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chi__'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
3.75
Moderate: Death, Grief, Abandonment, and Car accident
hayleyvem'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Sexual content, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
thehannahclaire'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
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Car accident, and Classism
anniereads214'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? It's complicated
3.75
Minor: Car accident, Deportation, Sexual content, Grief, and Death
clareasday's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Sexual content, and Grief
bakergirlsbooks1999'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Car accident, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
sariereads'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Car accident
marianaribeiro'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
2.75
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Car accident
teatunesandtales'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
5.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, and Car accident
Minor: Classism and Pregnancy
jillkaarlela'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? It's complicated
4.5
Age rating: 17+ (3 steamy scenes, 1.5/5🌶️)
We love autism and POC rep!! In this book the mmc is autistic, and both MCs are Vietnamese. This is a more modern version of a “mail-order-bride” trope, where the mom brings a girls from Vietnam to the United States to live with him for the summer and hopefully marry him (so they both find love and she gets a green card). You can tell that the author dealt with this topic with so much intentionality and care!
I also loved the focus on Esme’s independence and work ethic/drive! She really would’ve made it on her own (become a successful US citizen) even if she wasn’t with Khai. She is so brave and strong.
I liked this one as much as “the Kiss Quotient”, but in a different way. “The bride test” is MUCH more of a slow burn, as the mmc deals with past trauma and doesn’t think he has the emotional capacity for grief and love. But the payoff is sooooo worth it! Seeing Khai slowly open up and love her with his actions for so long without realizing it?? The best!! So much of this book was Khai experiencing this undeniable pull to a person for the first time, and discovering that he has the capacity for emotions that people once accused him of being incapable of (love, grief, etc.) Their love is so tender! They truly just want to never be apart from each other, and show their love in the little ways every day.
TW/CW: fmc is a single mother, death of childhood friend and grief, ableism, past trauma surrounding emotional capabilities, death, and motorcycle accident.
Moderate: Car accident, Ableism, and Death