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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'd like to start by saying that I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book! It was entertaining, had an engaging plot, an adorable romance, and some really funny moments.
Some things I liked:
- the relationship. It's trope-y and fun. Friends to rivals to lovers which I love. I found that the relationship built nicely. I saw some arguments saying it was too fast or they saw no chemistry. I did not feel the same at all. In my opinion, there was chemistry, and the 'suddenness' of Kat's feelings felt believable for a 16-17 year old girl. Besides, it was really cute.
- themes of activism. Definitely not done in the best possible way, especially since our main characters are white. It would have been better if the activism stuck to 'just' lgbtq+ themes and the sickness. But those I really liked. I liked how Kat thought about her sexuality. I liked how CFaD resembled aids/HIV. It was done in a sensitive way, and brought up really amazing points/thought that I did like.
Some things I liked less:
- it was very white. And I get that that was part of the point of Harcote, but it bothered me that just our two main white characters were talking about it. Since Kat was such a big ally, I feel like it would come across better had she not been white. It now felt very 'white saviour' to me.
- the plot went slow, and then too fast. I liked all the twists, I just feel like the pacing of them was a bit off? The last 5 chapters was literally plot twist after plot twist, just to solve everything in just 30 pages. And that while everything before that moved a little slow. Not in a bad way, but it made the end feel extra rushed.
I did really like this! I would still reccomend this to people who like YA, Sapphic vampires, and romance with a fun plot (so it's not just romance).
Some things I liked:
- the relationship. It's trope-y and fun. Friends to rivals to lovers which I love. I found that the relationship built nicely. I saw some arguments saying it was too fast or they saw no chemistry. I did not feel the same at all. In my opinion, there was chemistry, and the 'suddenness' of Kat's feelings felt believable for a 16-17 year old girl. Besides, it was really cute.
- themes of activism. Definitely not done in the best possible way, especially since our main characters are white. It would have been better if the activism stuck to 'just' lgbtq+ themes and the sickness. But those I really liked. I liked how Kat thought about her sexuality. I liked how CFaD resembled aids/HIV. It was done in a sensitive way, and brought up really amazing points/thought that I did like.
Some things I liked less:
- it was very white. And I get that that was part of the point of Harcote, but it bothered me that just our two main white characters were talking about it. Since Kat was such a big ally, I feel like it would come across better had she not been white. It now felt very 'white saviour' to me.
- the plot went slow, and then too fast. I liked all the twists, I just feel like the pacing of them was a bit off? The last 5 chapters was literally plot twist after plot twist, just to solve everything in just 30 pages. And that while everything before that moved a little slow. Not in a bad way, but it made the end feel extra rushed.
I did really like this! I would still reccomend this to people who like YA, Sapphic vampires, and romance with a fun plot (so it's not just romance).
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's hard to rate this book when I know the problem is that I'm not a teenager. It's well written and I enjoyed the concept but I found the characters hard to read at times. They are very in character for teenagers but from an adult perspective, I found it grating at times. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a good childhood friends to rivals to lovers. Just be aware that there is some very teenage decision making.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Transphobia, Death of parent
I just got bored with it. I also went on a trip and forgot to bring it with me so I just don’t really care anymore.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Vermakelijk, maar er had zoveel meer in gezeten!