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imaginingly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
bruh the beginning made me feel like i was having a stroke i had no idea what was going on but whew it is a bit spicy after you get to know the characters more and the writing was beautiful throughout those explicit scenes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexism and Cursing
Minor: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship
notsobinaryart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Ableism
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Misogyny, Eating disorder, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Alcohol, and War
kegila's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Eating disorder
sam_maree's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
A happy ending romance, a definite comfort read. Plus size women with confidence and shy handsome actor. Lovable and funny story and characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
vaguely_pink's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Ableism, Sexual content, Cursing, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Sexism, Abandonment, and Alcohol
emilywrayburn's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
The first third or maybe half was good. The smut was really good. Then the characters started really bugging me. This was going to get a lower rating from me but it redeemed itself a bit in the end when the characters actually acknowledged some of their flaws that were really bothering me.
Marcus was too perfect. April's characterisation was a bit inconsistent. I didn't entirely buy the romance. They just seemed to go from not particularly attracted to one another to super-duper attracted to one another in a very short amount of time, without anything to really suggest why. And Marcus held off on telling her about his fandom persona for so long.
I liked what the book did with themes of emotional abuse (and how you don't owe family anything just because they "love you") and fatphobia and dealing with that. Though Marcus' parents were so awful they felt like caricatures.
The scripts, excerpts from fanfics and scenes from previous fandom server chats somewhat served a purpose but only just.
I have never watched Game of Thrones so I didn't pick up the parallels between this book and GoT fandom, but it skeeves me out if this book in itself is a bit of an author self-insert fic with the serial numbers filed off? Too meta! And a bit weird. Even when I was involved with fandoms, I could never quite warm to real person fic.
Marcus was too perfect. April's characterisation was a bit inconsistent. I didn't entirely buy the romance. They just seemed to go from not particularly attracted to one another to super-duper attracted to one another in a very short amount of time, without anything to really suggest why. And Marcus held off on telling her about his fandom persona for so long.
I liked what the book did with themes of emotional abuse (and how you don't owe family anything just because they "love you") and fatphobia and dealing with that. Though Marcus' parents were so awful they felt like caricatures.
The scripts, excerpts from fanfics and scenes from previous fandom server chats somewhat served a purpose but only just.
I have never watched Game of Thrones so I didn't pick up the parallels between this book and GoT fandom, but it skeeves me out if this book in itself is a bit of an author self-insert fic with the serial numbers filed off? Too meta! And a bit weird. Even when I was involved with fandoms, I could never quite warm to real person fic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
thewildmageslibrary's review
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Ableism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexism
things100's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
April and Marcus story is so cute full of ups and downs and tackles issues from fatphobia to toxic relationships with parents. This book was funny and sweet but also so incredibly important with all the representation that it showed and it’s depiction that whether you’re fat or dyslexic, etc you are worthy of love 💕
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny, Alcohol, and Sexism
jmross10's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse
freddybingsu's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexism