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taelights's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
This book was pretty fun and cute but way too overhyped. With all the 4 and 5 star reviews and hype around this book I expected a lot more and was kind of disappointed because of it.
The writing style of the book is very YA and the whole plot of the book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief. Like I still have no fucking idea why people thought putting Charlie on basically the Batchelor would fix his reputation and get him his job back?? Literally makes no sense and there seems to be a lot better ways to fix a reputation before jumping to a dating show of all things??? It especially makes no sense when Charlie is a painfully socially awkward man who has never dated before and has OCD and anxiety.
Speaking of which I know this book is praised for it's mental health representation but honestly I don't think it did a good job at it.
The conflicts in the book were most of the time unnecessary and annoying because it. And the final source of angst was just so…. ugh.
Also can I just say the sex scenes in this where really bad? Like they could have been omitted because they were badly written and boring.
But for some positives the characters did have some moments of good chemistry where I really enjoyed them together and I thought the ending was cute.
The book was cute but predictable and unremarkable. It's definitely not one I'll reread or think about after this. It was fun while I read it but it's not a book that will stay with me or one I'll recommend to a lot of people. But it was cute enough I won't talk someone out of reading it either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Mental illness, and Ableism
readinglikesappho's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
full transparency i went into this book just expecting a one-off simple romcom but it ended up being so much more than that and I loved it so much.
all cringe aside, this book is the embodiment of the 'we accept the love we think we deserve' quote.
this book made me want to watch a reality dating tv show, but only until I remembered that they all suck and are full of ugly straight people.
the way this book talks about and portrays mental health was one of the best I've read in a while. the way that Charlies OCD & anxiety and Devs depression are talked about and shown to us was so well done. the way that the severity and the dark ugly side of them are normalized and how the focus on therapy and taking care of yourself are emphasized?!?!?!? i cried.
also the way that we see comphet played out and described was so genuine and realistic i related to it so heavily.
Also was a huge fan of the way that Charlie decides he wants to exist outside a label but also being sure in his place on the ace spectrum. I think that people often think ace characters have to be sex-repulsed and timid and forget that asexuality exists on a spectrum so it was really refreshing to see Charlie express his feelings.
i related to Charlie on so many levels that it was genuinely concerning and I'm going to repress some stuff for a little while now but its okay!
even with the heavy themes this book is so much fun and its so cheesy and i loved it and if you're looking for a queer romcom with substance that tugs on your heartstrings in the right way while also giving you the right amount of yanking ur hair out in frustration; i highly HIGHLY recommend checking this book out.
tw// depictions of panic attacks, ableist language surrounding mental health, vomiting, sexism, racism & homophobia (in the context of Hollywood and reality television), heavy discussions about mental health (specifically OCD, anxiety & depression), slightly graphic sexual content, mentions and attempts of sexual assault (minor but still relevant).
all cringe aside, this book is the embodiment of the 'we accept the love we think we deserve' quote.
this book made me want to watch a reality dating tv show, but only until I remembered that they all suck and are full of ugly straight people.
the way this book talks about and portrays mental health was one of the best I've read in a while. the way that Charlies OCD & anxiety and Devs depression are talked about and shown to us was so well done. the way that the severity and the dark ugly side of them are normalized and how the focus on therapy and taking care of yourself are emphasized?!?!?!? i cried.
also the way that we see comphet played out and described was so genuine and realistic i related to it so heavily.
Also was a huge fan of the way that Charlie decides he wants to exist outside a label but also being sure in his place on the ace spectrum. I think that people often think ace characters have to be sex-repulsed and timid and forget that asexuality exists on a spectrum so it was really refreshing to see Charlie express his feelings.
i related to Charlie on so many levels that it was genuinely concerning and I'm going to repress some stuff for a little while now but its okay!
even with the heavy themes this book is so much fun and its so cheesy and i loved it and if you're looking for a queer romcom with substance that tugs on your heartstrings in the right way while also giving you the right amount of yanking ur hair out in frustration; i highly HIGHLY recommend checking this book out.
tw// depictions of panic attacks, ableist language surrounding mental health, vomiting, sexism, racism & homophobia (in the context of Hollywood and reality television), heavy discussions about mental health (specifically OCD, anxiety & depression), slightly graphic sexual content, mentions and attempts of sexual assault (minor but still relevant).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Ableism, Mental illness, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
olivander's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing
Minor: Vomit and Abandonment
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Ableism, Abandonment, Homophobia, and Mental illness
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
4.25
By the end of this I ended up loving the side characters more than the main characters but I absolutely loved them too don't worry. The a-spec representation is really special to me and all though the plot is super predictable (at least to me) I enjoyed the journey and the romance made me feel so lonely in the best way possible. I recommend this to my fruity friends :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Ableism
casreads's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-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
3.5
Very sweet. Felt a little slow at times, and the secondary characters didn't feel fully fleshed out - especially the women competing on the show.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, and Mental illness
Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Biphobia
puttingwingsonwords'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Ableism, Alcohol, Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Acephobia/Arophobia
romie_chat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.5
I’m in absolute awe of the different and wonderful mental health representations in this book. I saw myself represented in Charlie’s anxiety disorder, in the depiction of Dev’s depression (some of the experiences described in this book were so close to my own that I felt punched in the throat). I also very much appreciated the entire discussion on discovering your sexuality later on life, not being sure of which label fits and if any ever will, and it’s more than okay. I also adored the discussion around being on the asexual spectrum, and the fact that there is on page demisexual representation warmed my heart.
I’m not a huge reality tv person and maybe that’s why I did not care much about the sub plot, but I still found it extremely interesting to see how easy it is to shape the narrative and twist it to make it fit heteronormativity. it’s definitely something that needs to be discussed more (4.40)
I’m not a huge reality tv person and maybe that’s why I did not care much about the sub plot, but I still found it extremely interesting to see how easy it is to shape the narrative and twist it to make it fit heteronormativity. it’s definitely something that needs to be discussed more (4.40)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Ableism
e_flah's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I really wanted to love The Charm Offensive but something was just missing for me. The story was entertaining enough though I was never fully emotionally invested, which was disappointing.
To start with what I did enjoy, Charlie's questioning of his sexuality was so generously and kindly portrayed in the story. No one pressures Charlie to label his sexuality. I don't think I've ever read a portrayal of questioning like this, particularly not one where every character responds with understanding. This was so lovely to see on the page and was one of my favorite things about The Charm Offensive.
I think the biggest thing about this book that didn't quite click for me was Dev's character development. His character seems largely defined by a few things -- particularly his belief in Ever After as a show that helps people find love and his depression. I kept hoping we'd get more character development to round out Dev but even though he's a main POV character, I felt like I didn't really know who he was. I've also seen some Indian reviewers critiquing the portrayal of Dev's Indian identity, which further emphasizes the lackluster character development of Dev.
To start with what I did enjoy, Charlie's questioning of his sexuality was so generously and kindly portrayed in the story. No one pressures Charlie to label his sexuality. I don't think I've ever read a portrayal of questioning like this, particularly not one where every character responds with understanding. This was so lovely to see on the page and was one of my favorite things about The Charm Offensive.
I think the biggest thing about this book that didn't quite click for me was Dev's character development. His character seems largely defined by a few things -- particularly his belief in Ever After as a show that helps people find love and his depression. I kept hoping we'd get more character development to round out Dev but even though he's a main POV character, I felt like I didn't really know who he was. I've also seen some Indian reviewers critiquing the portrayal of Dev's Indian identity, which further emphasizes the lackluster character development of Dev.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
tobeeornottobee's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
4.75
i’ve been in a reading slump since august and this yanked me right out of it. it kept my attention, was light and fluffy while still being real, and had lovely characters. the ending was kind of clunky but otherwise i thought it was really sweet and will be rereading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia