it felt like i was reading a fanfiction, which should describe how this book will play out.

main character is a loser and a crybaby, too hung up on exes, corny and cringy moments, entertaining but also hard to get thru, i love irene, background characters are amazing (except a few...) and yea!

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brandie_abbie19's review

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emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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kaynova's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

I really enjoyed this book! I love a cliche, tropey kind of story and this book gives you that AND more! I was surprised by the clear, direct communication within the relationship, though at times Scottie would not want to (due to her own healing process and thinking it was okay to avoid conversations) and as well as the author is like you can do a grand gesture of love AND talk about your relationship. I adore Irene through and through; she comes with her flaws and her ferocity and she, at times, is unapologetic about it and I love it. She's a character you want to hate or at least dislike but she's a teen girl who gets wrapped up in some stuff all in the hands of love. And our MC, Scottie, has so much mess in her love life because the first love she experiences is toxic and wrong for her. She puts a lot of herself in a relationship that valued vanity, status, and popularity and she didn't know until the healing process came. There's moments in this book where I wanted to fight Scottie (the internalized misogyny, her sexist comments, the way she disregards other people's feelings for her) but I remember she's flawed and healing and the first love she has experienced isn't a healthy representation for other ones. Conversations she has with the ones she love on her past toxic relationship is true for any person who has experienced it, including loved ones not realizing they don't take your feelings into hand, only wanting to bash your past lover. She's flawed, a lot of the characters are but that's what makes this book so beautiful.

I have to say I know Danielle and Kevin are the side couple, but I adore their romance and how it blossomed between the midst of the main story. I also adored Daphne;

there's a part in the book where Scottie finally tells her family what's happening and Daphne says this

'I don't get it...I've always thought you were amazing. Why did you need Tally to show you that?'

Goodness, I actually weeped when I read it and adored the kid more than life itself.

I would read this story again and again; it was beautiful.

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