Scan barcode
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Minor: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Sexism, and Classism
emily_mh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Two standout things about this book is its breaking-the-fourth-wall narration, which is so refreshing and captivating, and its fun college vibes, which definitely made me nostalgic for my first year at uni. But unfortunately there were three major issues that I couldn't get past and which inevitably dropped my rating to 3.5 stars.
The first is the romance. I just couldn't get behind it, because an RA/fresher romance is just weird to me. There's a power dynamic there that I don't like, and having been in halls myself it's kind of gross to think of someone who is supposed to be your mentor/older sibling figure (and is also being paid to do the job) being in a relationship with a resident.
My second issue was with Elliot herself. I started off absolutely loving her but then she started really annoying me and some of her words and phrases were cringey to me, like tender chicken (it made me feel sick).
My third issue was that for a book that calls itself sex-positive, there were some decidedly not sex-positive things in there. For example, it doesn't dismantle the social concept of virginity when there is opportunity to do so, it doesn't use anatomical names for genitals, it calls people who don't have sex boring, and it uses the term "prostitution."
I really wish I had gotten on with this book more! Its new adult + sapphic which is RIGHT up my alley, but sadly we weren't a match.
The first is the romance. I just couldn't get behind it, because an RA/fresher romance is just weird to me. There's a power dynamic there that I don't like, and having been in halls myself it's kind of gross to think of someone who is supposed to be your mentor/older sibling figure (and is also being paid to do the job) being in a relationship with a resident.
My second issue was with Elliot herself. I started off absolutely loving her but then she started really annoying me and some of her words and phrases were cringey to me, like tender chicken (it made me feel sick).
My third issue was that for a book that calls itself sex-positive, there were some decidedly not sex-positive things in there. For example, it doesn't dismantle the social concept of virginity when there is opportunity to do so, it doesn't use anatomical names for genitals, it calls people who don't have sex boring, and it uses the term "prostitution."
I really wish I had gotten on with this book more! Its new adult + sapphic which is RIGHT up my alley, but sadly we weren't a match.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Drug abuse, Body shaming, Cancer, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, Fatphobia, Ableism, Drug use, War, Death, Biphobia, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexism
Loss of a loved one, hazing, divorce, abandonment, menstruationleahta11's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This story about a girl from Cincinnati who goes to college in the Boston area is unapologetically messy. She starts off her freshman year letting loose in a variety of ways: promiscuity, slacking off in classes, and unhealthy habits to say name a few.
I absolutely loved the main character's voice and perspective. It's deadpan sarcastic, pop culture referencing, and mind in the gutter and it's so relatable. Don't get me wrong, Elliot makes some mistakes and has a lot to learn, but the way she's presenting the story to us is so fun and entertaining.
I absolutely loved the main character's voice and perspective. It's deadpan sarcastic, pop culture referencing, and mind in the gutter and it's so relatable. Don't get me wrong, Elliot makes some mistakes and has a lot to learn, but the way she's presenting the story to us is so fun and entertaining.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
thespinystacks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
🥃🍺🥂 Fresh 🥂🍺🥃
Where Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Pornhub. Honestly, I thought I was going to love this book. I did not.
——————————————————
I loved the idea for this book and thought it sounded great, but honestly I couldn’t immerse myself in it because I didn’t believe it. As a coming of age story I just couldn’t see an eighteen or nineteen year old undertaking a study on S&M. I know I went through uni 13 years ago and the world is more Woke than ever, but this just didn’t track for me.
The book itself is written with our lead speaking directly to the reader and filled with unnecessary footnotes. That’s probably the most realistic portion of the book - a young adult being so vapid she thinks people are interested in her.
Where Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Pornhub. Honestly, I thought I was going to love this book. I did not.
——————————————————
I loved the idea for this book and thought it sounded great, but honestly I couldn’t immerse myself in it because I didn’t believe it. As a coming of age story I just couldn’t see an eighteen or nineteen year old undertaking a study on S&M. I know I went through uni 13 years ago and the world is more Woke than ever, but this just didn’t track for me.
The book itself is written with our lead speaking directly to the reader and filled with unnecessary footnotes. That’s probably the most realistic portion of the book - a young adult being so vapid she thinks people are interested in her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
serenaasora's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcohol
zzzleeping's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
aflseniors09's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The main character is an insufferable know it all that could save herself a lot of trouble if she'd ever listen to and consider anybody but herself. She very much has ~not like other girls~ vibes.
It feels like the author is trying too hard to seem hip and relevant which just results in her seeming even more out of touch than she'd probably be if she hadn't tried.
The author wouldn't use the correct terminology of anatomy which is annoying and childish, especially when the book is meant to be sex forward/positive.
I really just did not enjoy this book. I do not think it's a good book and some of the sentences did not even make sense.
It feels like the author is trying too hard to seem hip and relevant which just results in her seeming even more out of touch than she'd probably be if she hadn't tried.
The author wouldn't use the correct terminology of anatomy which is annoying and childish, especially when the book is meant to be sex forward/positive.
I really just did not enjoy this book. I do not think it's a good book and some of the sentences did not even make sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
bookcrushin's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
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
5.0
The award for the most bi-positive cover & book goes to...Fresh! Seriously this book is laugh out loud funny, sexy, and still helps us not fuck up future relationships. College age books and protagonists are still some of my favorite books on the market. This one is good, friends, it's really good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Biphobia
Minor: Drug use
hellokitty'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content