Scan barcode
lolajh's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Quite possibly THE most rushed ending ever. What about Darcy’s very apparently important exams (that we never even saw her study for LOL) and Christmas and lunch with Jane and Daniel? Like Elle’s entireeeee arc with her family was just left completely unfinished The journey getting there was a lot better, if a little corny with not the best writing and dialogue hard to understand like “The corners of her mouth puckered, her nose flaring delicately” (no bc what the fuck does that mean)
Beyond the fake-dating, rom-com trope-iness of it all, Darcy and Elle complemented each other quite nicely. Whilst not very well-developed characters, their bond beyond their chemistry was nice, and I’m gonna be honest I wasn’t completely mad with how the book handled the fake dating thing transitioning into reality.I like that happened halfway into the book, where I was expecting it to be more the end and I’m so glad it didn’t drag on that long. The external issues coming between them aren’t the fact that they’re closeted or have internalised homophobia like sooo many sapphic books; them being gay comes second to them just being complex female characters with family issues and past relationship trauma and insecurities.
Them working through all these things together, communicating with each other, expressing their love through acts of service and gifts and engaging with each other’s interests and Darcy DEFENDING ELLE TO HER FAMILY was all quite refreshing and beautiful. I just wish that the writing was better, the characters were more complex and that ending was more drawn out, god it felt so unfinished.
Beyond the fake-dating, rom-com trope-iness of it all, Darcy and Elle complemented each other quite nicely. Whilst not very well-developed characters, their bond beyond their chemistry was nice, and I’m gonna be honest I wasn’t completely mad with how the book handled the fake dating thing transitioning into reality.
Them working through all these things together, communicating with each other, expressing their love through acts of service and gifts and engaging with each other’s interests and Darcy DEFENDING ELLE TO HER FAMILY was all quite refreshing and beautiful. I just wish that the writing was better, the characters were more complex and that ending was more drawn out, god it felt so unfinished.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Biphobia
Minor: Infidelity
torikate7's review against another edition
funny
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
3.5
A sweet, fluffy rom com. Some of the plot felt like it could have been better developed, and the ending was very fast and straightforward - a bit disappointing. That being said, a fun, cute, lighthearted read with endearing characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Biphobia
wilybooklover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
I love an Austen retelling. I liked both of the main characters, but their families were pretty terrible which kind of brought the mood down. The third-act breakup was kind of contrived (but when isn't it?).
The way that Darcy's brother pressured her into dating again and outs the (fake) relationship to Elle's family (without knowing whether or not she was out to them or even if it was safe to do so) was really not cool either. I wish the characters had called him out a bit more on his behaviour.
Overall though a very cute read with some pop astrology, an escape room, and fake dating.
The way that Darcy's brother pressured her into dating again and outs the (fake) relationship to Elle's family (without knowing whether or not she was out to them or even if it was safe to do so) was really not cool either. I wish the characters had called him out a bit more on his behaviour.
Overall though a very cute read with some pop astrology, an escape room, and fake dating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
bookicornia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Biphobia
livlamentloathe's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
All I've heard is good reviews of this book and I need to ask: have you ever been in a relationship with good communication? Have y'all ever heard of TELLING your partner your feelings and being straight with them and listening before storming off?
That said, I did like parts of this. Despite the bad communication, Elle and Darcy were sweet together. I especially liked Elle's family issues, and Darcy's whole thing. Like just her period. I adored her.
Spoilers under cut:
The ending was exhausting. How Elle was perfect and never did a bad thing in her life and was such a sad martyr. Boo hoo. I liked Elle and I totally side with her on all her family nonsense, but with Darcy? Yeah, she was partly right but she was also a bitch about it. She told Darcy she didn't have a heart when everything she'd learned until that point said otherwise. ALSO LET'S CONTEXTUALIZE: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THEY STARTED DATING!!! Maybe TWO since they met!!! It's not insane at ALL to be confused about what you're doing still -- and they never really HAD a convo about their relationship prior to the ending. Both were insecure and self-doubting so they took their frustrations out on one another but it made me so frustrated because they were BOTH wrong. NO, Elle, you were not fucking clear from the start. Yeah, she made a comment on their failed first date, but then everything DID get complicated, to Darcy's point. Yes, Darcy needed to grow a mouth but she's had traumatic relationships all her life so it's fair that it wasn't easy. Also fuck Elle for knowing Darcy has a bad relationship with her mom, and just assuming she would be entirely truthful in that conversation. Like oh wow how inconceivable! Girl who has issues opening up partly because of negligent parent LIES to mother who she's clearly arguing with?????? What a concept!!!
Plus a lot of the secondary characters felt so contrived to me. Their early ministrations were frustrating and often felt forced. Like how Brenden behaved in the first quarter of the book? Clearly it was all set up to justify the fake dating arc. And Margo was a real jerk sometimes-- she made up for it eventually but still.
That said, I did like parts of this. Despite the bad communication, Elle and Darcy were sweet together. I especially liked Elle's family issues, and Darcy's whole thing. Like just her period. I adored her.
Spoilers under cut:
The ending was exhausting. How Elle was perfect and never did a bad thing in her life and was such a sad martyr. Boo hoo. I liked Elle and I totally side with her on all her family nonsense, but with Darcy? Yeah, she was partly right but she was also a bitch about it. She told Darcy she didn't have a heart when everything she'd learned until that point said otherwise. ALSO LET'S CONTEXTUALIZE: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THEY STARTED DATING!!! Maybe TWO since they met!!! It's not insane at ALL to be confused about what you're doing still -- and they never really HAD a convo about their relationship prior to the ending. Both were insecure and self-doubting so they took their frustrations out on one another but it made me so frustrated because they were BOTH wrong. NO, Elle, you were not fucking clear from the start. Yeah, she made a comment on their failed first date, but then everything DID get complicated, to Darcy's point. Yes, Darcy needed to grow a mouth but she's had traumatic relationships all her life so it's fair that it wasn't easy. Also fuck Elle for knowing Darcy has a bad relationship with her mom, and just assuming she would be entirely truthful in that conversation. Like oh wow how inconceivable! Girl who has issues opening up partly because of negligent parent LIES to mother who she's clearly arguing with?????? What a concept!!!
Plus a lot of the secondary characters felt so contrived to me. Their early ministrations were frustrating and often felt forced. Like how Brenden behaved in the first quarter of the book? Clearly it was all set up to justify the fake dating arc. And Margo was a real jerk sometimes-- she made up for it eventually but still.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Biphobia
Emotional Abuse from family/parents, Biphobia mentioned very brieflymotaki's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Biphobia and Infidelity
erikawynn's review against another edition
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Infidelity
Minor: Biphobia
storykath's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Another day, another queer romance novel!
I love reading about queer relationships, but I'm still not a big enough fan of the romance genre in general to rate this very highly. All my complaints about this book are just aspects of the romance genre, which are not bad in and of themselves, just not my own preference. As with most romance that I've read, this is a fun read that looks at some deeper themes while keeping everything neatly packaged and mildly unrealistic.
I love reading about queer relationships, but I'm still not a big enough fan of the romance genre in general to rate this very highly. All my complaints about this book are just aspects of the romance genre, which are not bad in and of themselves, just not my own preference. As with most romance that I've read, this is a fun read that looks at some deeper themes while keeping everything neatly packaged and mildly unrealistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Infidelity
Minor: Biphobia, Abandonment, Cursing, and Grief
celines_schemes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A heartwarming wlw Holiday romance with just a pinch of Christmas to make it a perfect read for the limbo of Twixmas
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Biphobia, and Infidelity
birthisacurse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Biphobia, Cursing, and Infidelity