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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
Comfort book, ich hoffe das Spotify Audiobook wird nie gelöscht
3.5 stars.
Okay, I will admit, when I saw this book being compared to One To Watch (arguably one of my favourite cishet romcoms and definitively an absolutely amazing comfort read) and Red, White, and Royal Blue, I was two things: excited and skeptical. Mostly the latter. As in, like, 95% the latter and maybe 5% excited because gay!!!! Reality dating show!!!!! AKA drama-filled queer cuteness, which is right up my ally. But, and I will reiterate: very skeptical. Extremely skeptical. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child skeptical (yeah, this one turned out a lot better than that disaster, but the point still stands).
As far as One To Watch goes, I see it. Like, I really see it, to the point where a part of me is like “...really?” It just seems like there could have been a few different routes taken (with, for example, Daphne) that didn’t feel quite so close to the other novel. I am not accusing the author of plagiarism in any way, shape, or form, I just do think that some more originality could’ve been used. (Not that I didn’t love the Daphnes subplot— which I really, really did— I just think it could have been handled a bit more originally.) But, with Red, White, and Royal Blue, I’m struggling to see similarities beyond the whole forbidden romance with one blond white guy and one not white guy. And it’s gay, obviously, but, like, that’s not a point of comparison. (Right???) Honestly, this didn’t bother me at all because I think The Charm Offensive has a lot of its own merit and didn’t necessarily need to be compared to RWRB... which therein lies my “issue”: I just don’t think anything was really gained (besides possibly misleading the audience. Kidding. Kind of.) from that comparison.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised with the banter, romance, characterization, and unexpected emphasis on mental health that this book provided. There were so, so many important topics covered very well in here (including but not limited to ableism, casual homophobia & racism, self love, discussion about labels in the LGBTQ+ community, and relevant discussion of the asexual spectrum and sexuality). For a lot of people, I think this book could be really important and special to them. For me, it wasn’t, but that was truly a lot more of a me thing than a book thing.
All in all, the only thing I really have to critique is the writing & pacing in certain parts. The ending felt really rushed to me, and the two-month time jump was jarring and felt out of place. A few other points in the book also seemed a bit contrived and almost like cartoon situations in their lack of further discussion/relevance to the plot or, like, consequences. All I’m saying is that I wouldn’t make out with my handler, as a man, when he is a man, and I am closeted and in a reality show where I’m dating 10 women, in the middle of a busy street while meeting with an old friend and never think about it again.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, I will admit, when I saw this book being compared to One To Watch (arguably one of my favourite cishet romcoms and definitively an absolutely amazing comfort read) and Red, White, and Royal Blue, I was two things: excited and skeptical. Mostly the latter. As in, like, 95% the latter and maybe 5% excited because gay!!!! Reality dating show!!!!! AKA drama-filled queer cuteness, which is right up my ally. But, and I will reiterate: very skeptical. Extremely skeptical. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child skeptical (yeah, this one turned out a lot better than that disaster, but the point still stands).
As far as One To Watch goes, I see it. Like, I really see it, to the point where a part of me is like “...really?” It just seems like there could have been a few different routes taken (with, for example, Daphne) that didn’t feel quite so close to the other novel. I am not accusing the author of plagiarism in any way, shape, or form, I just do think that some more originality could’ve been used. (Not that I didn’t love the Daphnes subplot— which I really, really did— I just think it could have been handled a bit more originally.) But, with Red, White, and Royal Blue, I’m struggling to see similarities beyond the whole forbidden romance with one blond white guy and one not white guy. And it’s gay, obviously, but, like, that’s not a point of comparison. (Right???) Honestly, this didn’t bother me at all because I think The Charm Offensive has a lot of its own merit and didn’t necessarily need to be compared to RWRB... which therein lies my “issue”: I just don’t think anything was really gained (besides possibly misleading the audience. Kidding. Kind of.) from that comparison.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised with the banter, romance, characterization, and unexpected emphasis on mental health that this book provided. There were so, so many important topics covered very well in here (including but not limited to ableism, casual homophobia & racism, self love, discussion about labels in the LGBTQ+ community, and relevant discussion of the asexual spectrum and sexuality). For a lot of people, I think this book could be really important and special to them. For me, it wasn’t, but that was truly a lot more of a me thing than a book thing.
All in all, the only thing I really have to critique is the writing & pacing in certain parts. The ending felt really rushed to me, and the two-month time jump was jarring and felt out of place. A few other points in the book also seemed a bit contrived and almost like cartoon situations in their lack of further discussion/relevance to the plot or, like, consequences. All I’m saying is that I wouldn’t make out with my handler, as a man, when he is a man, and I am closeted and in a reality show where I’m dating 10 women, in the middle of a busy street while meeting with an old friend and never think about it again.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
lighthearted
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
I've GOT to stop trying to read modern romance, even queer ones, I just don't vibe with them.
too many romcom tropes but the ending was unexpected and heartwarming
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
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