Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

444 reviews

ruthlessreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

Sometimes you read a perfect romance and you know it's gonna stick with you for years. Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert was like that for me and now I can add The Charm Offensive to the (very) short list of best romance books I've read. 

Cochrun is a master at creating emotional moments with real-feeling characters, then tying all those moments into a (mostly*) believable plot. I loved every moment of this book and it made me feel seen in a variety of ways. More queer love stories with people who have mental illnesses, please!

*mostly because

the firing of the showrunner after she was openly homophobic didn't ring true LOL but I still loved that moment anyway.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

rlaortiz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Homophobia and Vomit

lee_noel's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

I do not like reality television but this book was incredible. Highly recommend for the gays, the mental health moments, and the epic (not a fairy tale) romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

jess_always_reading's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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 absolutely loved this story. It's light, quirky, and fun with great mad and queer representation. The main characters are lovable and I was fully invested in them and the side characters were also wonderfully layered. 

A perfect cozy read. 

10/10 would recommend 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual assault

madelinedalton'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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Biphobia and Sexual content

Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit

levilore_'s review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

This book was awesome and really hit me in the feels. It was nice to see such a diverse book that explored mental health issues well and also had good OCD rep. I really enjoyed how the characters learned how to be healthier for themselves first before they were in a relationship. 

The plot was also very interesting, and I liked how the side characters were implemented into the story plus the importance of diversity in tv, even reality tv, which is often left out of diversity discussions. Overall, a really good book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Acephobia/Arophobia, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

monster_13's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Biphobia and Homophobia

kim_gzt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Amazing book with great characters. I originally thought that it would be a pretty flat Romcom but I was totally wrong. For being a pretty short book, Dev and Charlie characters were developed deeply. I enjoyed reading it from both their point of views a lot. It gave you a lot of inside of who they are. I also loved the queer representation and awareness for mental health. A 5/5 read for me!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

bookobsessedmommy's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

When Dev, hopeless romantic, is assigned to coach Charlie, romantically hopeless, into being prince charming on a Bacheloresque reality TV show, will the final product be an epic disaster or happy ever after? I freaking love this book so much! Secret dating is one of my favorite tropes, but when you add in awkward nerds, self discovery, and a slow burn, I am swooning. The way this relationship develops feels real inspite of the ridiculous premise, and the intimacy and chemistry leaps off the page even with this being mostly fade to black. The way they deal with, or avoid, their mental health struggles, and try to support each other melted my heart. Allison Cochran's writing is so all consuming and descriptive that I could see each scene playing out like a movie, and I think this would make an amazing adaptation! I just finish it, but I already want to read it again. 💗

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcoholism

knitsandnovels's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia and Homophobia