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ktdakotareads's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Bullying, and Infidelity
sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I had different expectations for the book, because I didn't closely read the synopsis, which isn't fair to the book. At the same time, this book really seems to be mean.
As a condition of getting promoted at work, Ellie needs to go to her 10 year high school reunion, and complete some tasks with winners of the senior superlatives.
Some of them are fine, and she completes them without issue. Then there are others where Ellie needs to one up the winner in some way, and I didn't get good after reading those scenes. They made me uncomfortable. Would I have thought this was fine a few years ago, or if it played out in film/TV? Maybe. But in the book, it really just seemed mean for no necessary reason. Like the authors were being petty and enacting revenge on people in high school via fictional characters.
Maybe it wouldn't have been an issue if more background information was provided about these characters before the task. But there wasn't, so it just feels unnecessarily mean/petty.
While the checklist drives the plot forward, it really holds the book back. I would have preferred something that focused on repairing the friendship between Ellie and her best friend. Or maybe having a second date between Ellie and Mark.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I guess the book was fine, maybe for people looking for a fast read with some physical comedy/slapstick/ awkward moments in book form.
This seems to be a romance novel that wanted to be women's/contemporary fiction. (And most of the time it's the other way around)
CW: secondary characters cheating, lots of alcohol use/mentions of drinking, lapse in sobriety (secondary character), mean girls
As a condition of getting promoted at work, Ellie needs to go to her 10 year high school reunion, and complete some tasks with winners of the senior superlatives.
Some of them are fine, and she completes them without issue. Then there are others where Ellie needs to one up the winner in some way, and I didn't get good after reading those scenes. They made me uncomfortable. Would I have thought this was fine a few years ago, or if it played out in film/TV? Maybe. But in the book, it really just seemed mean for no necessary reason. Like the authors were being petty and enacting revenge on people in high school via fictional characters.
Maybe it wouldn't have been an issue if more background information was provided about these characters before the task. But there wasn't, so it just feels unnecessarily mean/petty.
While the checklist drives the plot forward, it really holds the book back. I would have preferred something that focused on repairing the friendship between Ellie and her best friend. Or maybe having a second date between Ellie and Mark.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I guess the book was fine, maybe for people looking for a fast read with some physical comedy/slapstick/ awkward moments in book form.
This seems to be a romance novel that wanted to be women's/contemporary fiction. (And most of the time it's the other way around)
CW: secondary characters cheating, lots of alcohol use/mentions of drinking, lapse in sobriety (secondary character), mean girls
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Medical content, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Addiction, and Toxic relationship
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