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britwalsh16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book gave me all the feels!! I just love everything I’ve read from Elle Kennedy so far, & this book is no different. Fitz is an idiot, but when he decides to finally be smart, he dives in with both feet & he finally fights for what he wants!! I love it!! And Summer is stubborn & goes after what she wants, but she’s also smart & knows what she deserves, & if the two clash, she stays true to herself! And the two of them really are meant to be, they bring the best out of each other! I love characters like that. I wish I had someone like that to bring the best out of me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Bullying, Classism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Fire/Fire injury
pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Bullying
catastrophiclyss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Classism, and Sexual harassment
bookish_growler's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Gaslighting, Death, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Cursing
teniamonet's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Not even going to lie the miscommunication was strong in this one for quite a bit and I HATED it, please Fitzy and Summer just talk things out like the educated adults that you are. Other than that their relationship once it got started was sickeningly cute!
I liked Colin and Summer as characters. Colin is dedicated to coding and game development even though he's good at hockey and could probably go pro at it. Summer struggles with only being seen as a pretty face and a party girl. She's passionate about fashion, determined and smart. Even though she's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up (what college kid or young person in their 20s isn't still trying to figure this out?)
Not quite sure why people were saying Colin was flat when his characterization shows someone who is not just introverted but smart, nerdy, artsy, kind and has a sense of loyalty to the people and things that matter to him.Clearly shown when he's 100% fine with walking away from an opportunity at a game company and CEO that he used to admire when that CEO shows not only a lack of respect towards women and people who aren't 100% nerds but also when that very same CEO disrespects Summer.
I liked Colin and Summer as characters. Colin is dedicated to coding and game development even though he's good at hockey and could probably go pro at it. Summer struggles with only being seen as a pretty face and a party girl. She's passionate about fashion, determined and smart. Even though she's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up (what college kid or young person in their 20s isn't still trying to figure this out?)
Not quite sure why people were saying Colin was flat when his characterization shows someone who is not just introverted but smart, nerdy, artsy, kind and has a sense of loyalty to the people and things that matter to him.
I didn't mind that existence. It's been nice and comfortable. Conflict-free.
But I never felt truly alive until Summer.
I don't want to be with a woman who hides in the shadows with me, because that enables me to keep hiding. And that's what I've done for years - hidden pieces of myself from my parents, my friends, chicks, the world. I want someone who encourages me to step out of my comfort zone, and Summer is that someone.
This was an entertaining, funny, and easy read, which is exactly what I was looking for at the time and to be honest it's what I expect from my hockey romances so no complaints here.
Spice Rating: *reserved for the romance genre or books with an appropriate substantial romance subplot* this rating is meant to categorize the level of spice not how much I enjoyed it. this is a completely subjective thing.
3 spice (🌶🌶🌶) = solid love scene, around two - four scenes in a standard length book, the use of vulgar terms to explain *parts*. the desire goes hand in hand with the love and romance between the characters
Spice Rating: *reserved for the romance genre or books with an appropriate substantial romance subplot* this rating is meant to categorize the level of spice not how much I enjoyed it. this is a completely subjective thing.
3 spice (🌶🌶🌶) = solid love scene, around two - four scenes in a standard length book, the use of vulgar terms to explain *parts*. the desire goes hand in hand with the love and romance between the characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse
myhandmadehell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Youth is wasted on the young.
I really really liked the representation of ADHD (in a woman, no less!) as well as the overarching messages of not judging a book by its cover. Jocks can also be nerds, hot fashion-loving girls can also be smart, etc etc. All very good stuff.
But this book was lowkey painful to read. The slow burn aspect of it felt interminable - and not in a good way. The two leads hardly spend any time together in the first half of the book, partly because there are like five hundred other characters who all need page-time for some reason, and partly because they’re both being very stupid. And not in a fun way, but in a “oh no I can’t say what I feel” way that just kind of grates after a while. Their eventual decision to get together feels anticlimactic (despite there being one whole climax between the two of them in their first sexy scene together) and after that it kind of seems like both of their “flaws” just sort of…vanish. The book then carries on with the task of wrapping up about 1/4 of the plot points it opened - I assume there are more novels after this where we’ll see some of that move forward.
Anyway this felt like kind of a mess: the pacing was weird, the book felt too full of multiple other characters who took time away from the main romantic plot, and honestly some of the bad things that happened to female lead Summer felt really distressing and unfair (not to mention, trigger warning, an attempted sexual assault against another character towards the end of the book).
Also are there really so many adults in this world who not only still have deep grudges from high school but also have genuinely never encountered young people who challenge that narrative for them? One of them was literally an adviser at an IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL who later admits “oh I was poor growing up and I have an issue with rich kids getting what they want in universities and that’s why I was such a dick to you in particular) and like…really?? Was she the only student who you ever treated that way? And was she really the first one to ever make you think that maybe you shouldn’t do that?
Anyway, didn’t love this one, but the character voice was very good between the two POVs, and the leads felt like real people. It was just sort of the plot and pacing that was weird.
I really really liked the representation of ADHD (in a woman, no less!) as well as the overarching messages of not judging a book by its cover. Jocks can also be nerds, hot fashion-loving girls can also be smart, etc etc. All very good stuff.
But this book was lowkey painful to read. The slow burn aspect of it felt interminable - and not in a good way. The two leads hardly spend any time together in the first half of the book, partly because there are like five hundred other characters who all need page-time for some reason, and partly because they’re both being very stupid. And not in a fun way, but in a “oh no I can’t say what I feel” way that just kind of grates after a while. Their eventual decision to get together feels anticlimactic (despite there being one whole climax between the two of them in their first sexy scene together) and after that it kind of seems like both of their “flaws” just sort of…vanish. The book then carries on with the task of wrapping up about 1/4 of the plot points it opened - I assume there are more novels after this where we’ll see some of that move forward.
Anyway this felt like kind of a mess: the pacing was weird, the book felt too full of multiple other characters who took time away from the main romantic plot, and honestly some of the bad things that happened to female lead Summer felt really distressing and unfair (not to mention, trigger warning, an attempted sexual assault against another character towards the end of the book).
Also are there really so many adults in this world who not only still have deep grudges from high school but also have genuinely never encountered young people who challenge that narrative for them? One of them was literally an adviser at an IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL who later admits “oh I was poor growing up and I have an issue with rich kids getting what they want in universities and that’s why I was such a dick to you in particular) and like…really?? Was she the only student who you ever treated that way? And was she really the first one to ever make you think that maybe you shouldn’t do that?
Anyway, didn’t love this one, but the character voice was very good between the two POVs, and the leads felt like real people. It was just sort of the plot and pacing that was weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
kirareadssometimes's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
Has that class is off campus feeling that is just so comfortable to read. All the characters were so fun! A little too much time spent on stuff that felt irrelevant or just entirely separate from the couple. Like too much writing about her class when I’d rather them doing something together. <I was also bummed how things ended with hunter. I know he has his own book in the series but it felt neglectful.> summer was way less stressful than I thought she would be. Sexy and lighthearted but with a touch of real world issues near the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
culzean's review against another edition
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual harassment, Classism, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
midnightrose_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first book in the Briar U series. Summer DiLaurentis, who is a fashion major, transfers to Briar U from Brown after she accidentally sets a fire at her sorority house. She moves into a house with a few of her older brother’s friends and develops a crush on one of the hockey players there named Colin Fitzgerald. Colin is a coder who develops video games, in edition to playing hockey. They dance around their feelings for each other, eventually giving in and finding out they have more in common than they thought (such as their love for a epic fantasy series).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
tayloraddison's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape and Panic attacks/disorders