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gingerale06's review against another edition
emotional
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: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism and Emotional abuse
Minor: Eating disorder
doggearredreadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism and Fatphobia
cheye13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
These characters felt so real and complete, and watching them fall into a relationship was a privilege.
I was a little annoyed by the inserts between chapters - I liked the concept, but would have preferred they stay more on-theme; I would've loved if the interludes were only "excerpts" from the source materials (the novels or the scripts), or if they were only examples of their fanfiction, but the mishmash of past DMs, fics, and unrelated scripts just felt haphazard. I also felt like the ending was cut short; for a couple who seemed so good at communicating, I found it unsatisfying that the "resolution" was not just between the two of them.
I was a little annoyed by the inserts between chapters - I liked the concept, but would have preferred they stay more on-theme; I would've loved if the interludes were only "excerpts" from the source materials (the novels or the scripts), or if they were only examples of their fanfiction, but the mishmash of past DMs, fics, and unrelated scripts just felt haphazard. I also felt like the ending was cut short; for a couple who seemed so good at communicating, I found it unsatisfying that the "resolution" was not just between the two of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying and Violence
Bullying is in context of cyberbullying-style responses to April's appearance, mentioned only in passing; Violence is in context of fictional violence in Marcus's television show.mandaraffe's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
hayleyvem's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Dysphoria
Minor: Eating disorder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
arbyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This book is so thoughtful and thorough yet light and funny. I loved it so so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Yaaaaaaaaay a scientist/fangirl protagonist. This is what dreams are made of. The nerdiness is 10/10, which is exactly at my level, of course. April is a geologist who writes fanfiction and cosplays for her favorite show. When she is fat-shamed on Twitter for a cosplay picture, the lead actor of her favorite show publicly asks her out. Also, neither know that they have been online friends for years in the fanfiction community.
There are SO MANY great one-liners in this book. Whether I was having a wry chuckle or a full belly laugh, this book put me through my paces in a fun way. I loved the use of other media to break up the storyline and provide context and background for the characters or their fandom. Some of the shared fanfics were awesome, some were (intentionally) hilarious, and all had startlingly specific and amusing tags. Alex's contributions were so off-the-wall funny that I eagerly await his own story.
The steam was exquisite. April has decreed you can't call it slow-burn if they bang in the first chapter, and I would like everyone to take notes on that point.
The feels were meaningful and heartwarming, and the characters' struggles were deep-seated and thoughtful from Marcus' teacher parents' certainty that his slow academic progress was due to laziness rather than a condition like dyslexia to the fat-shaming April experiences, even from loved ones. Their journeys are messy, sometimes aligned, and sometimes causing conflict. They respect one another and keep an eye always on consent, whether it's physical or emotional.
This was a satisfying read for me all around, and I can't wait to read more by this author.
There are SO MANY great one-liners in this book. Whether I was having a wry chuckle or a full belly laugh, this book put me through my paces in a fun way. I loved the use of other media to break up the storyline and provide context and background for the characters or their fandom. Some of the shared fanfics were awesome, some were (intentionally) hilarious, and all had startlingly specific and amusing tags. Alex's contributions were so off-the-wall funny that I eagerly await his own story.
The steam was exquisite. April has decreed you can't call it slow-burn if they bang in the first chapter, and I would like everyone to take notes on that point.
The feels were meaningful and heartwarming, and the characters' struggles were deep-seated and thoughtful from Marcus' teacher parents' certainty that his slow academic progress was due to laziness rather than a condition like dyslexia to the fat-shaming April experiences, even from loved ones. Their journeys are messy, sometimes aligned, and sometimes causing conflict. They respect one another and keep an eye always on consent, whether it's physical or emotional.
This was a satisfying read for me all around, and I can't wait to read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism
forgottencupoftea's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
(to the friends who recommended this book, I'm sorry?)
I don't know? I thought I liked the book in the beginning, mostly because it included things we so rarely see: a plus-size protagonist with a great/serious job, a positive view of the fanfiction world/genre, characters slightly older than they usually are in romances...
But, I very quickly grew bored? I have a couple of theories as to why this happened.
First, the entire plot is based on a show that is essentially Game of Thrones, and Marcus, the love interest, is essentially one of Game of Thrones' actors (I won't name him because reasons, but I'm sure you'll have no problem figuring out who it is). It is all very obvious, it doesn't take a genius to notice and it made me a bit uncomfortable. I have seen Game of Thrones, I'm aware of how most fans (me included) were disappointed with the way the show went, I'm also aware of how some actors felt about it. It was essentially like reading a "big fix-it fic" about how GOT ended a couple of years ago.
Second, though I really wanted to love the protagonists I didn't? I thought they fell a bit flat? and were always reduced to certain aspects of their personalities. She is a fat woman, who works as a geologist, she also writes fanfiction. He is a dyslexic actor, who's playing dumb but is actually smart, he also writes fanfiction (about his own show). They keep being very dramatic about those different personalities they have, and I just wanted to scream at them.
Finally, there was little to no chemistry between April and Marcus? There were lots (like loooots) of sex scenes, but I really struggled to see any romance/love between them?
I did like a couple of things. The author did manage to fit in a couple of interesting points about boundaries and knowing what you deserve. I loved the body positivity! (though maybe April could have been described as something else than "round")
Overall: it was cute at times, no denying, but not really what I expect from a good romance.
I don't know? I thought I liked the book in the beginning, mostly because it included things we so rarely see: a plus-size protagonist with a great/serious job, a positive view of the fanfiction world/genre, characters slightly older than they usually are in romances...
But, I very quickly grew bored? I have a couple of theories as to why this happened.
First, the entire plot is based on a show that is essentially Game of Thrones, and Marcus, the love interest, is essentially one of Game of Thrones' actors (I won't name him because reasons, but I'm sure you'll have no problem figuring out who it is). It is all very obvious, it doesn't take a genius to notice and it made me a bit uncomfortable. I have seen Game of Thrones, I'm aware of how most fans (me included) were disappointed with the way the show went, I'm also aware of how some actors felt about it. It was essentially like reading a "big fix-it fic" about how GOT ended a couple of years ago.
Second, though I really wanted to love the protagonists I didn't? I thought they fell a bit flat? and were always reduced to certain aspects of their personalities. She is a fat woman, who works as a geologist, she also writes fanfiction. He is a dyslexic actor, who's playing dumb but is actually smart, he also writes fanfiction (about his own show). They keep being very dramatic about those different personalities they have, and I just wanted to scream at them.
Finally, there was little to no chemistry between April and Marcus? There were lots (like loooots) of sex scenes, but I really struggled to see any romance/love between them?
I did like a couple of things. The author did manage to fit in a couple of interesting points about boundaries and knowing what you deserve. I loved the body positivity! (though maybe April could have been described as something else than "round")
Overall: it was cute at times, no denying, but not really what I expect from a good romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Emotional abuse
casey_sunshine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
rachelreadsrelentlessly's review against another edition
I just can't get into this, I'm not sure why it's not clicking for me. I think it's just that I never cared for GOT and while I respect people who write fanfic, it's not for me.
I loved the rep in this though, especially as someone who is dyslexic myself.
I loved the rep in this though, especially as someone who is dyslexic myself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Fatphobia