connotation, but it's not how I would want to be described by a partner either. It's neutral at best. Not to mention her breasts being described as "heavy" and her vagina as EARTHY for God's sake. Just because the woman works in soil science doesn't mean she is made of dirt. This quality of writing issue lowered it an entire star for me. I don't know if I'll read the sequel, even though I'm sure it'll be entertaining, because I cannot listen to how ROUND Lauren is
As a plus-sized woman (also one that's a scientist, highly relatable to the April character) reading this romance, I took big issue with 1. April's very still packed baggage about her body and 2. The author's use of descriptive words.
April as a character is extremely sensitive about anything that could even be in a neighboring state of ridicule about her body. The author gives her a backstory that makes sense to justify this, but she is so far from being okay with herself in this novel. She is triggered by people talking about healthy food, working out, turning lights off, and other mundane things that are just going to occur around her. She eventually shows enough growth to be able to admit these things are triggering her, but that's where the growth stops. She is so so SO far from body acceptance that it hurt me as a reader. Maybe she'll grow? But we won't know because the book ended.
I never want to read the word ROUND again in my life. I want someone with the ebook version of this to do a word count for how many times the author used ROUND to describe the body of a fat woman. Round is a shape, not a descriptor of someone's body (at least not 50+ times). If I was looking for directions on how to draw April (OR Lauren, another fat female character in the story described as ROUND) as a cartoon character, this would have been very instructive. But I'm trying to picture her. Is she made of spheres??? The drawing on the cover did more for my imagination than any of the words written in this book. Round isn't insulting and doesn't have a negative connotation, but it's not how I would want to be described by a partner either. It's neutral at best. Not to mention her breasts being described as "heavy" and her vagina as EARTHY for God's sake. Just because the woman works in soil science doesn't mean she is made of dirt. This quality of writing issue lowered it an entire star for me. I don't know if I'll read the sequel, even though I'm sure it'll be entertaining, because I cannot listen to how ROUND Lauren is
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
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
Spoiler Alert was deeper, sweeter and more emotional than I initially expected. I really liked it.
This book delivered when it came to emotions, dealing with difficult family dynamics and finding healing within one self and one another. As a plus size person myself this book resonated with me and made me shed a few tears. The romance between Marcus and April felt real. I especially loved that the both of them were older and established in their individual selfs.
The smutty and funny bits in this book were also very well balanced which made it thoroughly enjoyable.
šŖšµš 4 š¦šš®šæš? ā
I cried, laughed and healed with this book. It was also a quick read, all of which made it a clear 4 Star read for me. I first thought the whole fandom thing would cause some confusion whilst reading, however that was not the case. The only reason why it's 4 Stars and not 5 is because although the characters were older, I feel like their maturity didn't match that in some ways. I can recommend this book wholeheartedly though to anyone who likes to find another book couple to call their home.
This book delivered when it came to emotions, dealing with difficult family dynamics and finding healing within one self and one another. As a plus size person myself this book resonated with me and made me shed a few tears. The romance between Marcus and April felt real. I especially loved that the both of them were older and established in their individual selfs.
The smutty and funny bits in this book were also very well balanced which made it thoroughly enjoyable.
šŖšµš 4 š¦šš®šæš? ā
I cried, laughed and healed with this book. It was also a quick read, all of which made it a clear 4 Star read for me. I first thought the whole fandom thing would cause some confusion whilst reading, however that was not the case. The only reason why it's 4 Stars and not 5 is because although the characters were older, I feel like their maturity didn't match that in some ways. I can recommend this book wholeheartedly though to anyone who likes to find another book couple to call their home.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
Well. . .MEH. Loved the body-inclusive premise, found the writing very high quality, and Dade's examination of how messages from people we love can be super hard to escape was well developed and important.
I just can't get into the fanfic/obsession with TV show characters/specialized vocab/cosplay stuff. It added a whole layer of complexity to the story that I couldn't be bothered to sort out, so I probably read about 2/3 of it and skimmed the rest. I am fully aware that my dismissive attitude is a personal decision, but there it is. That message board plot element and the sexy romance trope made strange bedfellows (sorry).
Looks like this is the first of a related series; I'd love to read Dade's writing without the ornate backstory stuff required by the Game of Thrones-like tv series connection.
I just can't get into the fanfic/obsession with TV show characters/specialized vocab/cosplay stuff. It added a whole layer of complexity to the story that I couldn't be bothered to sort out, so I probably read about 2/3 of it and skimmed the rest. I am fully aware that my dismissive attitude is a personal decision, but there it is. That message board plot element and the sexy romance trope made strange bedfellows (sorry).
Looks like this is the first of a related series; I'd love to read Dade's writing without the ornate backstory stuff required by the Game of Thrones-like tv series connection.
emotional
funny
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
hopeful
fast-paced
I like this book, I just couldnāt really get behind the premise. I like Olivia dadeās other books, so I think it mightāve just been the plot that I couldnāt get behind. Overall, her writing was good as usual, and I always always appreciate the representation. It was fun, just not my favorite
Lovely fandom romance with two broken characters doing their best to communicate their needs and fulfill each otherās, while often getting it wrong. The final resolution felt a bit rushed, but the main characters - and all the supporting cast, for that matter - were well drawn, convincing, and just sweet. Loved the fandom setting and loved the commitment of all the characters to trying to be Good People.
Itās cute, itās sweet, itās predictable. Itās a nice palette cleanser after heavier books.
I loved April, our confident, strong, ACTUALLY PLUS SIZE main character. As light and cute as it is, it sheds a lot of light on the difficulties plus size women face in day to day life. I felt seen. It felt nice.
Not 5 stars because this felt likeā¦ fanfic written about fanfic? Donāt get me wrong, I knew fanfic was the basis of the book, I just didnāt expect it to feel like reading fanfiction.
I loved April, our confident, strong, ACTUALLY PLUS SIZE main character. As light and cute as it is, it sheds a lot of light on the difficulties plus size women face in day to day life. I felt seen. It felt nice.
Not 5 stars because this felt likeā¦ fanfic written about fanfic? Donāt get me wrong, I knew fanfic was the basis of the book, I just didnāt expect it to feel like reading fanfiction.