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abidavisf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I’ve waited thirteen years for a book like this. As someone with suspected endometriosis who lives everyday in pain, who consistently feels misunderstood, like a burden, and worries what those in my life really think when I have to cancel plans or tell them I’m hurting or stumble over my words because I can’t catch my breath let alone form a sentence, Finding Gene Kelly was the reassurance I needed.
For one, several of Evie’s symptoms are things that I’ve experienced but nobody else in my life has, even my friends with endo. To read about Evie having the same issues reassured me that it isn’t just me and also that I am right to keep pushing for a diagnosis. The mental journey that Evie goes through hit me so hard, from never feeling like it’s possible to have a normal day to feeling like attempting to make or hold down relationships is pointless because who would want to stick around for this?
Thank you, Torie Jean, for sharing this story with us. I feel so seen. I cannot begin to explain how much I needed these words.
For one, several of Evie’s symptoms are things that I’ve experienced but nobody else in my life has, even my friends with endo. To read about Evie having the same issues reassured me that it isn’t just me and also that I am right to keep pushing for a diagnosis. The mental journey that Evie goes through hit me so hard, from never feeling like it’s possible to have a normal day to feeling like attempting to make or hold down relationships is pointless because who would want to stick around for this?
Thank you, Torie Jean, for sharing this story with us. I feel so seen. I cannot begin to explain how much I needed these words.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infertility, Medical content, and Pregnancy
orenta's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nerdvanafandomheart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
morganlmace's review against another edition
5.0
Before I start my review of Finding Gene Kelly, I want to be fully transparent that Torie Jean is one of my dearest friends and this book is WONDERFUL! I also want to state that even if she wasn’t a good friend of mine I would still LOVE this book, and everyone needs to go read it right NOW. What’s not to love when there’s a beautifully written own voices representation of endometriosis, your backdrop is the “City of Love”, you have childhood frenemies who FAKE DATE (but honestly there’s been A LOT of pining/unrequited love), all of the puns, the POSTCARDS and two characters (Evie and LIam) who are reunited in one of my most favorite “meet cutes” EVER (“Nope” – IYKYK). The banter between Liam and Evie is just *chef’s kiss* and just all of the things Liam and Evie do for each other had me swooning throughout the whole book – I mean we even get a grand gesture at the end! WARNING: this book will also make you want all of the carbs, cheese, and wine you can get your hands on!
Potential readers should heed the content and trigger warnings that Torie Jean has placed at the beginning of Finding Gene Kelly, which I for one am a huge proponent of. While at its heart Finding Gene Kelly is a romance (and a GREAT one at that), it also deals with many heavy issues that will make people feel seen and need to be in the right headspace before they read. Torie Jean’s own voice representation of living with endometriosis and the effort it takes to be one’s own advocate will strike a chord with many readers and provide an outlet for people who live with endometriosis to feel seen and heard. Also, knowing Torie Jean personally, all the tiny nods to her friends and important people in her life throughout the book also gave me all the feels and made this book even more special and wonderful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Torie Jean, NetGalley and Xpresso Tours for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
Potential readers should heed the content and trigger warnings that Torie Jean has placed at the beginning of Finding Gene Kelly, which I for one am a huge proponent of. While at its heart Finding Gene Kelly is a romance (and a GREAT one at that), it also deals with many heavy issues that will make people feel seen and need to be in the right headspace before they read. Torie Jean’s own voice representation of living with endometriosis and the effort it takes to be one’s own advocate will strike a chord with many readers and provide an outlet for people who live with endometriosis to feel seen and heard. Also, knowing Torie Jean personally, all the tiny nods to her friends and important people in her life throughout the book also gave me all the feels and made this book even more special and wonderful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Torie Jean, NetGalley and Xpresso Tours for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
leesha_nyaa's review against another edition
5.0
NO ONE CAN TELL ME LIAM KELLY ISN'T PERFECT. I WILL DIE ON THAT HILL.
He puts other book boyfriends to shame. TO SHAME!
I hated every second Evie's pain prevented her from doing something or made her feel like she couldn't. How her disability almost made her lose practically everything she wanted.
What is more romantic than flying across the world for someone? TWICE!! It happened twice! Liam flew across the world for Evie and Evie did the same for him!! Are you kidding me?!
I can't imagine anyone hating this book. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to yell at Evie for not going for what she wanted. I cried for Liam every time he tried to show Evie his love because he tried so hard!!
I consumed this book!
He puts other book boyfriends to shame. TO SHAME!
I hated every second Evie's pain prevented her from doing something or made her feel like she couldn't. How her disability almost made her lose practically everything she wanted.
What is more romantic than flying across the world for someone? TWICE!! It happened twice! Liam flew across the world for Evie and Evie did the same for him!! Are you kidding me?!
I can't imagine anyone hating this book. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to yell at Evie for not going for what she wanted. I cried for Liam every time he tried to show Evie his love because he tried so hard!!
I consumed this book!
kelly_carlson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
damagedglories's review against another edition
dnf @ 19%— not counted towards my reading goal
i just couldn’t read it and i really wanted to like it but everything was falling flat from dialogue to character and setting (and the setting is paris of all places!) i just couldn’t care about anything happening so sorry!
i just couldn’t read it and i really wanted to like it but everything was falling flat from dialogue to character and setting (and the setting is paris of all places!) i just couldn’t care about anything happening so sorry!
swiftlyreviews's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a great read! The story follows Evie, who suffers from Endometriosis and it shows how life is day to day for her and how she copes. I found the book to be eye opening and interesting! Evie eventually runs into Liam Kelly, a childhood friend. After she asks him to be her fake date to her brothers wedding, the two realize how much they actually like each other. They fought and bickered but also teased each other! They would flirt and often use puns about cheese, which I found really funny!
This book had a lot of fun moments between Evie and Liam but also realistic ones too. Nothing is perfect and life always throws curveballs. For the first half, they didn’t get along but WE could tell that they liked each other a lot. Both of them were stubborn!
I loved everything about this. A great easy and fun read. I will definitely read this again! I also really liked the chapter names and little doodles of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I thought it was a nice touch!
This book had a lot of fun moments between Evie and Liam but also realistic ones too. Nothing is perfect and life always throws curveballs. For the first half, they didn’t get along but WE could tell that they liked each other a lot. Both of them were stubborn!
I loved everything about this. A great easy and fun read. I will definitely read this again! I also really liked the chapter names and little doodles of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I thought it was a nice touch!