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betweentheshelves's review
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
I will admit, it took me a little bit to get into this becuase the writing style wasn't quite what I'm used to. I'm not really sure I can put into words why, but it didn't really click with me until about halfway through the book. I loved that second half of the book, though! Once Jordan and Hennessy really start getting into the relationship stuff, that's what really pulled me in.
There is just something so incredibly validating about reading romance with asexual characters. Add in the fact that one of them is a librarian and I am sold. I loved getting to see the characters explore their relationship and explore what it means to be asexual, both in their own ways. There were some great side characters, too, even if I wish a few of them were developed a bit more.
All in all, this was the perfect read after reading two pretty heavy books in a row. I think I might have to continue with this cute romance theme until the end of the year, because it seems like a good note to end 2021 on.
There is just something so incredibly validating about reading romance with asexual characters. Add in the fact that one of them is a librarian and I am sold. I loved getting to see the characters explore their relationship and explore what it means to be asexual, both in their own ways. There were some great side characters, too, even if I wish a few of them were developed a bit more.
All in all, this was the perfect read after reading two pretty heavy books in a row. I think I might have to continue with this cute romance theme until the end of the year, because it seems like a good note to end 2021 on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, and Racism
foreverinastory's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
This was a lot of fun!!
Rep: white gay ace questioning male MC with anxiety, white gay asexual male MC, lesbian female side character, bisexual male side character involved in a poly triad, side characters part of an aromantic and asexual support group.
CWs: Acephobia, arophobia, alcohol consumption, cursing, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks. Moderate: past mentions of emotional abuse, homophobia, outing and toxic relationships.
Rep: white gay ace questioning male MC with anxiety, white gay asexual male MC, lesbian female side character, bisexual male side character involved in a poly triad, side characters part of an aromantic and asexual support group.
CWs: Acephobia, arophobia, alcohol consumption, cursing, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks. Moderate: past mentions of emotional abuse, homophobia, outing and toxic relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Outing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
enbygolem's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really love that this book had Ace representation. Yep, that's it - that is literally the only thing I liked about it.
I did not care for the 2 main characters at all. I felt that Jordan was excessively mean and myopic to an unsettling degree. He openly mocks random people based off their features constantly and gets upset when those people, at worse, look offended by his lengthy verbal tirades. And the book tries to pass this off as . . . enduring? Funny? To me, he just comes off as a complete dick. Don't worry though he doesn't "have tourettes or anything like that" . . . Sigh
Hennessy on the other hand was painfully flat and extremely limited. I felt like I didn't know him beyond the information readily available on a Facebook profile. He was also an ass to his friend, again being too caught in his own plot to check in with the only other person featured in his life. He never even apologized after he aggressively shot-down his friend who was trying to come out to him!
I did not care for the 2 main characters at all. I felt that Jordan was excessively mean and myopic to an unsettling degree. He openly mocks random people based off their features constantly and gets upset when those people, at worse, look offended by his lengthy verbal tirades. And the book tries to pass this off as . . . enduring? Funny? To me, he just comes off as a complete dick. Don't worry though he doesn't "have tourettes or anything like that" . . . Sigh
Hennessy on the other hand was painfully flat and extremely limited. I felt like I didn't know him beyond the information readily available on a Facebook profile. He was also an ass to his friend, again being too caught in his own plot to check in with the only other person featured in his life. He never even apologized after he aggressively shot-down his friend who was trying to come out to him!
I hate the dialogue in this book. Just, absolutely hate it.
And while it is awesome that the book features a prominent Ace relationship, I felt that even that was presented in a much too simplified way and did not tap into the many wonderful ways the Ace spectrum can be expressed and felt. Of course, while this is an impossible task for any one book to do, I thought there were many missed opportunities to at least mention the beautiful range of this expansive sexuality beyond the essentially identical intersection that both Jordan and Hennessy happen to occupy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use
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