Scan barcode
spiffyb13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
5.0
lillanaa's review
5.0
This was way more fun than I anticipated, and way lighter on the romance than I expected. I definitely see where Couch was going, Legally Blonde references are scattered throughout, but it's not a bad thing. This is very much homage, not a blatant copy, and it feels... Homey. There's something comforting and cozy here, and the characters fill in exactly what I wanted from it. I can tell the different reference points pretty clearly, but after a while things start to muddle into their own story, something uplifting and fun. Definitely a high recommendation.
jonokmitchell's review
4.0
I am continually impressed by how skilled Robbie Couch is with blending his own touch of millennial nostalgia with such a clear modern aesthetic. Between Blaine and The Sky Blues, you truly see the influence of the pop culture he grew up with.
Blaine isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s not trying to be. That’s what I think I like the most. It’s just pure joy wrapped in a perfect homage to underdogs and hopeless romantics everywhere.
Blaine isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s not trying to be. That’s what I think I like the most. It’s just pure joy wrapped in a perfect homage to underdogs and hopeless romantics everywhere.
eleonora_fr's review against another edition
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
5.0
sandro_huebscher's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tilbard's review
3.0
This was a tough one for me. Robbie is a talented writer and the story was tight. Blaine's motives were clear throughout. But, for the most part, I didn't enjoy it. It's based around one of my least favorite tropes. And for most of the book, I didn't really like Blaine. But, again, the book was very well written. Loved The Sky Blues, btw.
gggina13's review
5.0
4.5
This was really really fun!!!
Blaine is having his one-year dating anniversary with Joey, his "I can't believe I get to date him" senior class president boyfriend. Sooooo he's even more in shock when he gets dumped at a fancy restaurant during his anniversary dinner... Joey doesn't see Blaine as a ~serious guy~, not the kind of guy he can date if he wants to go on to be seen, be important, be president of the us???
So naturally Blaine decides to become a serious guy and run for next year's senior class president. He starts out clueless, but with the support of his aunt, his friends Trish and Camilla, and his new friend Danny, he starts to build a really good and well-rounded campaign around student mental health.
While Blaine begins his campaign to win Joey back, it quickly diverts from that as he realizes not only does Joey kind of suck, but he has the chance to make actual important change at his school with his campaign. I appreciate how this book is mainly non-romantic, with some romance just barely peppered in.
There are definitely stressors in this book - not only is Blaine's running in the campaign stressful, but there are also things he lets fall to the wayside while he focuses fully on the campaign, like an important conversation with his aunt and a mural he committed to finishing, left unfinished on a local business' wall. I was kind of like omg? can you please handle these things already?? But hey, I have been known to avoid an issue or two lmao so I cannot judge
The cast of characters is diverse enough - Trish is Black, and she and Camilla are dating, and then Danny is Korean and bi. Everyone in Blaine's friend group had their own interests and were generally well-rounded characters. Blaine's Aunt Starr is unemployed and lives with Blaine and his parents, and his parents work lots of hours so a lot of the time it was just Blaine and Aunt Starr hanging out together. As an almost 30 year old, Aunt Starr going through her career crisis hit a little too close to home with me lmaooo, but it was a good realistic storyline.
I'm just happy this book about a school hobby that's viewed as more serious, student government, was able to portray it as a little more fun and emphasize the change kids are able to make in their schools (ideally, at least)
This was really really fun!!!
Blaine is having his one-year dating anniversary with Joey, his "I can't believe I get to date him" senior class president boyfriend. Sooooo he's even more in shock when he gets dumped at a fancy restaurant during his anniversary dinner... Joey doesn't see Blaine as a ~serious guy~, not the kind of guy he can date if he wants to go on to be seen, be important, be president of the us???
So naturally Blaine decides to become a serious guy and run for next year's senior class president. He starts out clueless, but with the support of his aunt, his friends Trish and Camilla, and his new friend Danny, he starts to build a really good and well-rounded campaign around student mental health.
While Blaine begins his campaign to win Joey back, it quickly diverts from that as he realizes not only does Joey kind of suck, but he has the chance to make actual important change at his school with his campaign. I appreciate how this book is mainly non-romantic, with some romance just barely peppered in.
There are definitely stressors in this book - not only is Blaine's running in the campaign stressful, but there are also things he lets fall to the wayside while he focuses fully on the campaign, like an important conversation with his aunt and a mural he committed to finishing, left unfinished on a local business' wall. I was kind of like omg? can you please handle these things already?? But hey, I have been known to avoid an issue or two lmao so I cannot judge
The cast of characters is diverse enough - Trish is Black, and she and Camilla are dating, and then Danny is Korean and bi. Everyone in Blaine's friend group had their own interests and were generally well-rounded characters. Blaine's Aunt Starr is unemployed and lives with Blaine and his parents, and his parents work lots of hours so a lot of the time it was just Blaine and Aunt Starr hanging out together. As an almost 30 year old, Aunt Starr going through her career crisis hit a little too close to home with me lmaooo, but it was a good realistic storyline.
I'm just happy this book about a school hobby that's viewed as more serious, student government, was able to portray it as a little more fun and emphasize the change kids are able to make in their schools (ideally, at least)
bryanhoardsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Here I am thinking this would be the last book I'll read for 2021, but this book really pumped me up! I might finish another one, but PLEASE PREORDER THIS BOOK! It deserves all the love
paja2004's review
4.0
the problem here was the reason why enter the election and that our hero went too much for it when obviously Joey was just as*hole who did not deserve Blaine's attention
though i liked the aloe vera jokes and stuff around it
though i liked the aloe vera jokes and stuff around it