Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann

15 reviews

specklecommittee's review

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

 Although the story is written with all the cringe and yearning of a YA novel, its message felt nuanced and refreshing. The asexual representation was written with a lot of care. The main character's conflict stemmed from not being seen or accepted by others. And the development of the love interest felt healthy, endearing, and pretty radical. 
 At the same time, the story felt written for younger audiences, but had adult themes that people under at least 17 wouldn’t connect with/be appropriate for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship

mari1532's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing tense 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

4.5

#23for23 (Learn more: https://www.23for23.net/)

I checked this audiobook out of my library.

Brief Synopsis: Alice is going to have the best summer. Eating great food, working her cozy job at the library, watching television, and spending time with her girlfriend...except she doesn't have a girlfriend anymore. After Alice tells her girlfriend that she's asexual, Alice finds herself no longer in a relationship. With a broken heart, she enters the summer with no thoughts toward anything other than going to work and avoiding people. Then she meets her new coworker, Takumi, and suddenly the summer seems full of terrifying possibilities for Alice.

Thoughts: I loved the romance between Alice and Takumi throughout this book. The way that they care for each other and build a connection with one another was so heartwarming to watch and a joy to read. I also really appreciated Alice's growth within her asexuality and how Takumi and she were able to navigate the meaning of that within their romance. 

I also love that the place where Alice and Takumi fall for each other is a library. It's a perfect combination of some of my favourite things romance and books. 

The only thing I did not like about this book is Alice's relationship with her best friends, Feenie and Ryan, who are in a partnership with each other. I felt that Feenie and Alice's relationship was a little toxic. They had a lot of history together and I do not doubt that at some point they were very close and had a lot of love for each other. However, when Feenie is upset that Alice is forming a relationship with Takumi being jealous, rather than supportive it rubbed me the wrong way. I also felt that the resolution of that tension was not entirely satisfying. 

This is a great romance with asexual representation. I would recommend this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual content

elenushka8's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia

Moderate: Racism and Alcohol

the_vegan_bookworm's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I was surprised by how much I loved this story. In large part, it was because I love Takumi and Alice. They are sweet, charming characters who I squeed about constantly. I loved seeing a romantic relationship develop without the asexuality changing. I related wholeheartedly to the conflicts between Alice and her friends. Though the resolution between them wasn't satisfying perse, I still really enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

matheo's review against another edition

funny lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Racism, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Biphobia and Panic attacks/disorders

fairy_internet's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Acephobia/Arophobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, and Sexual content

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders

courtnoodles's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

3.5

The writing was fab but did get repetitive and grating. Alice and Takumi are adorable, I officially love friends to lovers. Can't speak for the ace rep. Feenie is a bitch.

"Feeling 22 in 2022": A Taylor Swift Book Challenge - A book featuring a cat

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Xenophobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Racism

Minor: Abandonment

emhunsber's review

funny informative 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? No

3.5

Hooray for representation! This book has a lovely romance as it's main plot, but with a twist: the main character is asexual, and throughout the novel she and her love interest have to come to grips with what this means for their relationship.

The representation was realistic, especially with the main character's rants to her therapist about what being ace feels like. Her experiences seemed true to an ace identity, but aren't often shown in media without it being a joke or a thing that makes a character deviant.

Lastly, while being ace is the driving force of the main character's conflict, it's not the only defining factor of the  character. She has a personality; she has depth; she is human.

This book is very much a romance novel, but the asexual character and the experience of asexuality shared within the pages are so important.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual content

Minor: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Drug use

libraryghost's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Moderate: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcohol