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jstanothermillenial's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A really sweet, sad, angsty book. I loved the writing style which is different and almost prose like.
I loved how how MCs were these beautiful, flawed, frustrating characters that at times you just wanted to shake bit mostly just hug and promise everything would be okay.
The way Alfie's internalised misogyny and homophobia was handled was so believable and beautiful. Loved his friends as well and how they set him straight when he needed it.
Overall really enjoyed this.
I loved how how MCs were these beautiful, flawed, frustrating characters that at times you just wanted to shake bit mostly just hug and promise everything would be okay.
The way Alfie's internalised misogyny and homophobia was handled was so believable and beautiful. Loved his friends as well and how they set him straight when he needed it.
Overall really enjoyed this.
zoe_is_tired's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
5.0
sararm's review
3.5
I tend to prefer Alexis Hall's romcoms to his straight (hah) romances, but his romances still do the job.
This had a complex, difficult dynamic, tender moments, and flawed characters. It was also implausibly bloated, too long, and kind of overwritten. I think he's got a lot better with time, but this was still a fun ride.
This had a complex, difficult dynamic, tender moments, and flawed characters. It was also implausibly bloated, too long, and kind of overwritten. I think he's got a lot better with time, but this was still a fun ride.
theoguinto's review against another edition
2.0
DNR @ 62%
I don't know. Something about the relationship between Alfie and Fen just didn't click with me. I couldn't relate to how Fen found himself attracted and terrified by his childhood bully.
I couldn't understand why Alfie cared so much about Fen's opinion. Was it just because he was physically attracted to him? Did he think Fen's attitude towards him was the representation of how much he'd grown as a person?
I also really didn't like the toxic masculinity in the book. I know it's explicitly added, but Alfie's attitude towards what is and isn't ok for a man to do was grating. I thought that it would be a plot point that would signify change in Alfie's character, but more than halfway through the story and nothing is causing him to grow out of that view point.
The accent being represented in the dialogue also make a lot of the conversations hard to follow since I'm not familiar with what the colloquialisms and slang are supposed to mean.
I don't know. Something about the relationship between Alfie and Fen just didn't click with me. I couldn't relate to how Fen found himself attracted and terrified by his childhood bully.
I couldn't understand why Alfie cared so much about Fen's opinion. Was it just because he was physically attracted to him? Did he think Fen's attitude towards him was the representation of how much he'd grown as a person?
I also really didn't like the toxic masculinity in the book. I know it's explicitly added, but Alfie's attitude towards what is and isn't ok for a man to do was grating. I thought that it would be a plot point that would signify change in Alfie's character, but more than halfway through the story and nothing is causing him to grow out of that view point.
The accent being represented in the dialogue also make a lot of the conversations hard to follow since I'm not familiar with what the colloquialisms and slang are supposed to mean.
binky_fiasco's review against another edition
5.0
only Alexis Hall could write a book about a newly-out, freshly Not Homophobic reformed bully and make it so… complex? sweet??? but in a really nuanced human way??
adrienanthony's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
northie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Why bother with an exotic location for your queer romance when South Shields in the NE of England works perfectly well? I love the way Alexis Hall sees beyond the surface drabness of a run-down coastal town to find so many points of character, fascination, and natural beauty. And surely it's important some queer tales take place in forgotten geographic corners. Not everyone lives in London, Manchester, or Brighton.
This story showcases the author's ability to write humour, pathos, sexiness, and descriptive flights of fancy. Both lead characters are believable, ranging far beyond those who populate many queer romances. And they're both lovable, in their very different ways. Fen's confidence in who he is baffles Alfie. Alfie's acquired metropolitan disdain for this bleakly beautiful part of world irritates Fen. Their journey is long but also engaging on many levels. One to re-read.
The narrator does an excellent job, Geordie accents and all.
This story showcases the author's ability to write humour, pathos, sexiness, and descriptive flights of fancy. Both lead characters are believable, ranging far beyond those who populate many queer romances. And they're both lovable, in their very different ways. Fen's confidence in who he is baffles Alfie. Alfie's acquired metropolitan disdain for this bleakly beautiful part of world irritates Fen. Their journey is long but also engaging on many levels. One to re-read.
The narrator does an excellent job, Geordie accents and all.
hellishlyawkward's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Points for being well written and engaging as always, but this one wasn't for me.
I think Alfie was the most homophobic gay MC, who's out and active, that I've ever encountered in a romance novel. Even being given his backstory and understanding that he grew up as a proper lad, it was still thoroughly off-putting to listen to at times.
This was a story of growth/change/acceptance/forgiveness, and Alfie did eventually come to realise the things he should know, but I still found it hard to get beyond his general cluelessness. Perhaps this was also supposed to be part of his charm and maybe other readers found it endearing? I did not.
Upon seeing Fen as an adult, Alfie doesn’t recognise him, even though he relentlessly bullied him through school. And yes - I know this is a plot point, but still I couldn't help thinking how much that would feel like being slapped twice for Fen. And then when Alfie is made aware of who Fen is, he doesn’t initially think it matters at all that he bullied him. That total lack of insight would be a big red flag, and a hard no for me.
So...not an Alfie fan it seems...
I felt the way the story progressed and the eventual outcome to be something of a let down.Even liking the flower shop, and understanding that the experience of losing his mother fundamentally changed Fen as a person, I was still vaguely disappointed that he didn’t return to his former life. The quality of Fen’s life before his mother’s death is largely only examined when Alfie looks through Fen’s old social media posts, but it still seemed happy, social, and successful. Couldn’t help feeling like what Fen ended up with was kind of a sadder compromise.
I think Alfie was the most homophobic gay MC, who's out and active, that I've ever encountered in a romance novel. Even being given his backstory and understanding that he grew up as a proper lad, it was still thoroughly off-putting to listen to at times.
This was a story of growth/change/acceptance/forgiveness, and Alfie did eventually come to realise the things he should know, but I still found it hard to get beyond his general cluelessness. Perhaps this was also supposed to be part of his charm and maybe other readers found it endearing? I did not.
Upon seeing Fen as an adult, Alfie doesn’t recognise him, even though he relentlessly bullied him through school. And yes - I know this is a plot point, but still I couldn't help thinking how much that would feel like being slapped twice for Fen. And then when Alfie is made aware of who Fen is, he doesn’t initially think it matters at all that he bullied him. That total lack of insight would be a big red flag, and a hard no for me.
So...not an Alfie fan it seems...
I felt the way the story progressed and the eventual outcome to be something of a let down.
jrl1221's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
4.5
I was skeptical that I would be able to root for a character who used to be a bully get with the person he tormented but this story was so tooth rootingly sweet I couldn’t help it. It does a good job of not glossing over the homophobia Alfie and Fen deal with but also not getting too dreary. Also if you are looking for smut there’s A LOT in this book.