Scan barcode
bootrat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Emotional abuse and Cancer
bzliz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Readers beware: unless you are deeply steeped in British cultural references, there are many things that will go over your head but they are absolutely not relevant to the plot so it’s okay.
Graphic: Abandonment and Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
thebookraiders's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Blir ändå 3,5 stjärnor eftersom den var både mysig och rolig + otroligt bra inläst!
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia and Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Classism, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
eligru's review against another edition
- 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
Excited to see what they all get up to in the next book😁
Graphic: Mental illness and Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Abandonment, and Eating disorder
Minor: Cancer
fridayoddity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The way the two main characters go through different kind of emotional trauma processing and how much relatable some it can be is front and center in the story even if it looks like a light hearted romantic comedy, it isn't exactly one and I truly appreciated that.
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Cancer, and Eating disorder
thepoieszedlife's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Cancer
ashwaar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lucien is the semi-famous, washed-up son of an 80s rock legend. With his dad and, by extension, Lucien himself, coming back into the spotlight, he needs to find a polite, presentable boyfriend to restore his reputation ahead of an important charity event. He comes to an agreement with Oliver, who also needs a plus-one for a family gathering, to fake date until the events are over and the tabloids have become bored of Lucien’s lack of misbehaving.
However, fake dating is never really a good idea if you don’t want to end up real dating, as inevitably happens in this trope. Lucien doesn’t have the best personality, and he's pretty rude and thinks he’s better than everyone else whilst also being extremely self-deprecating. However, you learn to love him anyway, and it's really rewarding to see him grow as he becomes closer to Oliver. Speaking of Oliver, he is also a really interesting character. At first glance, he's a pretty perfect boyfriend until we start to look closer and see it's all a carefully built façade that he’s trying really hard not to break.
It can be tough to absorb what these characters think of themselves, as they’re their own harshest critics and, as a reader, you don’t want to let them believe that.. you want them to be happy. There are a lot of characters in this book, and for the most part, the personalities are pretty distinct. However, I felt like too many people were introduced at once in certain scenes. Some characters were over-dramatic cartoons or not really there at all and just faded into the background.
But despite this minor issue, I don’t really have any other complaints. I thought this was a solid, well-rounded, character-focused novel with a lot of energy and heart behind it. I’m keen to follow up on Lucien and Oliver, and I’ve already got the second novel, Husband Material, in my queue at the library.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, and Eating disorder
blubonby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse
otbval's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Minor: Abandonment, Homophobia, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Eating disorder
annahamburger's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent and Death