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dwoht's review
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
5.0
i started this book thinking that it will help me survive the holidays. i ended up not reading it during the holidays and instead picked it up on january.
i truly enjoyed this book! there were moments when i want to scream out loud or pull out my hair (in a good way). this book made me feel so much emotions and i really loved the experience while reading it.
the premise of the book was interesting. i didn't connect at ellie's character at first but after she met andrew's character it started getting interesting. i was enjoying it. there's so many taylor swift and pop culture references too. i also loved the dynamics between the characters. i could write everything that i loved about this book but this review would be too long. i also have things that i hated about this book but the experience while reading it just outweighs it all. maybe i'm just being biased tho lol.
i just have a problem with the cover, I don't like the color and just... ugh. i also wished we can read the POV of jack but it's done now so whatever. but i really really enjoyed this and i love the characters so much!
i truly enjoyed this book! there were moments when i want to scream out loud or pull out my hair (in a good way). this book made me feel so much emotions and i really loved the experience while reading it.
the premise of the book was interesting. i didn't connect at ellie's character at first but after she met andrew's character it started getting interesting. i was enjoying it. there's so many taylor swift and pop culture references too. i also loved the dynamics between the characters. i could write everything that i loved about this book but this review would be too long. i also have things that i hated about this book but the experience while reading it just outweighs it all. maybe i'm just being biased tho lol.
i just have a problem with the cover, I don't like the color and just... ugh. i also wished we can read the POV of jack but it's done now so whatever. but i really really enjoyed this and i love the characters so much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Biphobia, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Infidelity
mjwhitlock18's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
4.5
A queer mashup of While You Were Sleeping and The Proposal, with a bookstore meetcute, cozy holiday vibes, and a second chance romance, I love everything about it. Complex family dynamics, endearing characters, and cute feel-good vibes. It is a bit insta-love, which doesn’t totally jive with the main character being a self-professed demisexual, but otherwise, no notes and I’d read it again for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Homophobia
Minor: Transphobia
bookworm247's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity
imaginaryalchemist's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a charming, fun holiday read with a few issues. One was that the relationship between Ellie and Jack felt too rushed. I found it hard to believe they'd have such a strong connection after only one day, especially since Ellie is openly demisexual. As a demisexual myself, I appreciated the demi and ace-spec representation but felt it wasn't entirely accurate to our experiences.
The flashback sequences could be jarring at times, but they did give more context to Ellie and Jack's relationship.
Also had some issues with the ending:
I didn't think Ellie and Jack should have gotten back together, or tried to have a relationship. I felt like there was too much baggage there. They'd be better off going their separate ways and taking their failed relationship as a way to learn and grow.
The flashback sequences could be jarring at times, but they did give more context to Ellie and Jack's relationship.
Also had some issues with the ending:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Infidelity
There are a couple sex scenes that go into detail. There's discussions of toxic family relationships and neglectful parents. (Ellie has an absent father and a manipulative mother. Jack and Andrew both have issues with their family's lofty expectations.) The main character's anxiety disorder comes up frequently, with her having panic attacks. Infidelity and fake relationships are common themes throughout the story. -The characters drink and get intoxicated multiple times.mmalone's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
thepoieszedlife's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
This is the best bi rep I’ve ever read in a book (although admittedly I haven’t read that many books with bi characters so far so take that as you may). The anxiety and panic disorder reps are also really freaking good (I have both & never once did I not understand where Ellie was coming from.. although it did make me think about how hard it’s gotta be to be on the outside of it all.)
Overall this was a fantastic book. Definitely worth the hype & I’m immediately moving The Charm Offensive up on my TBR.
Overall this was a fantastic book. Definitely worth the hype & I’m immediately moving The Charm Offensive up on my TBR.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity
torikate7's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Cursing, and Infidelity
corncake's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Let’s ignore that the first book I’ve finished this year is a Christmas book. If we can have a pre-Christmas in November, what is stopping me from enjoying the season with a post-Christmas in January? 😂🎄
Anyways, this book was a messy, hilarious, and touching read for the holiday season. If you need a cute, gay Christmas romance in your life that has many of the classic cliche tropes, than this would be a fun read.
This book does have an insta-love trope, which is one of my least favorite tropes, but it didn’t bother me so much here as it has in other reads. Maybe because the situation the characters find themself in is complex and messy, so we spend more time getting to know these charming characters and why they love each other.
Anyways, this book was a messy, hilarious, and touching read for the holiday season. If you need a cute, gay Christmas romance in your life that has many of the classic cliche tropes, than this would be a fun read.
This book does have an insta-love trope, which is one of my least favorite tropes, but it didn’t bother me so much here as it has in other reads. Maybe because the situation the characters find themself in is complex and messy, so we spend more time getting to know these charming characters and why they love each other.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Drug use
Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
starry's review
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
3.5
This was cute! As a Portlander, I loved how rooted in the city this book felt, not just in the major moments like at Powell's, but even in the smaller details like the lack of snow plows (it sucks). The theme of failure vs. failure to try was really well-executed, and made for a really satisfying payoff when Ellie has to really put herself out there in the end. Unfortunately, I found myself looking for more moments of the side characters like Andrew and his extended family and Dylan, and wanting a little bit more distance from Ellie. But I still really enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Biphobia
Minor: Transphobia, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
danileah07's review
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia and Infidelity