Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Spoiler Alert

Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

56 reviews

kawooreads's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.0

I am trying more and more to read literary romance. The genre has not really appealed to me because (for me) people falling in love is often cringy and awkward and stories don't typically present any real challenge deeper than a puddle. I like a little romance in my story versus a little story in the romance, does that make sense? However, this story, *spoiler* is quite good. It's basically the story of Jon Snow, or rather Kit Harrington, (or maybe Jaime Lannister aka Nikolaj Coster-Waldau if going by looks) falling unexpectedly into a romance with a super fan. I loved April's character. I related to her in many ways as a plus-sized woman, especially in my early adulthood where I grappled with my inner saboteur and questioned whether I deserved love. It also tickled the core memory of being young and having crushes on famous people and dreaming "what if" we met and fell in love? I was delighted to read about April's passion in cosplay, and her spicy fan-fiction writing talent. I also thought the book's bedroom scenes were well-written. This is a story about not assuming you know people based on their appearance or by a character they may play, whether on-screen or off. There is also dyslexia representation. Content warnings would include body-shaming, negative aspects of diet culture, and toxic parental relationships, but I think the author does a great job in using this content to develop strong characters who are able to transcend some of their own triggers. I enjoyed this author's writing style and will be looking to check out her other books.

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thewildmageslibrary's review

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emotional funny lighthearted

5.0

Okay, I loved this book. It's nerdy and sexy and I don't even care that it's unrealistic - it's a fiction romance! I love the focus on fanfiction and uprooting fatphobia. I definitely need a physical copy.

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daisycantread24's review

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emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.75

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kerttuli's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

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jmross10's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This book is a fanfic writers dream. I love the way it showcases the culture and brings people together, while also explaining WHY it’s a thing instead of treating it like a silly hobby to be ashamed of.

The love story is cute though much smuttier than I expected. It feels like the whole middle section of the book is just them hooking up. I’m not opposed to that but given the insecurities that Dade explores with her characters (body images / learning disability / familial acceptance), I personally wish there was more intimacy. It seemed like every time they said something vulnerable they were falling into bed immediately after.

The highlight of this book for me is definitely Marcus. The conversation around his dyslexia and how that impacted him really made me think. It’s an interesting subject that most people probably don’t consider because they don’t have those same struggles.

I’d love to say I felt as strongly about April and body image. Spoiler alert: I don’t. To me, it felt inconsistent. In the beginning she’s self aware and empowered. She knows how people feel about her weight but she doesn’t seem to be terribly bothered. By the end it feels like Marcus’ interest in her validates her beauty and desirability instead of the fact she’s capable, kind, and intelligent. It undermined what I thought the message was supposed to be and turned it into “well a hot actor wants me so….”.

Overall, I think it was a good book and I can see why it’s liked. It was just really hit/miss for me.

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brokenbodybitch's review against another edition

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3.5

*DNF’ed at 87%*
The story itself isn’t bad it’s cute and fun and I love the fanfic aspects with the like dating a celebrity from the fandom thing it was super fun and she’s a perfectly good character; stands up for her self, funny, smart, interesting…

There’s a bunch of stuff I like and yeah I don’t love the way the chapters are broken up with the other things, it was fun but it didn’t seem like the best spots at times but that’s whatever it’s just me being picky but the two things I couldn’t stand were just so annoying I can’t get past it and I’m happy imagining the story ends here like

he kept his fanfic identity from her for so fucking long and if they were in their 20’s this immaturity and terrible communication would be tolerable and like whatever but then he said he’s 39…. this is like high school level behaviour if this was YA to late 20’s then I’d be able to enjoy it, I think but for me at least, he’s not that much older then my dad (he’s 43, I think…) and if you are almost old enough to be my dad (I’m 20) and then hiding your identity and stuff in this way I don’t want to see you happy and I do wanna see her happy… so I almost dnf’ed at 84% when they broke up but at 87% when she started missing him I just started getting angry and I didn’t wanna see them back together 😂

So yeah it’s a perfectly good book if I think of them in their 20’s and I ignore past like 85%

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