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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
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
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
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
fuzzywilson'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
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Alcoholism, Medical content, Biphobia, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Drug use
bweeksreads'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
5.0
They had the perfect rivals to lovers relationship with barely a drop of miscommunication. Both began to realize they were missing each opportunity to be something more by having such career tunnel vision. Both had the need to prove themselves and be seen/ heard but wouldn’t discuss it.
I saw so much of myself in both Noah & Sage that the resemblance became a little uncanny. Seeking approval, silently asking for help, and burning out to the point it felt like my head would crack open. Pulling yourself out a hole like that is very hard but when someone is there to help the weight is easier to carry.
This was a very beautiful and intimate slow burn that gets infinite stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️♾️
Minor: Addiction, Biphobia, Car accident, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Suicidal thoughts
hailstorm3812'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
4.5
Moderate: Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Car accident
Minor: Toxic friendship and Suicidal thoughts
merryfaith'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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident
danaslitlist'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
This book was everything I could’ve wanted in a rivals to lovers romance! The characters were so realistic and jumped off the page, the banter and dialogue was a wonderful mixture of humor and tenderness, and the fact that Noah and Sage communicate healthily was the cherry on top.
I absolutely loved the character growth and seeing how they both worked on their own problems without expecting the other to magically fix their behaviors or personal lives. It was refreshing to have a romance not rife with drama and childish behavior constantly between the two leads.
PLUS!! No third act break up.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Chronic illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts