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kitstercronk's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a really enjoyable debut book, and I cannot wait to see what else this author writes and to watch their writing skills continue to grow!
Firstly, I really appreciated the autism rep. Honestly a lot better done than some traditionally published romances I’ve read lately. I LOVE that Charlie does something big and scary (moving to Scotland temporarily) despite it being difficult for her. Honestly I wish we saw more autistic characters doing that while still being real about how challenging it is with a disability.
And I think Page’s history and reasons for his issues were believable. He was a great character and I loved his friends and family.
Some parts of the plot felt a little predictable and like a few too many ideas were trying to happen at once - but I’d expect that from any debut indie author, and perfecting that will just come with time! The core elements of great characters, a charming setting, and a romance we can cheer for are all there. It was a lovely story to read on a rainy day!
Firstly, I really appreciated the autism rep. Honestly a lot better done than some traditionally published romances I’ve read lately. I LOVE that Charlie does something big and scary (moving to Scotland temporarily) despite it being difficult for her. Honestly I wish we saw more autistic characters doing that while still being real about how challenging it is with a disability.
And I think Page’s history and reasons for his issues were believable. He was a great character and I loved his friends and family.
Some parts of the plot felt a little predictable and like a few too many ideas were trying to happen at once - but I’d expect that from any debut indie author, and perfecting that will just come with time! The core elements of great characters, a charming setting, and a romance we can cheer for are all there. It was a lovely story to read on a rainy day!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Ableism
Minor: Car accident, Child death, and Death of parent
rachtmh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
If you love books that are, Diverse, Geeky, Romantic, Authentic and wonderfully told them this is a book for you!
The book includes: disability rep, LGBTQIA+ rep, found family, Crippling Anxiety, Geeky Sci-Fi, Books and Bookshops, Academia like setting and stunning views.
It also has multiple POV and the bursts of script and social media posts between chapters really adds to the story as a whole.
The author used sensitivity readers and it’s so clear in the respectful and authentic way the experience of the characters in this book are written.
As a person who is Bi, Female & Neurodivergent, it was so wonderful and validating to see myself and my fellow Neurodiverse and LGBT friends and family represented in the day to day.
Thank you so much Caden for writing this beautiful story and for such wonder characters.
The book includes: disability rep, LGBTQIA+ rep, found family, Crippling Anxiety, Geeky Sci-Fi, Books and Bookshops, Academia like setting and stunning views.
It also has multiple POV and the bursts of script and social media posts between chapters really adds to the story as a whole.
The author used sensitivity readers and it’s so clear in the respectful and authentic way the experience of the characters in this book are written.
As a person who is Bi, Female & Neurodivergent, it was so wonderful and validating to see myself and my fellow Neurodiverse and LGBT friends and family represented in the day to day.
Thank you so much Caden for writing this beautiful story and for such wonder characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Ableism, Car accident, Grief, Abandonment, and Death
edieisconfused's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I don’t normally like romance books but the realistic queer and autistic representation made me fall in love with the characters
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Outing, Bullying, Ableism, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Grief
errie's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
3.25 stars
This book and it’s characters were so damn loveable. I loved Charlie and Page’s characters and their chemistry and just everything about them really. As a late diagnosed autistic woman it was also meaningful to me to see the autism rep in this, and the way that Charlie was unapologetically herself and her growing confidence in making it clear she would not allow friends/family/partners/anyone to make her and her need for certain accommodations feel ‘too much’.
If I had rated this book purely on enjoyment level it would have been a 5 star read. However, I do think the book needs more editing. There are a couple of lines that are repeated in the ebook version, and quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes. Some of the first half of the book is very info-dumpy about autism and a lot of the information about the characters backstory is repeated a lot. There are also pacing/timeline issues throughout. It’s clear this is debut that needs some polishing, but I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
thesilverquill's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I liked this book so so much, Charlie was relatable & Page was just perfectly human, flawed, and sweet. I adore them both, and I absolutely loved how their relationship blossomed. It was so natural and believable, and I appreciate how the author wrote them, how they approached one another with empathy, honesty, and kindness. I’m so thankful I received an ARC and got to read this first!
As someone who was diagnosed with autism in her late 20s, reading about Charlie and her struggles was like reading my own experience. I cried multiple times. This felt cathartic.
I’m so happy with the ending to this story, and that there was a character development of both her’s and Page’s character that not only felt believable, but was practical, and with how they end up together ❣️
I wish I could reread this again for the first time! Highly recommend.
As someone who was diagnosed with autism in her late 20s, reading about Charlie and her struggles was like reading my own experience. I cried multiple times. This felt cathartic.
I’m so happy with the ending to this story, and that there was a character development of both her’s and Page’s character that not only felt believable, but was practical, and with how they end up together ❣️
I wish I could reread this again for the first time! Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, Child death, and Grief
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This was such a lovely debut romcom by Caden Armstrong! I was gifted an ARC and am providing an honest review on my own volition.
After Charlie calls out ableist language at a StarCon panel for one of her favorite tv shows StarVerse, a video of this goes viral and she reaps the consequences, not the mega-popular actor who said the ableist bullshit of course. She is fired from her job, bullied by the media and fans online, gets doxxed, and is basically forced into social isolation besides her best friend Ripley. Ripley finds Charlie a short-term workstay in Stonehaven, Scotland of all places! Charlie leaves LA, hoping to start anew in the small town, Stonehaven, and to get a bit of a break from the rampant misogyny and ableism that has followed her online since the viral video.
Page (stage name: Jamie Mahome; the reason for his stage name comes into play later, but I don't want to spoil anything; please read this!) wants to surprise his sister Lillian by coming home during his break from filming StarVerse, but instead is welcomed by a golf club to the head by Charlie. Charlie thought he was breaking in, so this makes for the goofiest meet cute and really did make me laugh out loud. Since Page sends most of his paycheck to his mom and sister, he can't just find another place to crash for the summer, so this makes Page and Charlie summer roommates! He immediately recognizes her as the woman who called out his colleague Killian, and while he tries to maintain his distance, it gets harder and harder to ignore the growing sexual tension between them as they get to know one another.
Once these two wrote Page & Charlie's Roommate Rules, I knew it was game over. It was a fun nod to "you have to promise you won't fall in love with me" when Jamie says this to Landon in a Walk To Remember hehe. I loved their day trip to a nearby castle, their close proximity in the bookstore that Page's family owns (&that Charlie is now working at!), & the way they begin to look out for one another.
Page approaches Charlie's autism with curiosity and tries to clarify that he is willing to learn, which is more than what most folks can say! Having the mentality to just *try* & do better once you know better is something we should all be mindful of! I really appreciated the representation of Charlie's inner thoughts surrounding her autism, and how she had been let down so many times before by people she should have trusted: exes, her family, supervisors! The way Charlie had their harshest words on replay in her head was heartbreaking, but rings so true to me in my own experience of being autistic & an ADHD-er. It's why chosen family is so important, and can make such profound impact with regards to being validated and reassured that you are enough as you are!
I had so much fun with the excerpts from the tv show, interviews, fanfic excerpts, and social media posts at the beginning of each chapter; it totally felt authentic to the way those play into Hollywood and fandom culture. I also loved side characters and Page's work besties Sandhya and Theo, queer cast members from London who lovingly check in with Page and lay out hard truths for him at times too!
Honorable mention to Gandalf the White cat! What a silly goose, I love Gandalf! Also, the playlist was so much fun — I listened while I read 🎶
I'm unsure if this is the start of an interconnected series of standalone romances, but if it is, I'm very curious & hoping one of the books will be about Lillian & Callum *rubs palms together excitedly*
I highly recommend this, & will absolutely read whatever Caden Armstrong decides to write next!
representation: bisexual & autistic main character, main character who navigates anxiety, queer side characters, side character with ADHD
steam rating: 3/5 - yay for representation of sex toys & self-pleasuring!
see content warnings below & take care while reading <3
This was such a lovely debut romcom by Caden Armstrong! I was gifted an ARC and am providing an honest review on my own volition.
After Charlie calls out ableist language at a StarCon panel for one of her favorite tv shows StarVerse, a video of this goes viral and she reaps the consequences, not the mega-popular actor who said the ableist bullshit of course. She is fired from her job, bullied by the media and fans online, gets doxxed, and is basically forced into social isolation besides her best friend Ripley. Ripley finds Charlie a short-term workstay in Stonehaven, Scotland of all places! Charlie leaves LA, hoping to start anew in the small town, Stonehaven, and to get a bit of a break from the rampant misogyny and ableism that has followed her online since the viral video.
Page (stage name: Jamie Mahome; the reason for his stage name comes into play later, but I don't want to spoil anything; please read this!) wants to surprise his sister Lillian by coming home during his break from filming StarVerse, but instead is welcomed by a golf club to the head by Charlie. Charlie thought he was breaking in, so this makes for the goofiest meet cute and really did make me laugh out loud. Since Page sends most of his paycheck to his mom and sister, he can't just find another place to crash for the summer, so this makes Page and Charlie summer roommates! He immediately recognizes her as the woman who called out his colleague Killian, and while he tries to maintain his distance, it gets harder and harder to ignore the growing sexual tension between them as they get to know one another.
Once these two wrote Page & Charlie's Roommate Rules, I knew it was game over. It was a fun nod to "you have to promise you won't fall in love with me" when Jamie says this to Landon in a Walk To Remember hehe. I loved their day trip to a nearby castle, their close proximity in the bookstore that Page's family owns (&that Charlie is now working at!), & the way they begin to look out for one another.
Page approaches Charlie's autism with curiosity and tries to clarify that he is willing to learn, which is more than what most folks can say! Having the mentality to just *try* & do better once you know better is something we should all be mindful of! I really appreciated the representation of Charlie's inner thoughts surrounding her autism, and how she had been let down so many times before by people she should have trusted: exes, her family, supervisors! The way Charlie had their harshest words on replay in her head was heartbreaking, but rings so true to me in my own experience of being autistic & an ADHD-er. It's why chosen family is so important, and can make such profound impact with regards to being validated and reassured that you are enough as you are!
I had so much fun with the excerpts from the tv show, interviews, fanfic excerpts, and social media posts at the beginning of each chapter; it totally felt authentic to the way those play into Hollywood and fandom culture. I also loved side characters and Page's work besties Sandhya and Theo, queer cast members from London who lovingly check in with Page and lay out hard truths for him at times too!
Honorable mention to Gandalf the White cat! What a silly goose, I love Gandalf! Also, the playlist was so much fun — I listened while I read 🎶
I'm unsure if this is the start of an interconnected series of standalone romances, but if it is, I'm very curious & hoping one of the books will be about Lillian & Callum *rubs palms together excitedly*
I highly recommend this, & will absolutely read whatever Caden Armstrong decides to write next!
representation: bisexual & autistic main character, main character who navigates anxiety, queer side characters, side character with ADHD
steam rating: 3/5 - yay for representation of sex toys & self-pleasuring!
see content warnings below & take care while reading <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, and Ableism
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, and Homophobia
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
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