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criticalgayze's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
This one works to confirm my working theory that I will enjoy straight romance, as long as it is written by someone with a marginalized identity, and I was happily surprised to have enjoyed a read I picked on a whim for an obscure prompt on a reading challenge I'm doing with my family.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
This was a really cute read with a really likeable protagonist. My only real complaint is the ending. It came totally out of nowhere, didn't really match Cindy's character and was a really big dick move. Was there no other outcome besides humiliating your love interest on national television for basically no reason? Why would you just assume none of it was real when he strongly implied it was? It doesn't make sense to me.
Content Warnings
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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
Absolutely love this love story of an adult romcom centered around cinderella
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent
roget's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
Cindy was quite likeable. This reads more like a story about her getting back into her creative process as an artist and less like a romance, honestly. There are things about that that I like, but it felt like we needed more from Henry. We never find out what really drew him to Cindy or vice versa. It just seems weird, given the genre.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
thisreadingcorner's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
ishouldbereading's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
3.75
I expected SO much from this book, I was so sure this will be a 5 star read. However, this book disappointed me greatly.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, and Sexual content
anniesbookpicks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
roemsy's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
What a cute, funny, love story with great rep including a plus size main character who is the coolest! If you’re a fan of the bachelor or Disney, you’ll love this modern Cinderella loose retelling with a reality tv twist. I absolutely adored some of the changes the author made to the storyline (i.e. fun, over-the-top, supportive stepsisters vs evil ones) and I think it gave the story such a fresh feel. *POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT* I also really appreciate a “happy for now” ending vs “happily ever after” because it just feels so much more realistic.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
ldslizzard's review against another edition
funny
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? Yes
3.25
Normally, I am a sucker for a good retelling - especially Cinderella! I adored the beginning of this book! But the ending left sooooo much to be desired. It was rushed and just didn’t make sense in terms if all the emotion and detail that went into the beginning. The book was less than 300 pages, so there was clearly more room for detail there!
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia and Cancer
bookbunny's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent