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reader_in_the_meadow's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The 2021 novel Charming As A Verb by Haitin-Canadian writer Ben Philippe tells the story of Henri Haltiwanger, a teenager who hast too struggle with his own expectations of himself and the expectations of others and his first love.
The plot is build up around Henri, who is a student at FATE academy in New York. As every senior student he applies to colleges and tries to have fun all while having to make money, too. The story itself was not that hard understand to be honest. It was a pretty straightforward romance. But still, it was pretty interesting and nice to read.
The charcters in this book are diverse at least as far I can say. There is a BIPOC main charcter and love interest, an AAPI sidecharcter and a lesbian side character. The conflict between rich and normally payed people is shown quite well in this book, too.
However, as far as likeability goes, I had a hard time with some of the characters, because some showed major red flags and did things that are at least questionable.
However, they were written very well and each had a personality of their own.
The writing in this book mainly focuses on telling the plot, which makes it easy to read, even if you are not a native English speaker.
The story itself is told through Henri's eyes, which gives us inside into his mind and thought process.
Going forward, a thing I liked was that the book was very lighthearted and funny. I laughed so much while reading this and was so happy I did.
However a thing I really disliked was how some characters acted or behaved. Sure it makes sense from a storytelling point of view, but it was still not cool to read about.
To conclude, Philippe's book is a very well-written story about the struggles of teenagers and how they cope with them, and what love can do to change who you are.
It is definitely worth a read, however, please take note of the content warnings.
The plot is build up around Henri, who is a student at FATE academy in New York. As every senior student he applies to colleges and tries to have fun all while having to make money, too. The story itself was not that hard understand to be honest. It was a pretty straightforward romance. But still, it was pretty interesting and nice to read.
The charcters in this book are diverse at least as far I can say. There is a BIPOC main charcter and love interest, an AAPI sidecharcter and a lesbian side character. The conflict between rich and normally payed people is shown quite well in this book, too.
However, as far as likeability goes, I had a hard time with some of the characters, because some showed major red flags and did things that are at least questionable.
However, they were written very well and each had a personality of their own.
The writing in this book mainly focuses on telling the plot, which makes it easy to read, even if you are not a native English speaker.
The story itself is told through Henri's eyes, which gives us inside into his mind and thought process.
Going forward, a thing I liked was that the book was very lighthearted and funny. I laughed so much while reading this and was so happy I did.
However a thing I really disliked was how some characters acted or behaved. Sure it makes sense from a storytelling point of view, but it was still not cool to read about.
To conclude, Philippe's book is a very well-written story about the struggles of teenagers and how they cope with them, and what love can do to change who you are.
It is definitely worth a read, however, please take note of the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
spinesinaline's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-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
4.25
Thanks to HCC Frenzy for an ARC to review! A very charming and funny read! Find my full review at www.spinesinaline.wordpress.com!
The author has such an easy way of incorporating humour into his narration and dialogue and now that I’ve been following him on social media for some time, I can see that it’s his own sense of humour that’s made it onto the page. Whether Henri sharing his sarcastic quips, his best friend, Ming, joking along with him, or the banter between them and Corinne, there’s a lot that kept me laughing along with these characters.
And they’re all such wonderful characters! From the blurb, it may seem like they have some pretty serious faults (blackmail and a falsified business) but trust that they are incredibly likeable and relatable, especially as they each deal with the stress of college applications in their own way. No book has made me more happy to be past the application stage than this one, and I didn’t even have to deal with the intense requirements of Ivy League schools!
Some folks have complained about the lack of romance in this one but I loved the two together and it is billed as a romantic comedy, so the romance isn’t intended to be the main focus. I will say that the genre makes me think of more lighthearted reads and this one comes with a punch. The major conflict in this book is a BIG. DEAL. For the folks in the story, and if this had happened in real life. I felt really stressed reading out because the foreshadowing is there but I kept hoping it wouldn’t actually happen.
However, I really appreciated that with something that big, it wasn’t just brushed aside or neatly taken care of. It comes with consequences, deservedly so, and while it’s not great watching characters you’ve been getting to know forced in this situation, I felt the ending and resolution was exactly what was needed.
So I wouldn’t call it a lighthearted read but it’s got heart. Maybe don’t read it right now if you’re in the middle of applications though
The author has such an easy way of incorporating humour into his narration and dialogue and now that I’ve been following him on social media for some time, I can see that it’s his own sense of humour that’s made it onto the page. Whether Henri sharing his sarcastic quips, his best friend, Ming, joking along with him, or the banter between them and Corinne, there’s a lot that kept me laughing along with these characters.
And they’re all such wonderful characters! From the blurb, it may seem like they have some pretty serious faults (blackmail and a falsified business) but trust that they are incredibly likeable and relatable, especially as they each deal with the stress of college applications in their own way. No book has made me more happy to be past the application stage than this one, and I didn’t even have to deal with the intense requirements of Ivy League schools!
Some folks have complained about the lack of romance in this one but I loved the two together and it is billed as a romantic comedy, so the romance isn’t intended to be the main focus. I will say that the genre makes me think of more lighthearted reads and this one comes with a punch. The major conflict in this book is a BIG. DEAL. For the folks in the story, and if this had happened in real life. I felt really stressed reading out because the foreshadowing is there but I kept hoping it wouldn’t actually happen.
However, I really appreciated that with something that big, it wasn’t just brushed aside or neatly taken care of. It comes with consequences, deservedly so, and while it’s not great watching characters you’ve been getting to know forced in this situation, I felt the ending and resolution was exactly what was needed.
So I wouldn’t call it a lighthearted read but it’s got heart. Maybe don’t read it right now if you’re in the middle of applications though
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Vomit, and Racism
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