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purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia, Car accident, and Medical content
anika222's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was hard to rate. I feel like I might be harsher because I had high hopes for a sex positive, sex worker positive, feminist book. But the biphobia, erasure of poly relationships as valid, some stigmatising ideas about sex workers (despite supposedly faking in love with one), and wayyyyy too many "healthy" food comments turned me off. That and the main character is supposedly larger? but also was consistently described as smaller than the love interest (not just in height). Oh but with a great rack and fat ass (so uh... Well within today's beauty standards.) Finally, the writing just missed for me. No emotional tension building, I hung in for a couple well written scenes, and hopes for really spicy sex scenes (didn't deliver on this either). I think people rate it highly because the ending does come together nicely but I still think I should have DNF'd by 100 pages in. Don't put "feminist" on the cover and then push your white feminist/second wave feminism nonsense.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia and Fatphobia
Anti-sex worker attitudes; "healthy" food commentary; poly erasuremiglena's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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
The book has forced proximinity, roommates to lovers, and subverts tropes like longtime friends to lovers and women hating each other who have been with the same man. This book is about sex workers and the porn industry and how they navigate the industry. It's also about love and how societal shame and stigma can be a barrier to fearlessly loving someone. It was Feminist, and I appreciated the sex-positive nature of the book. The sexual content wasn't that graphic (compared to other romance books).
This book felt rushed towards the end and I wish we got more on their background and childhoods. I easily would've read another 100 or 200 pages for more character development and background and more romance overall. The writing was good, reminded me of wattpad in a good way. It was interesting and different than the other romance books I've read this year.
Here are some quotes that I loved: SPOILER
"Change always comes with a closing cost.... But it's still worth trying. Not because the odds are particularly good, mind you, but considering the alternative. There's value in the struggle. Value and touching the raw and bloody parts of our souls, opening them up to the sunlight, and hoping they heal."
"I'm sorry I was too scared to accept it before. I always thought love was supposed to make you itchy. A crawling out of your skin kind of obsession. I thought love was synonymous with pining and logging. That I had to hurt.... But love isn't like that. At least not for me. Loving you is like sinking into a warm bath after a lifetime of feeling cold down to my bones..... It's having someone see me, past artifice and the posturing, and decide I'm more than enough.... My love for you isn't an addiction. Being with you doesn't provide some warped sense of validation for my life. You were never a fling I had to get out of my system. Our love feels like... Freedom. The kind people give their lives for."
This book felt rushed towards the end and I wish we got more on their background and childhoods. I easily would've read another 100 or 200 pages for more character development and background and more romance overall. The writing was good, reminded me of wattpad in a good way. It was interesting and different than the other romance books I've read this year.
Here are some quotes that I loved: SPOILER
"Change always comes with a closing cost.... But it's still worth trying. Not because the odds are particularly good, mind you, but considering the alternative. There's value in the struggle. Value and touching the raw and bloody parts of our souls, opening them up to the sunlight, and hoping they heal."
"I'm sorry I was too scared to accept it before. I always thought love was supposed to make you itchy. A crawling out of your skin kind of obsession. I thought love was synonymous with pining and logging. That I had to hurt.... But love isn't like that. At least not for me. Loving you is like sinking into a warm bath after a lifetime of feeling cold down to my bones..... It's having someone see me, past artifice and the posturing, and decide I'm more than enough.... My love for you isn't an addiction. Being with you doesn't provide some warped sense of validation for my life. You were never a fling I had to get out of my system. Our love feels like... Freedom. The kind people give their lives for."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, and Fatphobia
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
linesiunderline's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one was a lot of fun. Pretty steamy. Doors way open. I love how it put women in the centre, normalizing what it can look like to take control of your sexual experience. And of course, I’m here for all of the smash the patriarchy stories.
I get that romance can often require some serious suspension of disbelief, but I did find a number of the sexy scenarios to be kind of borderline laughable - like, I don’t think you need to get naked in the shower with someone to help her wash her hair because of an injury. Some moments of eye rolling did not interfere with my overall level of enjoyment though.
I get that romance can often require some serious suspension of disbelief, but I did find a number of the sexy scenarios to be kind of borderline laughable - like, I don’t think you need to get naked in the shower with someone to help her wash her hair because of an injury. Some moments of eye rolling did not interfere with my overall level of enjoyment though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia and Sexism
krys's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Fatphobia
lanidon's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a very sweet romance that works too destigmatize sex work. I was nervous originally reading the synopsis that Josh would be objectified or this book would be overly raunchy. I'm glad that it masterfully towed the line between sweet, demure bonding and steamy tension. I actually believe these two fell for each other which is no small feat in a romance. Everybody in this book is drinking respect women juice and I'm here for it.
I think the first 3/4 were perfection, but it got a little sloppy towards the ending. I believe this is a debut novel so the minor fumble is forgiven. The final conflict and resolution is just a bit off, additionally they built up the issue of Clara's family without ever showing the effects. Overall that does little to hinder my enjoyment of the book. I'm looking forward to any and all future books from this author
I think the first 3/4 were perfection, but it got a little sloppy towards the ending. I believe this is a debut novel so the minor fumble is forgiven. The final conflict and resolution is just a bit off, additionally they built up the issue of Clara's family without ever showing the effects. Overall that does little to hinder my enjoyment of the book. I'm looking forward to any and all future books from this author
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Trafficking
Main character mentions multiple times that she has been body shamed by previous partners. Current partner enthusiastically loves her body though Key plot point is about a porn production company that strongarms performers into bad deals and potentially harmful situations. Nothing concrete is mentioned, but there is a backdrop of industry abuse (and trying to change it)
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