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shelvesofivy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I would like to thank books with messy, easily unlikable characters for being so real (and relatable).
Neil is rude, irritable, and self-centered for a majority of the book. And I wouldn't have it any other way, really. His inner dialogue reminds me a lot of my own at times, especially when I was a teen. But that just makes his story and development that much more satisfying by the end.
There's honestly so much I could get into about this book and the ways it deals with complicated family dynamics, friendships, and other complicated relationships. Even if our main character wants things to be black and white with blame during conflicts, he learns that it's usually a lot more difficult to pin down than that.
And of course, I couldn't write this review without addressing how much I LOVED Wyatt as a character. They're such a loveable person, and it was so fun getting to know them more, bit by bit.
And the discussion around their gender when they come out to Neil... š„ŗ Their feelings surrounding gender are so similar to my own as a genderfluid person, so it was really nice to see it talked about by another person.
I will say that I do wishthat we got a bit more insight into Wyatt's feelings, how/when they developed, etc. Especially since there's a point where they say something about having wanted to kiss Neil "for a while." And there's that part of meāthe part that's weak for piningāthat wonders if their feelings (or an inkling of them) started even before Neil's scheme.
Overall, this book had me audibly reacting at multiple points, from the adorable, to the upsetting, to the downright silly. Despite the convoluted plans and a plot that won't necessarily happen to most people, the characters make it hit home in an authentic way that you can't help but love ā”
Neil is rude, irritable, and self-centered for a majority of the book. And I wouldn't have it any other way, really. His inner dialogue reminds me a lot of my own at times, especially when I was a teen. But that just makes his story and development that much more satisfying by the end.
There's honestly so much I could get into about this book and the ways it deals with complicated family dynamics, friendships, and other complicated relationships. Even if our main character wants things to be black and white with blame during conflicts, he learns that it's usually a lot more difficult to pin down than that.
And of course, I couldn't write this review without addressing how much I LOVED Wyatt as a character. They're such a loveable person, and it was so fun getting to know them more, bit by bit.
I will say that I do wish
Overall, this book had me audibly reacting at multiple points, from the adorable, to the upsetting, to the downright silly. Despite the convoluted plans and a plot that won't necessarily happen to most people, the characters make it hit home in an authentic way that you can't help but love ā”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Classism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Sexual content, and Deadnaming
Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment
martereadsbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, and Body shaming
Minor: Classism
kashrae99's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Transphobia
Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Abandonment, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Death, and Deadnaming
fanboyriot'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read For:
š³ļøāā§ļø t4t
š Fake Dating
š Roommates
šļø Only One Bed
š©· Grumpy x Sunshine
I think this just might be my favorite Mason Deaver book yet! I loved this book so much!
The plot was cute, the characters were amazing, and the romance was perfect. It was everything. Neil and Wyatt were both total dorks and I absolutely adore them.
Iām so happy this book exists. The trans rep, the wedding where dealing with family is a nightmare. There was so many moments in this book that were cute and funny but there were moments where it felt realistic and raw. That Neil was the way he was because of the people around him. Always running away and shoving his feelings down until they didnāt existā¦ at least until he fell face first for the least likely person he was expecting.
The only negative thing I have to say was that I didnāt read it sooner.
Release Date: 16, August 2022
POV: First Person
Spice: š¶ļøš¶ļø (mentioned lightly, PG-13)
Rep: Transmasc Gay (MC), Transmasc Gay (SC), Bisexual Korean (SC), Black Bisexual (SC), Gay (SC), BIPOC Characters, LGBTQIA+ Characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Classism, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Cursing, Transphobia, Alcohol, Deadnaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, and Fatphobia
midnightbelles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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
I really enjoyed reading this. It was very cute and I like the growth that the mc underwent. He was very self centered and insufferable at moments but thatās part of his growth as a character. I also enjoyed reading them fall in love. ( also a very quick read! Once I started I didnāt put it down)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Body shaming, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
stacy837's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Dysphoria
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Cursing, Deadnaming, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
mwhite0226's review
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit
lydvos's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Overall I enjoyed this book. However, it didnāt really give āenemies to loversā. It felt more like privileged to pitied, and Iām sorry but I didnāt really like Neil. He and his family are extremely classist and suddenly at the end of the book thatās not forgotten about because all along they had trauma?? No.
But I like Wyatt, Wyatt is awesome.
Also, I notice how Deaver purposefully made Neil fat. I am glad for the representation but itās hardly ever mentioned and is always sort of subtle. Which I think doesnāt have to be a positive or negative thing, but a lot of fans seem to have interpreted Neil to be slim in fan art. So this isnāt really a comment on the book but the readers. Neil is a fat trans man, stop drawing tall skinny white boys with perfect features.
But I like Wyatt, Wyatt is awesome.
Also, I notice how Deaver purposefully made Neil fat. I am glad for the representation but itās hardly ever mentioned and is always sort of subtle. Which I think doesnāt have to be a positive or negative thing, but a lot of fans seem to have interpreted Neil to be slim in fan art. So this isnāt really a comment on the book but the readers. Neil is a fat trans man, stop drawing tall skinny white boys with perfect features.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, and Cursing
Minor: Deadnaming
dododenise's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
The first two thirds were perfection. Beautiful development and beautiful use of the fake-dating trope.
Then came the third act drama, and I wish that was done differently. I know this book is following all the typical tropes and yet I hoped for a different ending. I hate it every time a romance book does this and this one was no different. I feel like a different ending would have felt nicer and healthier. Especially with Neilās mom I wish it was handled differently. She is still not painted as perfect of course, but the road to forgiveness was entered too quickly. But also Neil and Wyattās relationship could have been given more time to deal with their issues and the way that Neil struggles with his emotions and his relationships. I was waiting for more shared conversations about this in particular.
In the end, I still flew through the pages. It was so easy and light to read that I lost track of time and kept going as long as I could.
And of course, I love the trans rep. Mason does it beautifully and it makes me want to read everything they write. Add to that their writing style that is perfect for me, and you get me gushing all over their books. I saw a lot of myself in Wyatt, both in their experience with their gender and their personality, so they were wonderful to watch and to see them grow.
Then came the third act drama, and I wish that was done differently. I know this book is following all the typical tropes and yet I hoped for a different ending. I hate it every time a romance book does this and this one was no different. I feel like a different ending would have felt nicer and healthier. Especially with Neilās mom I wish it was handled differently. She is still not painted as perfect of course, but the road to forgiveness was entered too quickly. But also Neil and Wyattās relationship could have been given more time to deal with their issues and the way that Neil struggles with his emotions and his relationships. I was waiting for more shared conversations about this in particular.
In the end, I still flew through the pages. It was so easy and light to read that I lost track of time and kept going as long as I could.
And of course, I love the trans rep. Mason does it beautifully and it makes me want to read everything they write. Add to that their writing style that is perfect for me, and you get me gushing all over their books. I saw a lot of myself in Wyatt, both in their experience with their gender and their personality, so they were wonderful to watch and to see them grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Deadnaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny, Outing, and Sexual content
raiynnn's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Vomit
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders