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criticalgayze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Let me start with my minor quibbles. I think this book is a little over reaching in what it asks the reader to believe about the television show that makes up the basis for the book's primary setting. The idea that none of these crew members besides the assistant producer know these girls are the show runner's daughter seem overly far fetched. I also find it wholly unbelievable that wouldn't be leaked by a "friend" of at least one of the trio of sisters. I thought the novel waited too long to really have the main character start sneaking around with the love interest, and I think that should have either been downplayed for the female friendships story that makes up most of the book's first half or leant into, as it is for the back half of the novel. Instead, the book sits in this limbo. It was also an odd choice for weight to be a discussion between the main character and literally everyone other than her love interest. Not bad or wrong necessarily, just odd.
While I know that seems like a lot of quibbles, I think Julie Murphy really is a gifted writer, and I was happy to love this one after finding Dumplin' to be just so-so. The writing is fun and sharp and quick and inclusive, and I found this to be a nice little champagne fizz of a story.
Graphic: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, and Sexual content
bookcrushin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent
roget's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
thisreadingcorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
ishouldbereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
First off, they had so little chemistry I almost couldn't believe they should be in love. They had their moments, you could say, but it wasn't something to root for. But to be fair, Henry had zero chemistry with all the girls. Next up, Henry altogether. He was so flatly written, I still don't know who he is. He had no character traits and so many things about him didn't make sense. Especially his decision making, mainly in the end, made no sense.
Now the body positivity part. I really REALLY liked that nobody really cared about her being plus-sized (except Addison, I still want to know what she said) and she seemed confident in her body. I loved the part when she made her own dress and her comments in the show about being plus-sized. I especially loved that Henry didn't make the cheesy comments in most body-positivity books/movies and just seemed to not even realize it. But I feel like we didn't get that big of a respond from public. Yes, the audience loved her, but I wanted to know more. I know they didn't have phones in most of the book but they could add a little more audience reaction, tweets and just women appreciating her.
Now my probably biggest issue with this book: It felt like a copy of Selection. Most of the characters and plot was the same as in Selection. And let me tell you, I liked Selection more, it was better written. The participants were the same and yeah, it makes sense that they were similiar since they're both based on The Bachelor but these similiarities felt too similiar. Addison was a total copy of Celeste, Sarah Claire was Kriss, Anne was Marlee and so on and so on.
But the best part about this book was the retelling. The little details like her having blue dress and those shoes, midnight and all those cute references. It was such a good retelling and I loved that her stepmom wasn't evil. It felt natural and it's my favourite retelling so far.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, and Sexual content
anniesbookpicks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent
roemsy's review against another edition
4.0
Now for some of the things I didn’t love. *POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT AGAIN* I am never a fan of when the only conflict is a tiny, minor one and it happens at 90% through the book and is resolved at 98%. There could’ve been much more authentic ones built in that felt more plausible and less rushed throughout. At that point I was like why even give us a conflict, just let them be happy? But besides that I really enjoyed this story and I think it’s one a lot of others will too.
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
ldslizzard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I gave it 3 stars because I loved the heroine and the relationships throughout. So much representation of different life scenarios! Beck was amazing too! Just wish the ending was better.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia and Cancer
bookbunny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent