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alexelli's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia, Car accident, and Grief
dododenise's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very cute. It hits all your typical romance beats. However, my biggest complaint is that the characters could’ve been more likeable and given more depth, I think this story would have benefited greatly from that. Nonetheless, as someone who has never been in a drive-in, this book made me care a lot about one.
Saw a lot of my own sexuality struggles in Wren which has been very rare so far. Seeing a demisexual character that experiences it so similarly to me was a bit special.
Overall, decent romance novel.
Saw a lot of my own sexuality struggles in Wren which has been very rare so far. Seeing a demisexual character that experiences it so similarly to me was a bit special.
Overall, decent romance novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Grief, and Homophobia
gcoulsxn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Misogyny, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Biphobia
betweentheshelves's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Well this was adorable! I especially appreciated the demisexual rep, and how Wren came to terms with that by the end. It felt realistic and natural, and Derick was accepting of it as well. It also worked really well with the plot!
The setting of the drive in was a great setting for this plot, and there was some good discussion about the film industry in general. I don't quite believe Derick's dad's change of heart at the end, but you know. It's a romantic comedy. The neat happily ever after endings don't always happen in real life.
All in all, this was an enjoyable an entertaining read!
The setting of the drive in was a great setting for this plot, and there was some good discussion about the film industry in general. I don't quite believe Derick's dad's change of heart at the end, but you know. It's a romantic comedy. The neat happily ever after endings don't always happen in real life.
All in all, this was an enjoyable an entertaining read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Classism, and Grief
therensistance's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Abandonment, Grief, Alcohol, Biphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death, Car accident, Mental illness, and Classism
imstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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: Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Mental illness, Car accident, Homophobia, and Biphobia
stardustandrockets's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
I saw a lot of myself in Wren. I can't even count the number of times I swerved out of kissing scenarios as a teen before I realized I was ace in my 20s.
More review to actually come once I gather my thoughts.
More review to actually come once I gather my thoughts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, Homophobia, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident and Grief
demisexual rep, questioning rep, gay rep, lesbian rep, queer repbooksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
This one is for fans of To all the boys I loved before and The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!
"One kiss can cause a lot of trouble" So Wren Roland has never had his first. He has had a few maybe and has always wondered about the what ifs. One night before graduation, after having a little too much to drink Wren sends four emails to the boys he almost kissed. Hoping they won't reply Wren tries to go on with graduating. That's when he gets a reply from Derek Haverford, his bestie from High School who for some reason ghosted him during their freshman year of college.
Wren believes in happily ever afters, in the big kiss at the end of the movie, because that is why Wren does, he eat sleeps and breaths movies. He even has been working at the amazing little drive in, Wiley's in his home town since he could hold a job. This year he has worked his way up to manager and nothing is going to stop him from doing his best, in steps Derek.. He has been hired to help Wiley's start their social media channels and draw in more attention to the dying drive in. Having to be around Derek after sending the email isn't what Wren wanted for his last summer before "Adult Life" but maybe working things out with Derek won't be the worst thing after all.
This is and adorable second chance romance about figuring out what you want to do with life, standing up for what you believe in and figuring out who you are. Even when you have it figured out, it is always changing. That is one of the things I loved most about this book. Is that it talks about sexuality on a spectrum and that it is always moving and changing. How as queer people we are always having to come out from the second we figure one thing out about ourselves to when we figure something else out. This was a beautiful homage top cinema and an absolutely feel good book.
Cw/tw
Death
Misogny
homophobia
car accident
grief
classism
alcohol
ace phobia
"One kiss can cause a lot of trouble" So Wren Roland has never had his first. He has had a few maybe and has always wondered about the what ifs. One night before graduation, after having a little too much to drink Wren sends four emails to the boys he almost kissed. Hoping they won't reply Wren tries to go on with graduating. That's when he gets a reply from Derek Haverford, his bestie from High School who for some reason ghosted him during their freshman year of college.
Wren believes in happily ever afters, in the big kiss at the end of the movie, because that is why Wren does, he eat sleeps and breaths movies. He even has been working at the amazing little drive in, Wiley's in his home town since he could hold a job. This year he has worked his way up to manager and nothing is going to stop him from doing his best, in steps Derek.. He has been hired to help Wiley's start their social media channels and draw in more attention to the dying drive in. Having to be around Derek after sending the email isn't what Wren wanted for his last summer before "Adult Life" but maybe working things out with Derek won't be the worst thing after all.
This is and adorable second chance romance about figuring out what you want to do with life, standing up for what you believe in and figuring out who you are. Even when you have it figured out, it is always changing. That is one of the things I loved most about this book. Is that it talks about sexuality on a spectrum and that it is always moving and changing. How as queer people we are always having to come out from the second we figure one thing out about ourselves to when we figure something else out. This was a beautiful homage top cinema and an absolutely feel good book.
Cw/tw
Death
Misogny
homophobia
car accident
grief
classism
alcohol
ace phobia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Classism and Grief
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.5
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book and to SourceBooks for an arc.
Wren has always wanted a perfect first kiss, but something has always gotten in the way. When he drunkenly sends out old email drafts written to his almost-kisses, he gets a reply from Derick, his ex-best friend, who he finds out will be working with him at the drive in all summer.
I really loved this! It was cute and wholesome and enjoyable but also had some really well-written representation. I particularly love the way Wren's demisexuality is written. So often, people describe being ace as not having the desire for sexual relationships and it always really bothers me. Like Wren, you can have the desire to have a relationship without necessarily feeling that attraction. I think this is written very well with Wren's fixation on the perfect first kiss but also the way he keeps getting in his own way because he actually doesn't feel ready. I love when he discovers his label. I always tear up when an ace character is introduced to the concept of asexuality for the first time.
The plot of this one is really fun and I love the drive-in theater setting. I also enjoyed the plot with Alice and making sure her movie finally gets viewed. Overall very wholesome and enjoyable!
Wren has always wanted a perfect first kiss, but something has always gotten in the way. When he drunkenly sends out old email drafts written to his almost-kisses, he gets a reply from Derick, his ex-best friend, who he finds out will be working with him at the drive in all summer.
I really loved this! It was cute and wholesome and enjoyable but also had some really well-written representation. I particularly love the way Wren's demisexuality is written. So often, people describe being ace as not having the desire for sexual relationships and it always really bothers me. Like Wren, you can have the desire to have a relationship without necessarily feeling that attraction. I think this is written very well with Wren's fixation on the perfect first kiss but also the way he keeps getting in his own way because he actually doesn't feel ready. I love when he discovers his label. I always tear up when an ace character is introduced to the concept of asexuality for the first time.
The plot of this one is really fun and I love the drive-in theater setting. I also enjoyed the plot with Alice and making sure her movie finally gets viewed. Overall very wholesome and enjoyable!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Grief, Car accident, and Classism
lisa_m's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
I got an ARC of this book through NetGalley and I'm so very glad that I did. Nevertheless the following statements are all my honest opinion.
This book was such a funny and cute story. I read it in one day and just didn't want to stop. The charaters are super loveable and I really enjoyed the writing style. There are also chapters in between that show social media posts or chats which is really cool.
I enjoyed this book so much more than I anticipated. I was hoping for a cute romance and got so much more.
It is very modern with many mentions of brands, places and popculture. Especially movie references Pop up a lot which makes sense since the whole book is about a drive-in and a movie nerd. But also it deals with women in hollywood and sexism in the workplace. Besides that, it is a progressive queer story with not just gay/lesbian/straight/bisexual representation but also fundamental discussions about other queer identities and the asexual spetrum. There was even an explanation of demi sexuality from very supportive friends. This was really refreshing to read about since it is not talked about or mentioned in books a lot. It would also have been easy to erase the bisexuality of one of the main characters but even though it isn't called that it is still made very clear that she is not just a lesbian. I feel like bisexuality is still so often looked over that it feels like the norm and it's praiseworthy if someone does not do that..
Also there is old as well as young queer representation which I always love since it shows that different sexualities have always been a pat of society even if not explicitly called that.
Another cool thing about this book is the lack of homophobia. There are still some small mentions of not so supportive characters but the majority of people either are queer or really supportive. This just feels great to read especially because queer books often use homophobia as a plot device and antagonist. I like just reading about some queer characters living their live without it being a big deal.
I would say my only 'problem' with this book was the ending. It was pretty unrealistic but tbh I don't mind a bit of idealism in my escapist romance novels. I realised while reading this book that I'm so used to people betraying each other I still expected it at each turn.
When Alice said she might not help them in the end I thought that would for sure happen and be one of the main conflicts of the story - it wasn't. When the podcast guy talked to Wren I thought he would for sure steal the movie and get all the credit for Wrens research - he didn't. This was truly a wake up call for me. I guess I don't have the best opinion of people in general. Still I absolutely loved that the drama was mild and easily resolved.
Also the beginning was quite slow. Only when we meet the love interest the story really takes off.
I did really enjoy the honest communication between the main characters. Yes they have their differences and they fight and have misunderstandings, but they try! I love seeing healthy communication! And another thing I greatly appreciated was the humour. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this book. It just feels really honest and true. It manages to capture real life and real interactions while still giving you an idealised version which is quite impressive.
The whole book is basically about a boy who has never had his first kiss because to him that is a big deal. They also talk about societal/peer pressure which I think is important. I totally understand that and I could really indentify with the main characters struggles. The journey of self understanding he goes through is really inspiring and made me really love this book.
I truly feel like I could take a lot away from this story and its characters. It's not a secret that I love my books, especially rom-coms, to deal with heavier/deeper topics. This book really hits all the marks. And besides that it has my all time favourite trope of found family so what more could I really ask for?
If you are a lover of cinema, queer romance, strong friendships, feminism, and some cute tropes like 'there's only one bed' ;) this is the perfet book for you. It's one of the most refreshing and captivating romance books I have read in a long time.
This book was such a funny and cute story. I read it in one day and just didn't want to stop. The charaters are super loveable and I really enjoyed the writing style. There are also chapters in between that show social media posts or chats which is really cool.
I enjoyed this book so much more than I anticipated. I was hoping for a cute romance and got so much more.
It is very modern with many mentions of brands, places and popculture. Especially movie references Pop up a lot which makes sense since the whole book is about a drive-in and a movie nerd. But also it deals with women in hollywood and sexism in the workplace. Besides that, it is a progressive queer story with not just gay/lesbian/straight/bisexual representation but also fundamental discussions about other queer identities and the asexual spetrum. There was even an explanation of demi sexuality from very supportive friends. This was really refreshing to read about since it is not talked about or mentioned in books a lot. It would also have been easy to erase the bisexuality of one of the main characters but even though it isn't called that it is still made very clear that she is not just a lesbian. I feel like bisexuality is still so often looked over that it feels like the norm and it's praiseworthy if someone does not do that..
Also there is old as well as young queer representation which I always love since it shows that different sexualities have always been a pat of society even if not explicitly called that.
Another cool thing about this book is the lack of homophobia. There are still some small mentions of not so supportive characters but the majority of people either are queer or really supportive. This just feels great to read especially because queer books often use homophobia as a plot device and antagonist. I like just reading about some queer characters living their live without it being a big deal.
I would say my only 'problem' with this book was the ending. It was pretty unrealistic but tbh I don't mind a bit of idealism in my escapist romance novels. I realised while reading this book that I'm so used to people betraying each other I still expected it at each turn.
Also the beginning was quite slow. Only when we meet the love interest the story really takes off.
I did really enjoy the honest communication between the main characters. Yes they have their differences and they fight and have misunderstandings, but they try! I love seeing healthy communication! And another thing I greatly appreciated was the humour. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this book. It just feels really honest and true. It manages to capture real life and real interactions while still giving you an idealised version which is quite impressive.
The whole book is basically about a boy who has never had his first kiss because to him that is a big deal. They also talk about societal/peer pressure which I think is important. I totally understand that and I could really indentify with the main characters struggles. The journey of self understanding he goes through is really inspiring and made me really love this book.
I truly feel like I could take a lot away from this story and its characters. It's not a secret that I love my books, especially rom-coms, to deal with heavier/deeper topics. This book really hits all the marks. And besides that it has my all time favourite trope of found family so what more could I really ask for?
If you are a lover of cinema, queer romance, strong friendships, feminism, and some cute tropes like 'there's only one bed' ;) this is the perfet book for you. It's one of the most refreshing and captivating romance books I have read in a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Homophobia, Car accident, and Death
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