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shelvesofivy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Neil is rude, irritable, and self-centered for a majority of the book. And I wouldn't have it any other way, really. His inner dialogue reminds me a lot of my own at times, especially when I was a teen. But that just makes his story and development that much more satisfying by the end.
There's honestly so much I could get into about this book and the ways it deals with complicated family dynamics, friendships, and other complicated relationships. Even if our main character wants things to be black and white with blame during conflicts, he learns that it's usually a lot more difficult to pin down than that.
And of course, I couldn't write this review without addressing how much I LOVED Wyatt as a character. They're such a loveable person, and it was so fun getting to know them more, bit by bit.
I will say that I do wish
Overall, this book had me audibly reacting at multiple points, from the adorable, to the upsetting, to the downright silly. Despite the convoluted plans and a plot that won't necessarily happen to most people, the characters make it hit home in an authentic way that you can't help but love ā”
Graphic: Homophobia, Classism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Sexual content, and Deadnaming
Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment
rachelfayreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
sophiesmallhands's review
- 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
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
bookish_cam27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
kashrae99'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: Abandonment and Transphobia
Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Abandonment, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Death, and Deadnaming
trisvande's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
For starters the author LOVES to drop random tidbits of pop culture. I normally wouldnāt mind but at times it felt very unnecessary. Thereās a part where they land in LA and the chapter starts with āTwo hours later, we hopped off the plane at LAX.ā but then didn't. The dialogue after is about how they just landed and are about to get off the plane.
The author also repeats a lot. I canāt tell you the amount of times Neil said essentially the same thing to himself. Also, Iām sorry but no one cares THAT much about a hotel owner's child, unless theyāre actively trying to be in the limelight (ala Paris Hilton.)
Moderate: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Sexual content
sarahmcg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My rating: 3.5āļø
Vibes: š³ļøāā§ļøš¤āļøššøš¤
Publishing date: Aug 2022 (out now)
Mini synopsis: Neil breaks up with Josh, his friends-with-benefits, when he tells Neil he loves him, right before they are supposed to fly home for Neilās brotherās wedding. Now, Neil needs a new date to bring along to prove to Josh that heās over him and needs to move on. Enter: Joshās roommate Wyatt, who thinks Neil is being a jerk, but goes along with the plan; as they get to know each other, they begin to understand each other, and learn what it can be like to truly fall in love for the first time.
What to expect:
Trans MMC
NB love interest
Several queer side characters
Roommates, fake dating
Young adult
What I liked:
- Wyatt ā¤ļø this sweet character *made* this story; their accent, their polite and humble nature, and the way they basically gave Neil a reality check
- I loved that the world this story occurred in had a ton of queer characters, including the friend group at school and Wyattās moms
My critiques:
- OMG Neil was soooo unlikeable! I just could not cheer for this main character. Ignorant, oblivious, entitled, rude, whinyā¦ I could go on. Since the book is from his POV, you see all of his interactions, and heās an asshole to literally everyone in his life. Just such a basic Beverly Hills rich kid who looked down on Wyattās clothes and basically everything else about them because he could tell their family didnāt have money. Neil really needed some serious character growth/an arc, but this book only took place over 1 week which brings me toā¦
- The pacing. Itās possible this book could have benefitted from a longer timeline, but I get the fact that this revolved around an upcoming wedding made that challenging
Overall, a quick read that I enjoyed in audiobook format.
ā ļø CW/TW: underage drinking, mention of neglectful parenting, transphobia (throughout, and specific incident with TSA), homophobia, indirect dead naming (Neil is dead named but the dead name is never mentioned on page and simply alluded to), fade-to-black sex scene, mentions of past sexual relationship
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming and Alcohol
brookeisbusyreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The premise of the wedding and surrounding events was well-planned in my opinion too! A lot of times I feel like writers āforceā(?) booksā worlds to be smaller so it gives more opportunities for characters to run into each other. This book didnāt do that - another plus. And the fake dating felt just as awkward and cute as it should have.
Side Note: Pink isnāt really a color I like but I do love the cover of this book!
Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia
valreadssometimes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was not rooting for the main couple. At all.
Here's the thing, in order to want the main couple to fall in love and end up together and have their happily-ever-after love story you need to believe that they're good together. You have to like the characters.
The main character of this book is the most unlikeable protagonist I have read in a while, especially because, as the reader, you're supposed to be rooting for him. Neil is a rich, self-centered, self-pitying, excuse-ridden mess. He expects everyone around him to live constantly accommodating his needs and wants. Even at the end, when he's supposedly "redeemed," he continues to have expectations and demands of the people around him.
Wyatt, the main love interest, was sweet. He seemed to be authentic and naive and all of the good things Neil isn't. In a way, he was meant to help Neil become better, but he really just made me more aware of what a terrible person he was.
I was rooting for Wyatt. I was rooting for Josh. I was rooting for everyone that wasn't Neil.
Wyatt and Neil were just not meant to be. Maybe if Neil was able to step back (like really, really far back) and re-evaluate himself and his choices, it could have worked. But guess what? He can't. Not with this short of a time frame.
This could have been a better book if Neil and Wyatt had not ended up together (sorry not sorry).
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Classism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Dysphoria, Homophobia, Deadnaming, and Outing
fanboyriot'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
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Classism, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Cursing, Transphobia, Alcohol, Deadnaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, and Fatphobia