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penandpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Alcoholism, Lesbophobia, Car accident, and Panic attacks/disorders
letsgolesbians's review
- 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
photo review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6W2it9SdhY/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Biphobia
smartie_chan's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Car accident, and Suicidal thoughts
athenathestorier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
As a character-driven reader, I loved the focus that the characters and their relationships got. I really feel like I got to know them. In fact, getting to know Sage felt like looking in a mirror at times - so much so that I wondered if I'd be able to finish the book during this read through. And I'm so glad I did. Because this is what a good relationship (of any type) does: support you, and give you the strength to support yourself as well. Seeing these women grow into more healthy versions of themselves - learning where to put boundaries, learning how to incorporate self-care, and more - made me so soft and happy.
Sage and Noah at first seem like opposites, something their rivalry also paints a picture of. But they're actually very similar. Their fire to pursue their dreams and find success may have different fuel, but they both blaze just as intense. And when put together, that fire ebbs and flares in a fun cycle of steamy, challenging, affectionate, and vulnerable - much as the two of them describe certain moments themselves.
This is an adult romance in way more than just spice. The maturity of these MCs and their relationship is truly goal-worthy. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone seeking a contemporary romance, and I cannot wait to have this standing proudly on my physical bookshelf.
Memorable Quotes:
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Biphobia
haileyhardcover's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Biphobia, Cursing, Mental illness, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Medical trauma
fleur____'s review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Biphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Chronic illness
Minor: Car accident and Lesbophobia
cloreadsbooks1364's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Sage and Noah were both such deep, well developed protagonists. They were like real people, flawed but good, the ideal way for characters to be in a contemporary novel!
The side characters had just enough development to be lovable, but not too little!
The romance was amazingly written, it didn't seem unrealistic.
The comic competition was such an interesting past to the story, and I thought the ending was perfect!!!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Abandonment, Biphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Lesbophobia
abookwormspov's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Emotional abuse
whatbreeread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
noah and sage. the banter, the romance, the GROWTH. all a joy to witness. this book just made me feel GOOD inside and i couldn’t get enough
it was layered and everything written was intentional without being heavy handed. i was interested in all storylines almost equally
queerness is very nuanced and i’m glad the topic was broached. one’s identity is something that simply can’t be put in a box. people should be respected for who they (say they) are
Moderate: Biphobia and Panic attacks/disorders
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
First and foremost, I love how Sage and Noah's competitive history is established immediately. You get their history in a way that's natural and interesting, but it also lends itself so well to building both characters. Noah is someone who's always been told that her interests are not valid, her job isn't valid, and she's not enough to be the best, so she's very determined to prove herself, no matter the costs. Sage, on the other hand, is a loner and a fixer - she swoops in to help her family with their finances, but she also pushes people away constantly so she can never be hurt. At the start, they're both so into the art to cope with everything else, they don't see anything else around them.
Their characters develop so well, and as they become lovers you really get to see how they respect, support, and challenge each other. How this impacts their peripheral lives (friends, family, etc.) was also very telling for their growth and development and I feel like every secondary and tertiary character had their purpose. Nothing felt extraneous, and I loved that.
The subject of web comics and comic publishing was so much fun too. I don't know too much about that side of publishing, but I loved learning about their art and interests and getting to know their coworkers. It definitely helped flesh out the main stage (their workplace) and the looming deadlines added stakes and intensity to every moment spent there.
As a bonus, a sapphic sex scene on page?? So rarely do I find books that have that and in such a way the fits the characters so well in their teasing, competitive, yet also soft manner?? Perfection.
I love how every moment in this book matters - not that it's heavy, but that it adds value to the characters and their stories. This book really came to life for me and loved every moment!
Rep: Black bisexual MC, Black lesbian MC with chronic pain (carpal tunnel)
TW: sexual content, chronic illness, burnout, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, abandonment; mentions lesbophobia, biphobia, car accident
Graphic: Mental illness, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Car accident, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia