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bloodbrooxv's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
super fast and fun read, i really liked the romance although i think there were major plot holes regarding alice's invisibility powers: the fantasy elements felt very vague and sometimes out of place in the context of the story
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Infidelity, Classism, Racism, and Child abuse
doodeedoda's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, and Confinement
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Kidnapping
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Confinement, and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, and Alcohol
lindasoderlundd's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Kidnapping and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol, Infidelity, and Cursing
twistykris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
Slow-burn-rivals-to-lovers romance, magical realism, tumultuous lives of teenagers, familial pressure and problems, and feeling invisible while simultaneously being known as the overachieving student. Loved it! I really liked the rivalry between Alice and Henry, with him being painfully oblivious to how much Alice hates him (at one point being surprised they "hate each other.") He's obnoxious in a cute way, letting his guard down as he grows to know Alice.
The plotline of Alice's surprise, spontaneous invisibility is not the MAIN one, instead dealing with Alice's money and social issues. I thought I would be disappointed that her invisibility doesn't come into play more often, but I'm actually happy to have gotten more of her story through her opening up to Henry and a classmate named Chanel.
However, I am a little disappointed that she seemingly had this conversation with her aunt about her invisibility and then.. nothing came of that conversation? I truly thought either:
The plotline of Alice's surprise, spontaneous invisibility is not the MAIN one, instead dealing with Alice's money and social issues. I thought I would be disappointed that her invisibility doesn't come into play more often, but I'm actually happy to have gotten more of her story through her opening up to Henry and a classmate named Chanel.
However, I am a little disappointed that she seemingly had this conversation with her aunt about her invisibility and then.. nothing came of that conversation? I truly thought either:
1. it would be revealed her aunt has the same power (and maybe even her mom- sort of a Turning Red panda power thing)
"So... are you telling me this is a curse? Or a gift?
"I think... that depends on what you make of it until it goes away."
OR
2. she would have a later conversation and discuss the turning-invisible thing and her aunt would be confused, thinking Alice meant metaphorically, not literally
I suppose I'm not completely confused or disappointed, but I did hope there would be more of an explanation to the power, or that Alice would be able to control it eventually.
2. she would have a later conversation and discuss the turning-invisible thing and her aunt would be confused, thinking Alice meant metaphorically, not literally
I suppose I'm not completely confused or disappointed, but I did hope there would be more of an explanation to the power, or that Alice would be able to control it eventually.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Confinement, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia
weirdfi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Received a copy from Harlequin Aus.
~~~
I thought from the blurb this was a little interesting and would be a fun quick read. Life drama with some fantasy elements thrown in. A little like With this Kiss, I guess?
And in most respects it was, quick yes, fun? Funny is probably the better word, as it went deep and dark and fast paced more than I expected but had laugh out loud moments. The main character Alice did start to grate my nerves but after finishing it, I wouldn't have it any other way. Replace her with a perfect character and it would not have had the same effect. She needed to be an imperfect teenager who still acted rashly from time to time. If you're interested in class power dynamics or even slight racism intentional or unintentional and how it makes us feel this one had it all.
I don't want to give plot lines away, or secrets within secrets out... So I'll say if you liked adult books With this Kiss, or In Five Years, it's similar to them in terms of contemporary fiction with fantastical or supernatural elements. Just a bit less romance. In terms of YA, perhaps if you enjoyed The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling this would be a good one to pick up.
~~~
I thought from the blurb this was a little interesting and would be a fun quick read. Life drama with some fantasy elements thrown in. A little like With this Kiss, I guess?
And in most respects it was, quick yes, fun? Funny is probably the better word, as it went deep and dark and fast paced more than I expected but had laugh out loud moments. The main character Alice did start to grate my nerves but after finishing it, I wouldn't have it any other way. Replace her with a perfect character and it would not have had the same effect. She needed to be an imperfect teenager who still acted rashly from time to time. If you're interested in class power dynamics or even slight racism intentional or unintentional and how it makes us feel this one had it all.
I don't want to give plot lines away, or secrets within secrets out... So I'll say if you liked adult books With this Kiss, or In Five Years, it's similar to them in terms of contemporary fiction with fantastical or supernatural elements. Just a bit less romance. In terms of YA, perhaps if you enjoyed The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling this would be a good one to pick up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Classism, Stalking, Racism, and Kidnapping
Minor: Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
chrisljm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
need a henry in my life
so many things are left unanswered, like why anna became invisible and why it just conveniently stopped? also unclear why her aunt was so cryptic. it was made to sound like a plot point but at the end of the day it meant nothing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Confinement, Hate crime, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Medical content
nadiaherondale's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Jesus I wish I knew were to start the praise for this book but I guess it took over my heart and head so much I don't even know how to think anymore.
Alice's struggles, everything felt so real, so relatable. How power and need corrupt you.
One of my favorite reads of the year and probably forever
Alice's struggles, everything felt so real, so relatable. How power and need corrupt you.
One of my favorite reads of the year and probably forever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Sexism
bluejorts's review
funny
reflective
tense
medium-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
ehhhh, I liked it. I'm not really seeing the "dark academia", but maybe I have a different concept of "dark". This was tense in that "big heist/are-they-gonna-get-away-with-it" kinda way. I love the dialogue between main char. and love interest. But, while it ties everything off in a neat bow...it doesn't actually delve into the root causes of poverty and wealth divide as it pretends to. It notices these problems enough to make them main char.'s problems, states them so you know she's self-aware, but the solution is basically reinforcing the same s**t: "let's marry someone who happens to be super-rich...THEN we can help other kids who are just as exceptionally smart and, therefore, 'deserving' as we are." Oh! and there's this one moments where it mentions two guys in a secret relationship, implying homophobia in their families and, maybe the school administration...then, does nothing about that. It's just kinda there as a "scandal" that main char. can use as "blackmail".
Anyways, Auntie is the coolest cat, by far. And...maybe some of the rhetoric ("I will defeat poverty by becoming rich") was too close to my upbringing; so I was anxious most of the time reading it, which didn't help my personal experience.
Anyways, Auntie is the coolest cat, by far. And...maybe some of the rhetoric ("I will defeat poverty by becoming rich") was too close to my upbringing; so I was anxious most of the time reading it, which didn't help my personal experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Infidelity
const_elle_ations's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Infidelity