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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
I loved this book! Exes to Lovers is one of my favourite tropes and this book did it so well. Plus the backdrop of cosplay/convention/influencer scene was so well done. I must give kudos for the descriptions of the makeup and prosthetics, it was detailed, really well done. Eli and Zach were wonderful and I'm thrilled with how their story progressed. ❤️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I love how many nerdy themed books are coming out this year. I need more and more books about anime and fandom asap. It makes me feel seen. I also really liked Eli & their friends. They were super cute. These types of books make me sad that the super tight high school friend group isn’t real.
This book reminded me of Face Off. Did anyone else watch that show? I loved that show. I would watch the live streams from this book too. I love cosplay makeup and this concept is very fun. I appreciated how open everyone was with pronouns, top surgery, & being trans. Everyone was super accepting of Eli.
My only real pet peeve was not really knowing what a lot of cosplays were supposed to be because the anime was made up. I noticed real fandoms alongside fake ones, but it’s hard to visualize what someone will look like if you can’t reference the character. Also “PRINCESS MONONOKE’S” NAME IS SAN!!! I was screaming on the inside during that scene. It was such a cute moment and it was ruined for me.
This was really great for a debut book and I hope there’s more nerdy books to come from this author.
I love how many nerdy themed books are coming out this year. I need more and more books about anime and fandom asap. It makes me feel seen. I also really liked Eli & their friends. They were super cute. These types of books make me sad that the super tight high school friend group isn’t real.
This book reminded me of Face Off. Did anyone else watch that show? I loved that show. I would watch the live streams from this book too. I love cosplay makeup and this concept is very fun. I appreciated how open everyone was with pronouns, top surgery, & being trans. Everyone was super accepting of Eli.
My only real pet peeve was not really knowing what a lot of cosplays were supposed to be because the anime was made up. I noticed real fandoms alongside fake ones, but it’s hard to visualize what someone will look like if you can’t reference the character. Also “PRINCESS MONONOKE’S” NAME IS SAN!!! I was screaming on the inside during that scene. It was such a cute moment and it was ruined for me.
This was really great for a debut book and I hope there’s more nerdy books to come from this author.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
I received an ARC and I’m leaving an honest review.
A beautiful and emotional story about heartbreak, passion and hope, with a side of paint, foam and glue.
I’ve been to a few cons before (as a simple peasant) and I’ve always been fascinated by the cosplay community. Reading a story about it was just an overall amazing experience, and the addition of queerness and a tender and gripping romance just made it perfect.
(I cried multiple times, but in all fairness, I'm a crybaby).
I've been loving this book since the very first sentence, and when I was nearing the end I got extremely stressed, only to find out there's no third act break up or unnecessary drama. I've never been happier in my entire life.
A beautiful and emotional story about heartbreak, passion and hope, with a side of paint, foam and glue.
I’ve been to a few cons before (as a simple peasant) and I’ve always been fascinated by the cosplay community. Reading a story about it was just an overall amazing experience, and the addition of queerness and a tender and gripping romance just made it perfect.
(I cried multiple times, but in all fairness, I'm a crybaby).
I've been loving this book since the very first sentence, and when I was nearing the end I got extremely stressed, only to find out there's no third act break up or unnecessary drama. I've never been happier in my entire life.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
EDIT: Unfortunately, have to remove this review, as this book was done by one of Taylor Brooke's aliases. I am, and have been, disgusted by their vile behavior, I forgot to take this down sooner.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Thank you to NetGalley, Running Press Kids and Stacey Anthony for providing me with an ARC for Breakup, Makeup. I was so happy to have this in my NetGalley Shelf to start for #transrightsreadathon.
I really really enjoyed this book. It made me realize that 'right person, wrong time' is absolutely a trope that gets me hard! I loved Eli, they were such an actualized MC for me. They were genuine to us as readers, certainly not to Zach, but where would the story be without some drama.
I also enjoyed the minor dramas/overreactions from Eli that were understandable and relatable. We have all been there thinking some ones platonic best friend is their lover., right....?
I enjoyed the fast pace of the competition and the book in general. I am not a cosplay guy, except for Bears cosplaying Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians! BUT this is not the sort of thing that you need to be completely across to understand the work and imagery that goes into the competition side of the story.
Will post to socials closer to release date. Available 9 May 2023."
I really really enjoyed this book. It made me realize that 'right person, wrong time' is absolutely a trope that gets me hard! I loved Eli, they were such an actualized MC for me. They were genuine to us as readers, certainly not to Zach, but where would the story be without some drama.
I also enjoyed the minor dramas/overreactions from Eli that were understandable and relatable. We have all been there thinking some ones platonic best friend is their lover., right....?
I enjoyed the fast pace of the competition and the book in general. I am not a cosplay guy, except for Bears cosplaying Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians! BUT this is not the sort of thing that you need to be completely across to understand the work and imagery that goes into the competition side of the story.
Will post to socials closer to release date. Available 9 May 2023."
Removed my review and rating as this author was revealed to be abuser Taylor B. Barton, a white person pretending to be trans Latinx author Freydis Moon and also publishing under this pseudonym.
https://twitter.com/porterotica/status/1781662331111633141?t=OA1WoZd5dSsr8aF80x7kMA&s=19
https://twitter.com/porterotica/status/1781662331111633141?t=OA1WoZd5dSsr8aF80x7kMA&s=19
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book warmed my heart in all of the right ways. I don’t think I knew I needed a queer comic-con sfx romance, but I know now that I could read this again & again & again.