12.7k reviews for:

The Charm Offensive

Alison Cochrun

4.19 AVERAGE

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The name is fitting because everything about this book was offensive.
funny hopeful sad tense 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
emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was so cute!
I loved how effortless all the diversity in this book was, sometimes it feels forced but Cochran did it so seamlessly.
funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

The plot is bascially a queer version of season 1 of UNREAL. However, this book is much, much kinder to its characters. It focuses on their journeys of self discovery (and the lies we tell ourselves.) It celebrates mental health an self care.

I may have over-identified with some of the characters and cried a lot. I siill find it hard to open myself up to love.

Fantastique

I loved! This was so fun while also being quite good on how depression and anxiety can interfere with sense of self and relationships
emotional 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

Charlie is absolutely adorable, my favourite type of character. There's a strong emphasis on mental health, but I still found it easy reading. Just a nice sweet gay romance. Really liked the premise, it felt like an AU fanfic in all the best ways.
Devoured it in one sitting. There was a dumb third act break up, but that's just a given in this type of book and it didn't go on for too long so I didn't really mind that much.