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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
Complicated
I’ve never been one for self-insert fanfic, but this was such a good twist on it! And we love a sapphically ever after.
The chapters switch between past and present, allowing the reader to piece the whole story between Mack and Ivy together as the book continues. And while there are certainly fantastical elements, this is very much a YA, slice-of-life rom com.
Plus, so much awesome rep! Lesbian, bi, and aroace, as well as open discussions about Black athletes in predominantly white sports & why billionaires are evil. Can’t wait for this book’s pub day!
[Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an eARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion!]
The chapters switch between past and present, allowing the reader to piece the whole story between Mack and Ivy together as the book continues. And while there are certainly fantastical elements, this is very much a YA, slice-of-life rom com.
Plus, so much awesome rep! Lesbian, bi, and aroace, as well as open discussions about Black athletes in predominantly white sports & why billionaires are evil. Can’t wait for this book’s pub day!
[Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an eARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion!]
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sophie Gonzales is such a FUN writer, and this story does not disappoint! A super nerdy main character home alone for a week? Love it. Unresolved romantic tension between the MC and her bestie-turned-enemy? Yes please! Honestly, I'm not even that into fan fiction or speculative romance so I picked this up SOLELY because I loved other Gonzales books. The speculative element is not distracting. The rest is perfection. Definitely recommend for a fun read.
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-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
While I found the beginning a bit slow and it took me a little to truly get invested in the book, overall I had a great time with this story. I really liked the past/present format and being able to see the events leading up to the end of Ivy and Mack's friendship. The fanfic version of "Weston" was very cringy, but that's to be expected, given what he represented. I appreciated the accountability that Ivy took for her role in the breakdown of her friendship with Mack. It's a hard thing to recognize when you hurt someone who has also hurt you because mostly we get stuck in seeing only our own pain. But I thought Sophie did a great job wading through the conflict and resolution of their relationship.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a love letter to fanfics and those of us who like to lose ourselves in them. After all, pretending they're canon is so much easier than dealing with things in real life! And Ivy is in full bisexual panic mode as she avoids dealing with the fallout with her bff (and hardcore crush) Mack - nevermind the hot tv character she manifested. This book embodies the same frenetic energy of The Extraordinaries in both humor and awkwardness, yet also includes some really emotionally vulnerable moments about friendship and the queer experience.
This book was so fun! After reading the synopsis I wasn’t really sure about the concept of bringing fan fiction characters to life without it being awkward and unrealistic. But I shouldn’t have been worried because Sophie Gonzales never disappoints! In less than 300 pages, she managed to create an entire fictional universe, and fan fiction for the universe, along with complex characters and backstories, in a way that did not feel rushed. I usually am not a fan of switching between past and present in a book, but it flowed so naturally that I never once felt ripped away from the story, and I think it helped make it feel as if I had known Ivy forever. As unrealistic as it is for your fan fiction to come to life, by the end of the book I was pretty on board with the concept, because the whole idea was approached with a humor and affection that made this such a original and exciting book to read. I’m so thankful that I was able to receive an arc from NetGalley for this book.