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alicia_g's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.25
really a slow burn
the way the food is described in this book 🤤
the way the food is described in this book 🤤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Hate crime, Child abuse, Classism, and Racism
bujo_bellel's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
OMG I LOVE THEM, THEY'RE SO CUTE I CANNOT AHHHHH! I really loved this book, I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow and seeing them get closer together dksnxksbdbd. I liked seeing their competitiveness and watching being in Alice's head as she is thinking of things. I like that they are there for each other and she's kind of oblivious to him :) I love Henry for being so sweet and gentlemanly towards Alice and for helping her out :( I like how Alice is smarter than him and thought of a way out at the end, I really like Alice's character and her family dynamics, it's makes them seem very real. The teachers are quite fleshed out too, and it makes the setting really feel like a classroom and they're in a school. I really loved Chanel in here and I like how supportive she is, seeing how Chanel and Alice got closer and closer together :D. I really like the Author's writing style, and all the little details and hints she outs in, really helped me visualise what is happening :)) I really liked learning about Alice's life in her international school and the different experiences she had. I am looking forward to read the rest of her backlist hehe!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Hate crime, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol and Toxic relationship
daenerystargaryen's review
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Kidnapping
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Infidelity, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and Confinement
Minor: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, and Vomit
city_girl_writer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
This was a really fun but emotional read. One can empathize with Alice on her reasons to monetize her powers like this. The ending was quite satisfying on dealing with the consequences. It is not a full 5-star read because she was a little too oblivious for me. Nonetheless, I am glad I gave this book a second chance via audio instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Hate crime, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement and Racism
Minor: Alcohol
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Hate crime, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Racism, Confinement, and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
cameronreads's review
2.5
I read this book as a break between high fantasies and I think it worked well for that. It was a fun easy read, despite its important discussions of elitism in private education, and enjoyable enough. I think our main character really felt like a teenager in her thought processes and decision making and I really enjoyed that - it made the book feel very realistic. I could feel her growing throughout the book and starting to realise that she was just a kid as well, although this was subtle. The other characters didn’t have quite as much depth though - Henry especially felt like he’d do anything the main character asked and was just kind of magically there whenever he was needed, making him feel more like a tool for the plot than a fleshed out character. I did like the concept of the romance between them; academic rivals to lovers is always fun, but because Henry was just kind of down for whatever the main character needed the tension was really only felt from Alice’s side.
There was also something slightly off about the pacing right at the beginning of the book (although for the most part it was fine), with magical powers developing all of a sudden and characters just accepting it without a second thought and immediately moving on with their lives. I don’t necessarily have a problem with there being no explanation for the powers (although due to personal preference I would have rather had one) but it did just feel like a very quick onset and acceptance.
I liked what this book was saying about private schools and I think it was successful for the most part - it wasn’t the most nuanced view but it wasn’t really trying to be so that’s not necessarily a problem. I like that Alice found a way to help others in her situation at the end, which was a nice cumulation of her character growth.
I also thought it had interesting points about academics and self worth, in fact I wish it had delved into it a bit deeper. There’s a point where Alice realises that she actually does have potential to have deeper relationships with her classmates and she’s accidentally isolated herself, but she moves on quite quickly. She almost has a great conversation with Chanel about why they aren’t better friends and I thought they’d come back to it nearer the end but never do.
Essentially, I really liked the concept of this book, and if it had been delved into a bit deeper and the characters had been fleshed out a little more, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
There was also something slightly off about the pacing right at the beginning of the book (although for the most part it was fine), with magical powers developing all of a sudden and characters just accepting it without a second thought and immediately moving on with their lives. I don’t necessarily have a problem with there being no explanation for the powers (although due to personal preference I would have rather had one) but it did just feel like a very quick onset and acceptance.
I liked what this book was saying about private schools and I think it was successful for the most part - it wasn’t the most nuanced view but it wasn’t really trying to be so that’s not necessarily a problem. I like that Alice found a way to help others in her situation at the end, which was a nice cumulation of her character growth.
I also thought it had interesting points about academics and self worth, in fact I wish it had delved into it a bit deeper. There’s a point where Alice realises that she actually does have potential to have deeper relationships with her classmates and she’s accidentally isolated herself, but she moves on quite quickly. She almost has a great conversation with Chanel about why they aren’t better friends and I thought they’d come back to it nearer the end but never do.
Essentially, I really liked the concept of this book, and if it had been delved into a bit deeper and the characters had been fleshed out a little more, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Hate crime
zaniahm's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime
thecourtofreading's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
this was so so so good. thoroughly enjoyed reading every second of this that i actually couldn't put it down, and i need more alice and henry content immediately. i'm not sure i'm happy with the ending, but regardless it was quite satisfying anyway
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Classism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Racism, Infidelity, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol and Toxic relationship
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
This was an amazing blend of contemporary and speculative fiction, examining classism and privilege and questions of right and wrong.
Alice isn’t perfect and doesn’t always make good choices, but the story shows that it’s not always easy or even possible to do the right thing, nor is it always clear what the right thing even is.
Alice isn’t perfect and doesn’t always make good choices, but the story shows that it’s not always easy or even possible to do the right thing, nor is it always clear what the right thing even is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Hate crime
ye_li's review
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Classism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Hate crime
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol