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mcf's review against another edition
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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Homophobia
katherinewankelman's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A rompy romance. Not very good but not very bad. Gets a bonus point for being gay.
klkachur_11's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yummyyumm_2's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
2.5
plnjane's review against another edition
3.0
a cute girl. i wish she didn’t call her “boss” to excess but eh
readingpurrride's review against another edition
4.0
The pace was a little slow, but in the end I just wanted more story. I think this would be a great first book.
mrood00's review against another edition
3.0
This was cute and the plot was actually interesting but I just didn’t feel anything between these characters. There’s just wasn’t any chemistry, most of the time it felt like they were simply coworkers and not two people who each had feelings for the other.
bookph1le's review against another edition
2.0
I am really glad this book exists. Publishing's abysmal reputation for representation is well deserved, and I have been encouraged by the steps the industry seems to be taking to try to rectify this problem. Representation is important, and it matters, which is why I'm glad there are books like this one on the market.
That said, it just didn't work for me, primarily because, while I understand this is a romance novel, I never felt like I got to know these characters outside of their worries about how the other one felt about them. I don't mind shifting perspectives in books, but I don't think it worked here because it just compounded that feeling for me, since I'd get an entire chapter of Emma fretting over how Jo felt about her, only to be followed by an entire chapter of Jo fretting over how Emma felt. There are some touches that round them out slightly, such as Emma's relationship with Avery and Jo's with Evelyn, but, again, a lot of this aspect centered around Emma relaying her woes about Jo to Avery and Jo relaying hers about Emma to Evelyn.
What I would have liked to see was these characters falling in love with one another over conversation. The book tells me some things about Innocents, the show they both work on, but it never shows me anything about it. The book tells me that Emma helps Jo with the Agent Silver script, but it never shows me. I wanted to see Jo and Emma get into specifics about what the characters on Innocents were doing, or what Jo wanted to do differently with Agent Silver. That last point feels especially significant to me, because much is made about how it's a big deal that Jo will be writing this movie. If that's so, why did I never once get an idea of what Jo was actually doing with the script?
The book touches on some relevant and hot button issues, and I thought there were some pretty strong moments where it tackles patriarchy and how LGBTQ people are treated by society at large. I wasn't as fond of the MeToo aspect because it felt...tacked on, I think? That aspect of the plot never really delves below the surface, and because of that it felt to me like it shouldn't have been there.
Still, while this book was disappointing to me, I think it will resonate with other readers.
(Side note: I was very happy when I finished this book and saw the author's notes, since every time I picked this book up, Bonnie Raitt started playing in my head. It was gratifying to know the author and I were on the same wavelength there.)
That said, it just didn't work for me, primarily because, while I understand this is a romance novel, I never felt like I got to know these characters outside of their worries about how the other one felt about them. I don't mind shifting perspectives in books, but I don't think it worked here because it just compounded that feeling for me, since I'd get an entire chapter of Emma fretting over how Jo felt about her, only to be followed by an entire chapter of Jo fretting over how Emma felt. There are some touches that round them out slightly, such as Emma's relationship with Avery and Jo's with Evelyn, but, again, a lot of this aspect centered around Emma relaying her woes about Jo to Avery and Jo relaying hers about Emma to Evelyn.
What I would have liked to see was these characters falling in love with one another over conversation. The book tells me some things about Innocents, the show they both work on, but it never shows me anything about it. The book tells me that Emma helps Jo with the Agent Silver script, but it never shows me. I wanted to see Jo and Emma get into specifics about what the characters on Innocents were doing, or what Jo wanted to do differently with Agent Silver. That last point feels especially significant to me, because much is made about how it's a big deal that Jo will be writing this movie. If that's so, why did I never once get an idea of what Jo was actually doing with the script?
The book touches on some relevant and hot button issues, and I thought there were some pretty strong moments where it tackles patriarchy and how LGBTQ people are treated by society at large. I wasn't as fond of the MeToo aspect because it felt...tacked on, I think? That aspect of the plot never really delves below the surface, and because of that it felt to me like it shouldn't have been there.
Still, while this book was disappointing to me, I think it will resonate with other readers.
(Side note: I was very happy when I finished this book and saw the author's notes, since every time I picked this book up, Bonnie Raitt started playing in my head. It was gratifying to know the author and I were on the same wavelength there.)
haapalaiida's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75