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martinej's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
tfpeel's review against another edition
4.0
una risata dopo l'altra, stupendo... presto la recensione sul blog!!!
bitchie's review against another edition
5.0
I kind of waffled between 4 and 5 stars for this one, but finally settled on 5, just for the sheer joy I felt through just about the whole thing. Yes, I did get a bit lost in Paul's rambles more than once, but I think that was probably the point. I adored everyone in this book, Paul, Sandy/Helena, Vince (oh, sweet Vince!), even Paul's family and Vince's friend Darren, they were all great.
Paul is quiet, shy, maybe a bit nerdy, maybe a bit less than thin, but he is also sweet and smart and kind and funny, and the things that he says and the tangents that his brain goes off on will never bore a potential love interest.
Vince is everything Paul is not- he is buff and sexy and outgoing, and so what if he's not so smart about some things. People kept saying that, that Vince wasn't smart, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. Vince misses out on some things, but on the things that mattered, I thought Vince was smart as hell. So he mixed up words and doesn't know everything, that doesn't make him stupid. And he saw something in Paul, something that Sandy and his family had been trying to get him to see in himself for years, and I loved Vince for that. I loved how he kept right on going, and how he wouldn't take no for an answer, in such an endearing way. Vince totally made this book for me.
And TJ, love, please tell me we're going to get a story about Sandy/Helena and Darren someday? The little bits you gave us here were just so tantalizing!
Paul is quiet, shy, maybe a bit nerdy, maybe a bit less than thin, but he is also sweet and smart and kind and funny, and the things that he says and the tangents that his brain goes off on will never bore a potential love interest.
Vince is everything Paul is not- he is buff and sexy and outgoing, and so what if he's not so smart about some things. People kept saying that, that Vince wasn't smart, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. Vince misses out on some things, but on the things that mattered, I thought Vince was smart as hell. So he mixed up words and doesn't know everything, that doesn't make him stupid. And he saw something in Paul, something that Sandy and his family had been trying to get him to see in himself for years, and I loved Vince for that. I loved how he kept right on going, and how he wouldn't take no for an answer, in such an endearing way. Vince totally made this book for me.
And TJ, love, please tell me we're going to get a story about Sandy/Helena and Darren someday? The little bits you gave us here were just so tantalizing!
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 So Not Surprised Stars!!
Having read 2 of Klune’s most likely popular series BOatK (shout out to my top book hubby, Otter!!!) and Tales from Verania (Tiggy 5eva!!), this comes as no surprise that I truly enjoyed myself. As with those books, this brings plenty of laughs that are absolutely based on inane ridiculousness and some gut wrenching feels to kick you in the literal or proverbial balls.
So, if you like seemingly underdog stories, heavy with familial feels, and deep romantic story arcs, all peppered with so much snark and fun, then this fan favorite is a no brainer and should not disappoint!
Having read 2 of Klune’s most likely popular series BOatK (shout out to my top book hubby, Otter!!!) and Tales from Verania (Tiggy 5eva!!), this comes as no surprise that I truly enjoyed myself. As with those books, this brings plenty of laughs that are absolutely based on inane ridiculousness and some gut wrenching feels to kick you in the literal or proverbial balls.
So, if you like seemingly underdog stories, heavy with familial feels, and deep romantic story arcs, all peppered with so much snark and fun, then this fan favorite is a no brainer and should not disappoint!
drez80's review against another edition
I'm not sure how to rate this. It was funny, but I thought Paul rambled too much, and could he ever finish a thought?! This book would have been great if it had been a little bit shorter with less of Paul rambling on.
the_gare_bear's review against another edition
5.0
I want to say thank you to TJ Klune for writing this book. As someone who has always been overweight my whole life, and picked on for that and being gay, this book really hit home for me.
I have a lot of the same issues that the main character has/is dealing with. When you go through things like that at a younger age, it's really hard to get out of the mindset that no one will like you, or I'm not good enough for this person, or why isn't this happening to me. If I am brutally honest, I still have those issues. I've always said that I know that I would need reassurance from someone that I was good enough and I know this is a me problem. But this book helped me see that I am not the only one who goes through things like this. It's hard for some to grasp that people can feel this way and it's not easy to get out of this mindset no matter how hard you try.
This book was hilarious, thoughtful, sexy, heartwarming, and most of all, well written. I look forward to reading the rest in the series.
I have a lot of the same issues that the main character has/is dealing with. When you go through things like that at a younger age, it's really hard to get out of the mindset that no one will like you, or I'm not good enough for this person, or why isn't this happening to me. If I am brutally honest, I still have those issues. I've always said that I know that I would need reassurance from someone that I was good enough and I know this is a me problem. But this book helped me see that I am not the only one who goes through things like this. It's hard for some to grasp that people can feel this way and it's not easy to get out of this mindset no matter how hard you try.
This book was hilarious, thoughtful, sexy, heartwarming, and most of all, well written. I look forward to reading the rest in the series.
ktk8's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Dropped it down a notch because sometimes it felt a little misogynistic. A funny, lighthearted books that will tug a little on the heart strings and generally was a lovely read
wintergirl94's review
5.0
Everything TJ Klune writes is a 5* read for me. The way he writes love and romance and human connection is just so special, it’s why he is one of my favourite authors of all time.
When I started this book I thought it would just be a happy silly rom com and don’t get me wrong but was really funny and I laughed out loud several times. But as always with TJ Klune’s writing, it’s like reading poetry. The relationship and feelings are written so beautifully in this it brings me so much joy. Thank you TJ Klune for deciding to be an author.
When I started this book I thought it would just be a happy silly rom com and don’t get me wrong but was really funny and I laughed out loud several times. But as always with TJ Klune’s writing, it’s like reading poetry. The relationship and feelings are written so beautifully in this it brings me so much joy. Thank you TJ Klune for deciding to be an author.
netslummer's review
4.0
I resisted reading this series for a very long time because the cover model looks like Chad Michael Mudface (Murray) and I hate him. After nearing the end of the entirety of the Klune Catalogue I figured it was finally time to get on with it.
Paul is a slightly overweight gay man about to turn 30. Of course that means he has terrible insecurity because the gay community can be vicious. He sees a hot guy at the bar, hits him with his car, and falls in love.
This book was an entire miss at the start and then a pretty solid end. Vince's entire personality started as "hot" and "kinda dumb".
Paul is terribly insecure because he's a little chubby.
I dunno. Putting aside my own upset at being personally victimized by Regina George as a 30-something chubby gay man and having Paul be a media poster child for that experience, the book was...cute.
I love all the characters (ish) which is standard of a Klune. He's really good at making fun characters. Paul and Vince are great about 80% of the time and everyone else is super fun. So maybe the rest of the books in the series will be better. I know I'm eager to see Corey/Kori again from BOATK.
Paul is a slightly overweight gay man about to turn 30. Of course that means he has terrible insecurity because the gay community can be vicious. He sees a hot guy at the bar, hits him with his car, and falls in love.
This book was an entire miss at the start and then a pretty solid end. Vince's entire personality started as "hot" and "kinda dumb".
Paul is terribly insecure because he's a little chubby.
I dunno. Putting aside my own upset at being personally victimized by Regina George as a 30-something chubby gay man and having Paul be a media poster child for that experience, the book was...cute.
I love all the characters (ish) which is standard of a Klune. He's really good at making fun characters. Paul and Vince are great about 80% of the time and everyone else is super fun. So maybe the rest of the books in the series will be better. I know I'm eager to see Corey/Kori again from BOATK.
tinkcourtney's review against another edition
5.0
The audio of this was everything. I woke my husband up laughing in bed. What a wonderful, wonderful book.