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akswhy's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I really like this premise, but I wish it A) wasn’t YA, and B) delved a little deeper into the characters’ internal motivations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment
ruthiedr89's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Infidelity, Misogyny, Classism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexism and Panic attacks/disorders
beaky's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I did not expect to love this book anywhere near as much as I did. It was wonderful!! so so funny and also so heartfelt. I loved Maya and Skye and all the girlies and omg Isaac is the best! the pacing is fab and the dual pov was done really well in my opinion. If you love sapphic romance, many a female mc and the take down of terrible men you've got to read this book ! (also fabulous bi rep so yay!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Cursing and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Biphobia, Car accident, and Emotional abuse
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Sophie Gonzales is a hilarious author, and her works never fail to make me laugh out loud. "Never Ever Getting Back Together" is no exception. There are brilliant one-liners and zingers throughout the story, and the semi-ridiculous plot is so much fun to read. You find yourself rooting for Jordy's complicated downfall pretty much immediately! All of the side characters are interesting and likeable. Maya and Skye are wonderfully compelling.
My biggest note about the book is that it focuses very heavily on the revenge plot, which makes the romance plot weak by comparison. The chemistry between Skye and Maya doesn't feel believable as romantic partners, though they pair off well as enemies and co-conspirators. Sophie could have spent more time developing the romance and attraction between these characters, though this would have required simplifying the revenge plot. As it is now, it felt to me a little bit like "two hot bi women in forced proximity so of course they just get together", though I know this wasn't the intention.
The ending feels sort of lackluster for the same reason. It centers a lot on the relationship dynamic and since I felt like that was under-developed, the stakes never felt especially clear for me.
I think it's a wonderful book, but I wouldn't especially recommend it as a romance. Instead, I think it's great contemporary fiction with some light romance thrown in!
My biggest note about the book is that it focuses very heavily on the revenge plot, which makes the romance plot weak by comparison. The chemistry between Skye and Maya doesn't feel believable as romantic partners, though they pair off well as enemies and co-conspirators. Sophie could have spent more time developing the romance and attraction between these characters, though this would have required simplifying the revenge plot. As it is now, it felt to me a little bit like "two hot bi women in forced proximity so of course they just get together", though I know this wasn't the intention.
The ending feels sort of lackluster for the same reason. It centers a lot on the relationship dynamic and since I felt like that was under-developed, the stakes never felt especially clear for me.
I think it's a wonderful book, but I wouldn't especially recommend it as a romance. Instead, I think it's great contemporary fiction with some light romance thrown in!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault
stacy837's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.75
Finally a book with bisexual/pansexual characters that don't end up with the straight guy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Classism, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Biphobia, Sexual content, and Grief
micaelacccc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexism, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
daryn's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Misogyny
Minor: Abandonment
whosfernn's review against another edition
hopeful
tense
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
4.25
I've been looking forward to this book since it came out, so glad I finally got the chance to read it! Cute, great bisexual representation, with a whole heap of the forced proximity and enemies to lovers tropes. One of my favourite reads of 2023 so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Cursing
Moderate: Misogyny and Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia and Biphobia
gellyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
I kinda feel petty not giving this 5 stars because even though I didn’t like the conflicts in the relationship, I thought they were valid and resolved beautifully. The middle just dragged a bit? I also didn’t really enjoy the whole college subplot for Maya and then it being unresolved or that we didn’t get a chance for Skye to have like a moment to Jordy or ~something~ to help her go through her abandonment issues. That resolved itself way too quickly. Although I also really enjoyed that both of these girls were out and comfortable with their sexualities from day 1! We love to see it! This was super cute!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, and Infidelity
liesthemoontells's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A formulaic but competently written queer romance novel.
The initial intrigue of the book's reality show premise was not sustained by the plot, which became pretty repetitive and dulled the interesting edges off what could have been a far more compelling look at the romance TV industry. However I found the romance between the main characters engaging enough that I read the book to the end.
The characters also seemed a little aged down for the scenario they found themselves in, which to me sat uncomfortably between YA and adult-romance fiction.
The initial intrigue of the book's reality show premise was not sustained by the plot, which became pretty repetitive and dulled the interesting edges off what could have been a far more compelling look at the romance TV industry. However I found the romance between the main characters engaging enough that I read the book to the end.
The characters also seemed a little aged down for the scenario they found themselves in, which to me sat uncomfortably between YA and adult-romance fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexism