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tinkeringcheck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
So.
The main character is insufferable, unlikeable, and his narrative voice is annoying. It's a bad rom-com that happens to be gay, except the leads have no chemistry and the humour is painfully unfunny. The plot's driven by the main character trying to appease his homophobic boss, who wants him to get a respectable, straight-passing boyfriend to be a "good gay." And that's supposed to be... funny and light-hearted instead of an HR nightmare.
So what made the main character so difficult for me? Luc's POV reads like a stereotypically sarcastic, insecure teenager but since he's supposed to be almost 30 it makes him come off really poorly. I'm almost 30 and can confidently say nobody has their life together at almost 30, but at least my inner monologue doesn't sound like an angsty 2010 YA protag. He isn't a lovable, quirky disaster gay. He's just rude and emotionally immature, especially to his own friends.
His queer friends, by the way, are huge stereotypes and not in the fun way. Like two indistinguishable married guys named James Royce-Royce who are literally only ever referred to as "James Royce-Royce" (yes, first name and surname) so you never know who's talking kind of way. I actually can't believe this was published recently - and by a queer writer!! - because overall it was really giving vaguely homophobic early 00s rom-com vibes.
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer
The whole premise of the book is the main character experiencing casual homophobia at work (he needs to get a boyfriend to be a "good gay" in the eyes of his boss) and it's not really challenged - he goes along with it. Cancer warning refers to a parent of the main character. Also themes about dealing with an estranged father.what_karla_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
1/5 spice
Such a fun and swoon worthy read. I loved how Oliver and Luc worked together.
This is my second read by Alexis Hall, and I loved it! I had a lot of girly giggly moments that had me swooning, just like Luc. I loved how both characters are flawed and relatable. Luc is publicly a mess and is constantly putting his foot in his mouth, but he comes across as likable because he's not an arrogant asshole. He just wants to be stable... so, of course, relatable. Oliver, on the other hand, had the appearance of someone who is put together with all their ducks in a row. However, as the story progresses, you get a glimpse of all the ways he's very much NOT ok and how much he needs help.
I didn't expect this to be single POV so I found myself craving Oliver's POV a few times. I always love seeing how the MCs see different interactions.
Overall, highly recommend for fans of opposites attract and fake dating with swoony moments.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Moments of homophobia, bigotry, body shaming, gaslighting, and emotional abuse. Mentions cancer and mental health issues.
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content
gooseboy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
general+ending spoilers
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Addiction and Racism
athenathestorier's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
I'm all for these valuable messages, especially in the way that they wove together throughout the book. I also loved the reoccurring scenes where Luc tries to tell his literal-minded coworker(s) jokes, before having to give up with promises to do better next time. It was a quirk that I surprisingly enjoyed, and reminded me of the energy found in old sitcoms. It was all relatable and humorous, and sometimes I even laughed out loud. Also, did I spot a QPR in there?
But the same sarcasm and wit that Luc used to keep people from getting too close, also kept us readers from getting too emotionally attached. It made the moments of conflict, climaxes, and even romantic moments felt rather muted. In fact, I feel like I was more consistently onboard with the friendships and mother-son moments than the romance. But that might also be because of the pacing: the first climax happened around 50% into the book, and was resolved quickly. The final climax happened at 90% of the book and, on behalf of being so close to the end, felt rather easily resolved as well.
In another old sitcom-like gesture, we also get some supporting characters who had about 1/4 of a functioning braincell - so much so that they struggled to follow simple lines of conversations. This is a particular character archetype that I've personally never been fond of and rather forgot that it existed.
Memorable Quotes:
"I've never seen the point of fancy dress parties. You have two choices: either you make a massive effort and wind up looking like a disk, or you make no effort and wind up looking like a dick. And my problem, as always, was not knowing what kind of dick I wanted to be."
"Someone else's actions may affect you. But what other people choose to do is about them."
"Will it ever stop hurting?"
"Non." Mum shook her head. "But it will stop mattering."
"Are we really bad at this?" I asked. "We've been fake broken up once."
"Yes, but we fake resolved our difficulties and fake got back together, and I'm hoping it's made us fake stronger."
"Awkward as this is, I like to feel that 'slightly more friends than you can fit around your table' is exactly the right number of friends to have."
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Alcohol
frenchpants's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
offbrandclubsoda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
eidal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual harassment
qteabeans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
aoifeprettypurplepolkadots's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Cancer