Reviews with content warning for Sexism - The Falling in Love Montage

Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

15 reviews

pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition

emotional sad tense 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

1.5

I actually loved this first 98% of this book . . . but then that ending abosolutely destroyed it for me. And no, I'm not talking about

Ruby and Saoirse breaking up, we knew that from the beginning,

and no I don't mean that this book is just as much about dementia, instead of being a cute rom-com that it is marketed as.

Saoirse's feelings were *chef's kiss.* I could see many students (former high school teacher here), responding to major life changes the way she does. Especially if that's what your parent models.

Also, Oliver, sweet baby child. Love him, he deserves the world.

Now be warned for an absolute rant about the Dad/Beth and

Baby

storyline below. Feel free to skip if you didn't have a strong (or visceral, as is my case) reaction towards it.

I 100% detested the absolute piece of turd that her father is. Now, a part of this could just be my effed up issues from my own childhood with my parents but,

you refuse to talk about anything serious with your child, you start dating someone, propose, get married, move and have another child with another woman less than one year after your "wife" (ex-wife) moves out. All of which, done WITHOUT discussing this with (or hell even considering) your daughter who you know is absolutely drowning in all of the major changes going on in her life in regards to her mother, your divorce, AND the possibility that she could suffer from the same disease that is taking her mother away from her . . .

And for the most part, I was okay with it, I thought it was pretty realistic, until you just bombshelled the

pregnancy in the last two chapters. And again, it could be due to my issues, but I firmly believe having a child is soley up to the decision of the person carrying said child, but the consequences (both positive and negative) are felt by multiople people. And when it comes to having another child, the (holistic) wellbeing of your LIVING child should be a factor in your decision as to what you do. Having a child is not a decision about you and your desire to have children. If Saoirse regressed in her growth, I could not blame her, because, putting myself in her shoes, it would be completely understandable for her to feel like she was bing replaced. As what's been modeled for her is that we only sacrifice for someone we love, when it's beneficial towards you, and once it's not, we just pretend it's not there.

I'm not trying to say that her father's life should be put on hold or his life choices should be determined only by what Saoirse wants, but for god's sake, think about her for once and put her first at least once. She is your child, she should come first before yourself at all times. Or at the least, just think how she would feel or how your decisions would impact her. That's what you sign up for when you decide to have a child. End of rant.

Content Warnings

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Falling in Love Montage is another winner from Ciara Smyth.

It has sharp (at times razor-sharp) writing, believable character development, snarky dialogue, and nicely paced. It also provides real insight into

what life is like for the child of a parent with early onset dementia

, a topic which I knew very little about, and which is

pretty devastating to read about

.

The best character development award goes to our MC, Saoirse (pronounced Seer-sha, as she makes clear right at the beginning). Her distinctly sarcastic narrative voice engages you immediately, even as you think, this girl has issues (well, that's what I thought, anyway).

The plot is well-paced, and it is in some ways I could see where it was going,

, particularly with the romance plot

, but it was told so beautifully that I didn't mind the journey getting there.

I also really appreciated how everything

wasn't neatly wrapped up at the end, because that felt more realistic

.

Overall, this was a really well-written, feel-good tale with a knockout MC.

Content Warnings

neverlandpages4's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense 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

3.0

I was excited about this one because I haven't read many romance books where the main character is cynical and doesn't want a relationship. And as a cynic who doesn't believe in true love, I related to Saoirse a lot.

Reading this was refreshing because of how different it is from many of the previous romance books I've read. Both characters deal with their own issues and take their time revealing them to each other. And from the beginning, you know that it's a short, fleeting summer love and ⚠️ slight spoiler ⚠️ they don't end up together which I thought I'd hate but I ended up admiring.

Saoirse's cynicism comes from both having had her heart broken and the fact that her mother has dementia and her fear of inheriting it and not being able to remember the people she loves. I really felt for her and it's such a difficult feeling to explain and navigate.

I have very mixed feelings about the ending, part of me appreciates that it stays true to Saoirse’s cynical outlook on love, and the fact that they don’t up together at the end sets a good example of the way the author described love throughout the book. That love doesn’t always have to last forever, that you can love someone, and regardless of how long or how short the relationship lasts, you can learn something from the experience and have that love to remember forever. However, another part of me was hoping that despite all of that, they’d end up together because they were adorable together 🥹

This has the Insta-love trope which I’m not the biggest fan of but I can make an exception for a cute sapphic couple, and it was slow and dragging sometimes in the middle but other than that, I feel like my perception of love has changed and as the author intended, I've learned from it and will carry the memory of Saoirse and Ruby with me 🩷

Content Warnings

lolajh's review

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emotional funny 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

3.25

First of all, any potential readers know that Saoirse’s name is pronounced Seer-sha and I only found that out at the end of the book where she explains it and it’s not something like say-or-rees or say-ors or freaking ‘sauce’ like I’ve been pronouncing in my head the past two weeks of reading this. Anyways! Here’s the review!

I just want to say that I am ANGRY. This book right up until literally the last chapter was an absolute five-star read. I hated the ending and feel so underwhelmed.

You’re telling me these lesbian ass bitches didn’t drop their futures to break the rule of the montage and “having to break up” (because they didn’t have to at all) to be gay in Ireland together? What the fuck! WHO IS VERONICA. FUCK OFF I NEED SAOIRSE AND RUBY TO BE ENDGAME HELLO? Where was their wedding? I cannot tell you how much I NEEDED the (what I thought would be) predictable cheesy plot twist where it isn’t literally JUST A SUMMER THING and they’d JUST FUCKING DATE. Sorry. I’m so opinionated about this book. Where was the “happily ever after” that’s literally above the book’s blurb, the thing that’s foreshadowed throughout the whole book? The meet cute happened, the falling in love montage, the big fight, the hero realising they’re wrong, the grand gesture, now where is the happily ever after? I thought my fucking book was printed wrong and missing the actual last pages. I’m so pissed off.

Now, onto what I liked. So, Saoirse, let me tell you I loved to hate her. Why? Because she’s ME. She is the most relatable character I’ve ever read the perspective of. Her life and character all has such human reason it feels like she really is real. Flawed characters are the best <3

And I FUCKING LOVED RUBY (among other characters like Oliver and Beth and not really Saoirse’s dad) She is a lovable little ball of sunshine that in some parts maybe deserved more than Saoirse and shouldn’t have forgiven her so many times, but that’s okay.

I don’t have much else to say. Maybe if the ending was different I’d be able to appreciate the parts of this book that I loved so much, but I really feel like I can’t. I’m going to be resorting to ao3’s alternate endings to this book immediately to fill the void in my heart that I now have because of that ending.

Content Warnings

a_win_in_clear_rain's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really cute, wasn't suuuper satisfied with the ending, but I'm glad I read it! I loved the characters and the growth of their relationships!

Content Warnings

coybooks's review

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funny hopeful 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

3.75

Content Warnings

viireads's review

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inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

lisa_m's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I was hoping for a cute sapphic romance. It kind of was that but also not at all. This book is sad - I cried multiple times and there is a lot of things to unpack.

Let me start of by listing what I didn't like about this book:
- the main character was kind of annoying at times. Also I got really mad at her for the way she treated other people and argumented herself out of every wrong doing.
- the book was really sad and depressing at times (I cried a few times throughout the book)

- it doesn't have a happy ending

I really liked Oliver and his dynamic with Saoirse. They had that teasing brother and sister "funny enemies" thing going on which I really like.

I also liked Beth. I get why Saoirse didn't like her but I think she is actually pretty great. I did not however like her father. I get that he's trying his best but I would be so so mad at him for everything he has done.

The ending was fine I guess. I don't have super strong feelings for this book I have to say. I thought it was okay but I doubt it will stick in my mind for long.
I think I'm just kinda disappointed because I wanted to like this book so bad and I also really thought I would..

Content Warnings

celine's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I came for the fluff but stayed for the non-fluff, because the main character had chemistry with literally everyone except for the love interest.

Content Warnings

nicolinebl's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

I definitely had to get into this book, it's definitely very much a YA and it had been a while since I read one. Once I "accepted" that, I very much enjoyed the book though.

Saoirse is very much a rebellious teenager but I understand why she would act like that. The characters felt very real in that sense. Oliver might have actually been one of my favourite characters by the way, I really liked Saoirse and his talk at his last mentioned party.

The book deals with very heavy topics which I certainly hadn't expected but I think it was dealt with respectfully and I really enjoyed the book.

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