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modryzamek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Grief, Death, and Car accident
overthinkereading's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I adored this romance highlighting Khai, who we briefly met in The Kiss Quotient (where we learned he is autistic), and My/Esme, who travels from Vietnam to the U.S. to become his spouse.
While the story has some of my favorite tropes (fake relationship, forced proximity, one bed), it simply became a favorite as we witness deep, accepting love blossom between these two people who are each struggling in their own way. The representation of Khai’s challenges with identifying emotion and Esme’s struggles as an immigrant woman from difficult circumstances were especially moving.
Recommend to readers looking for: open door romance, Own Voices representation (neurodivergence and AAPI), and HEA
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident and Grief
ju_harue'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
4.25
A forma como a autora aborda autismo, a cultura vietnamita, com tanto propriedade e sensibilidade, é fundamental pra contribuir com essa leitura rápida, porém marcante.
Adorei saber mais sobre o processo, no final do livro, não teria como Esme não ser a protagonista.
Moderate: Car accident and Death
Minor: Pregnancy and Toxic relationship
isfantasi'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
3.0
Graphic: Classism, Body shaming, Car accident, Death, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
eligru'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
nutmegandselkie'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
4.25
Graphic: Grief and Ableism
Moderate: Car accident and Panic attacks/disorders
kemikemi'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? Yes
3.5
Overall, Esme and Khai’s romance was nice and seeing how Khai’s autism affected both how he experienced/processed emotions and how he perceived his emotional experience was really interesting; it created a meaningful third act plot obstacle as well as growth arc for him as he finally understood that he had always loved and grieved. Esme immediately accepted him for who he was (and she didn’t even know what autism was), but in the end all she wanted was to be loved and have that out-loud confirmation of love, and he was so convinced that he just straight up didn’t experience metaphysical emotions that it hurt my heart as I was reading it to see everybody trying to show him that he did indeed love this woman but he was having a breakdown because he was so solidly convinced he couldn’t. Esme’s personal arc was also really nice; she was determined to do everything she could to begin a new and better chapter in her life for her family but refused to sacrifice her dignity and be treated less than (it just killed me that her insecurities along with Khai’s lack of direct explanations led to her constantly reading his actions to be him looking down on her/rejecting her/wanting her to be someone else 😭).
However, I’m only rating it 3.5 stars because I think I’m finding out that I am personally not head over heels for contemporary adult romance as a genre; it was a great story but I just was not captivated by it like I have been by other recent relationships and romances I’ve read. If this is your thing, though, then give it a go!! We need more Asian-American romance novels in the world.
Minor: Car accident
marlene27'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? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, and Death
chi__'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
3.75
Moderate: Death, Grief, Abandonment, and Car accident
hayleyvem'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Sexual content, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy