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emrodav's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
Oh, I wanted to like this book so much! It has an interesting premise, and I'm a sucker for enemies -> friends -> more. But so many things just didn't work.
There were way too many characters introduced too quickly. They all start to run together for me. And it doesn't help that we learn everything about them when they're introduced (from complete physical description to all of their meaningful personality traits).
There also just...isn't a lot going on. It seems almost endless, just descriptions of soccer and parties and not much else.
The whole thing just feels very much like a first novel. It's got some promise, but it definitely falls short.
Oh, I wanted to like this book so much! It has an interesting premise, and I'm a sucker for enemies -> friends -> more. But so many things just didn't work.
There were way too many characters introduced too quickly. They all start to run together for me. And it doesn't help that we learn everything about them when they're introduced (from complete physical description to all of their meaningful personality traits).
There also just...isn't a lot going on. It seems almost endless, just descriptions of soccer and parties and not much else.
The whole thing just feels very much like a first novel. It's got some promise, but it definitely falls short.
sunny_r's review against another edition
2.0
DNF - this was just bad, and I’m mad that I went in thinking it’d be a much better read. Props to it for the diversity and representation, but everything else was truly awful. I’m disappointed.
rainmisoa's review against another edition
I can't read this. The writing is terrible. The characters are insufferable. The dialogue is cringe. And the representation is not great. Especially when it comes to the Latine character Giovanni. Ugh. I just don't care enough to read what's going to happen next.
zaraburgess's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
joanna1905's review against another edition
4.0
Reread #2 - 22/03/19
THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE AND I LOVE IT! I CAN'T WAIT FOR JULIAN'S NEXT RELEASE! WE LOVE DIVERSE SPORTS TEAMS WHO LOVE EACH OTHER, REJECT TOXIC MASCULINITY AND EMBRACE THEIR DIFFERENCES!
____________________________________________________________
Oh gosh dang this book is so cute!! Fan's of Becky Albertalli will adore this!!
I love the whole premise of a lgbtq+ love story set at a soccer camp, the comradery between the boys is so heartwarming (no toxic masculinity in sight!!). I love how being lgbtq+ isn't the point of contention as the characters are all already pretty comfortable with who they are.
I loved the plot point of Sebastian having body image issues, it's so rare for the media to show boys struggling with these kinds of issues so it was a really great piece of representation!
I also adored the relationship between Sebastian and Emir, the friends to enemies to friends to lovers plot line is always great and it was executed perfectly!!
The only thing I was kind of disappointed with was the plot line about why Sebastian and Emir stopped being friends, I thought it was going to be some great reveal that one of them pulled away from the other because they had fallin for them and were afraid. So the actual reason of them just kind of losing touch when Emir moved was kind of a letdown.
However, all in all, this is a super cute read! Very akin to Becky Albertalli's work (i.e. a light heart love story with a whole host of lgbtq+ and poc characters).
I'm really interested to see what Winters does next!
THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE AND I LOVE IT! I CAN'T WAIT FOR JULIAN'S NEXT RELEASE! WE LOVE DIVERSE SPORTS TEAMS WHO LOVE EACH OTHER, REJECT TOXIC MASCULINITY AND EMBRACE THEIR DIFFERENCES!
____________________________________________________________
Oh gosh dang this book is so cute!! Fan's of Becky Albertalli will adore this!!
I love the whole premise of a lgbtq+ love story set at a soccer camp, the comradery between the boys is so heartwarming (no toxic masculinity in sight!!). I love how being lgbtq+ isn't the point of contention as the characters are all already pretty comfortable with who they are.
I loved the plot point of Sebastian having body image issues, it's so rare for the media to show boys struggling with these kinds of issues so it was a really great piece of representation!
I also adored the relationship between Sebastian and Emir, the friends to enemies to friends to lovers plot line is always great and it was executed perfectly!!
The only thing I was kind of disappointed with was the plot line about why Sebastian and Emir stopped being friends, I thought it was going to be some great reveal that one of them pulled away from the other because they had fallin for them and were afraid. So the actual reason of them just kind of losing touch when Emir moved was kind of a letdown.
However, all in all, this is a super cute read! Very akin to Becky Albertalli's work (i.e. a light heart love story with a whole host of lgbtq+ and poc characters).
I'm really interested to see what Winters does next!
emilyv17's review against another edition
4.0
This book got 5 stars on the impact it had and feelings it made me process, it was so heartwarming, comforting, and homely.
Now, I feel three stars are appropriate for the structure and overall spacing of the book. It had a very slow and choppy flow in the beginning (which actually made this a DNF a year ago) but it was evident that Winters found his flow later in the novel.
The main messages and what was intended to get across should have definitely been spaced throughout the book. Like showing it sooner or giving this advice in the middle of the book and developing how Sebastian evolves with that advice; rather than one big realization at the end leaving the climax of the book very isolated (excluding Sebastians talk with Coach O’Brien one of my favorite and most well written moments in the novel).
Overall this was a debut novel, it was clear Winters spent his time finding his flow, style, and way to achieve his purpose (in regards to the themes of family, sexuality, and acceptance). But I still loved it, resonated with characters (WILLIE), and got to learn a little from Sebastian and his coming of age adventures.
It is definitely on my occasional rereads list. :)
Now, I feel three stars are appropriate for the structure and overall spacing of the book. It had a very slow and choppy flow in the beginning (which actually made this a DNF a year ago) but it was evident that Winters found his flow later in the novel.
The main messages and what was intended to get across should have definitely been spaced throughout the book. Like showing it sooner or giving this advice in the middle of the book and developing how Sebastian evolves with that advice; rather than one big realization at the end leaving the climax of the book very isolated (excluding Sebastians talk with Coach O’Brien one of my favorite and most well written moments in the novel).
Overall this was a debut novel, it was clear Winters spent his time finding his flow, style, and way to achieve his purpose (in regards to the themes of family, sexuality, and acceptance). But I still loved it, resonated with characters (WILLIE), and got to learn a little from Sebastian and his coming of age adventures.
It is definitely on my occasional rereads list. :)
joyceeeee_k's review against another edition
2.0
*2.5 stars
the romance:
eh, didn’t do it for me. i felt like amir and seb’s relationship wasn’t believable mostly bc i felt like they had little to no chemistry in the first place. this also doesn’t feel like a solid enemies to lovers romance, which is upsetting bc i’m a hoe for that trope. but the “hate” was one-sided on amir’s part and the reason why they became “enemies” felt kind of lackluster.
seb’s body issues:
at first i liked the fact it was brought up, but then quickly changed my mind when realizing it was only brought up once and then brushed away like an afterthought.
writing:
this book is written a lot like fanfiction - which isn’t meant to be insulting, i’m also a hoe for fanfic - but it was odd to see this style in an actual novel. the third person POV seems constricting and makes it more difficult to grasp what the characters are feeling.
i didn’t love this book and it just didn’t feel memorable to me in any aspect, but still i do appreciate all the positive rep it had to offer. (the profuse acceptance of lgbt+ characters, seb’s body issues - although hardly mentioned - and a diverse gang of ppl in general).
the romance:
eh, didn’t do it for me. i felt like amir and seb’s relationship wasn’t believable mostly bc i felt like they had little to no chemistry in the first place. this also doesn’t feel like a solid enemies to lovers romance, which is upsetting bc i’m a hoe for that trope. but the “hate” was one-sided on amir’s part and the reason why they became “enemies” felt kind of lackluster.
seb’s body issues:
at first i liked the fact it was brought up, but then quickly changed my mind when realizing it was only brought up once and then brushed away like an afterthought.
writing:
this book is written a lot like fanfiction - which isn’t meant to be insulting, i’m also a hoe for fanfic - but it was odd to see this style in an actual novel. the third person POV seems constricting and makes it more difficult to grasp what the characters are feeling.
i didn’t love this book and it just didn’t feel memorable to me in any aspect, but still i do appreciate all the positive rep it had to offer. (the profuse acceptance of lgbt+ characters, seb’s body issues - although hardly mentioned - and a diverse gang of ppl in general).
catcardoso's review against another edition
4.0
I was expecting just a fluffy and cute romance story and it was actually so much more than that
galaxcr's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0