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jshawreads's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Blaine Bowers has just been dumped... on his one year anniversary... in public... by his high achieving Senior Class President boyfriend, Joey. Joey said he wasn't a "Serious Guy" and spent too much time pursuing his creative endeavours, painting murals for businesses in his area. So Blaine sets out to prove him wrong, to show Joey he can be a "Serious Guy", that he can "grow up", by running in the race to be Joey's successor as class president, and win him back. But as the race begins, Blaine realises that maybe winning Joey back isn't the endgame... Maybe he could make a good president and change things for the better...
.
Blaine for the Win is another funny, heartfelt success from Robbie Couch. Dealing with themes of identity, loss, loneliness, and friendship, we follow Blaine as he learns about what is truly important. I loved this book and absorbed it in two sittings, a perfect fast-paced read, which felt a little less heavy than Sky Blues and If I See You Again Tomorrow, but with all the charm. Robbie Couch has truly cemented his place as an auto-buy author for me.
.
I loved the friendship group that surrounds Blaine and his relationship with his aunt, their interactions feeling so real, and would love to read more about what happens next for Blaine, Trish, Camilla, Danny, and Zach (not you Joey 🤣)
.
Blaine for the Win is another funny, heartfelt success from Robbie Couch. Dealing with themes of identity, loss, loneliness, and friendship, we follow Blaine as he learns about what is truly important. I loved this book and absorbed it in two sittings, a perfect fast-paced read, which felt a little less heavy than Sky Blues and If I See You Again Tomorrow, but with all the charm. Robbie Couch has truly cemented his place as an auto-buy author for me.
.
I loved the friendship group that surrounds Blaine and his relationship with his aunt, their interactions feeling so real, and would love to read more about what happens next for Blaine, Trish, Camilla, Danny, and Zach (not you Joey 🤣)
intheblackout's review
4.0
Blaine for the Win follows mural artist Blaine as he decides to run for senior student council president, after his boyfriend dumps him for being too 'unserious.' However, what started out as a way to win back his ex turns into a real campaign, with the help of his friends Trish, Camila, and Danny.
I loved the characters here and how complex they are. Blaine isn't the perfect hero of the story. He makes mistakes and is selfish at times, and while I got frustrated with him and the choices he made, he always felt realistic.
The plot focuses on the election, with some side of Blaine's murals and family. The plot was a bit predictable, I didn't mind as the journey and our character's relationships took precedence.
I would have liked a bit more romance. The bit of romance that we got did need more development. It was mainly suggested at, and then when we got it, it was more of a nod as the book's loose ends were tidied up at the end.
I loved the characters here and how complex they are. Blaine isn't the perfect hero of the story. He makes mistakes and is selfish at times, and while I got frustrated with him and the choices he made, he always felt realistic.
The plot focuses on the election, with some side of Blaine's murals and family. The plot was a bit predictable, I didn't mind as the journey and our character's relationships took precedence.
I would have liked a bit more romance. The bit of romance that we got did need more development. It was mainly suggested at, and then when we got it, it was more of a nod as the book's loose ends were tidied up at the end.
ethannku's review
3.0
3.5 stars
this was cute! nothing groundbreaking, just a fun high school romp. there were a few moments that had me gasping (/pos) just bc of the sheer audacity of some of the characters, but overall this is par for course as far as high school “running for student president” books go
this was cute! nothing groundbreaking, just a fun high school romp. there were a few moments that had me gasping (/pos) just bc of the sheer audacity of some of the characters, but overall this is par for course as far as high school “running for student president” books go
jazmin's review
4.0
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing an ARC of Blaine for the Win in exchange for an honest review.
Since the book has been released, this is the full review!
⇢Description
Think: Queer, Legally Blonde, and although I haven’t seen the show, someone told me it seemed like Glee without the singing? Basically: iconic.
High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all—the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend— senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey—is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas.
Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary.
Because, according to Joey, Blaine is too goofy, too flighty, too…unserious. And if Joey wants to go far in life, he needs to start dating more serious guys. Guys like Zach Chesterton.
Determined to prove that Blaine can be what Joey wants, Blaine decides to enter the running to become his successor (and beat out Joey’s new boyfriend, Zach) as senior student council president.
But is he willing to sacrifice everything he loves about himself to do it?
⇢Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. There’s something so fun and heartwarming about YA contemporaries and despite some of the deeper themes within this book, it completely invoked those emotions in me. I really liked Blaine and his growth and I LOVED the side characters and how much of a role they played.
Another thing that may not be the most important to mention but that I want to really make a note of is how much I enjoyed Blaine’s passion for murals! I adore it when a character has a unique hobby or passion that you don’t see that often in books and the way that his love of painting tied into the themes of the book was super well done.
Not many critiques here, so I’ll just say that I wanted a bit more from some aspects of the book. There were a lot of great angles that were explored on the surface but not more than that, and I think the book could have really profited from being a bit longer because of that!
my carrd ❦
BOOKISH PRODUCTS: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS, BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK ETC: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS AND CANDLES: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
Since the book has been released, this is the full review!
⇢Description
Think: Queer, Legally Blonde, and although I haven’t seen the show, someone told me it seemed like Glee without the singing? Basically: iconic.
High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all—the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend— senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey—is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas.
Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary.
Because, according to Joey, Blaine is too goofy, too flighty, too…unserious. And if Joey wants to go far in life, he needs to start dating more serious guys. Guys like Zach Chesterton.
Determined to prove that Blaine can be what Joey wants, Blaine decides to enter the running to become his successor (and beat out Joey’s new boyfriend, Zach) as senior student council president.
But is he willing to sacrifice everything he loves about himself to do it?
⇢Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. There’s something so fun and heartwarming about YA contemporaries and despite some of the deeper themes within this book, it completely invoked those emotions in me. I really liked Blaine and his growth and I LOVED the side characters and how much of a role they played.
Another thing that may not be the most important to mention but that I want to really make a note of is how much I enjoyed Blaine’s passion for murals! I adore it when a character has a unique hobby or passion that you don’t see that often in books and the way that his love of painting tied into the themes of the book was super well done.
Not many critiques here, so I’ll just say that I wanted a bit more from some aspects of the book. There were a lot of great angles that were explored on the surface but not more than that, and I think the book could have really profited from being a bit longer because of that!
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
my carrd ❦
BOOKISH PRODUCTS: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS, BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK ETC: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS AND CANDLES: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
mediumyellow10's review against another edition
2.0
I would have had a better time with this if it was not supposed to be a literal Legally Blonde retelling like I thought when I first picked it up. I just thought everyone was listing Legally Blonde as a comp title!! But truly I think the author lost the plot in trying to stretch this to be a literal retelling, like it fully did not make sense as either a retelling or as its own story where the author was just influenced by Legally Blonde. Which like I think I would have just appreciated something inspired better!! Bc also the themes and message at the core of Legally Blonde really and truly did not translate to a story about a cis white male gay and I will say that. This just didn't do it for me, it did not make sense.
booking_on_a_budget's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
2.5
This book was lame and boring
starfire1323's review
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kat1137's review against another edition
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
4.5