Scan barcode
micaelamariem's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a romcom that was equal parts cute and steamy! I really wasn’t expecting so much spice! But I love the movie Pretty Woman so this gender swapped retelling was fun. I love all the representation: Asian characters, autistic mc, male sex worker, etc. plus the discussion questions at the end really help to understand the aspects of these representations. It would’ve been a four star read but the last third of the book kind of dragged out due to miscommunication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking, Sexual harassment, Cancer, and Ableism
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
I thought this was for the most part a solid romance that had me swooning and laughing and sometimes crying throughout. It was so heartfelt! It was not only so nice to see an autistic leading lady, but to know that said leading lady was written by an autistic author just made me so happy. Stella jumps off the page and I can see how her character resonates with so many women on the autism spectrum. The only time I ran into trouble with this book was when it began having the tendency to lean a little too hard into the miscommunication trope. If it made a single appearance, I maybe would have been able to look past it, but it was kind of all over the place and coming up a lot. Overall though, I did love this book and I think if you want to read a unique romance novel with an autistic heroine, this is the one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fatphobia, Classism, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Vomit, Cancer, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape and Stalking
wendy_05's review against another edition
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Terminal illness, and Ableism
Minor: Cancer and Stalking
wthanyell's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Despite the quote on the cover I did NOT realise what this book would have in store.
If you were unaware, this book is smut in disguise (?) maybe I'm just a little naive.
This novel follows econometrician Stella Lane, who hires a male escort (Michael Larse) in the hopes of learning the skills 'required' to have a relationship with a man. In doing so, she hopes to be comfortable enough to marry and have children, which would please her mother who constantly begs for grandchildren.
As you can imagine, none of this goes as planned and romance ensues.
Anywho, I really liked Stella's character and how the author drew on her experience of autism spectrum disorder. Michael isn't a bad character either, you can certainly tell he was written by a woman is all I'll say; I just liked Stella's characterisation that bit more.
Characters 7
Plot 7
Writing/style 6
Enjoyment 7
Overall rating 3.5/5
If you were unaware, this book is smut in disguise (?) maybe I'm just a little naive.
This novel follows econometrician Stella Lane, who hires a male escort (Michael Larse) in the hopes of learning the skills 'required' to have a relationship with a man. In doing so, she hopes to be comfortable enough to marry and have children, which would please her mother who constantly begs for grandchildren.
As you can imagine, none of this goes as planned and romance ensues.
Anywho, I really liked Stella's character and how the author drew on her experience of autism spectrum disorder. Michael isn't a bad character either, you can certainly tell he was written by a woman is all I'll say; I just liked Stella's characterisation that bit more.
Characters 7
Plot 7
Writing/style 6
Enjoyment 7
Overall rating 3.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Sexual assault
Minor: Abandonment, Classism, and Stalking
chandlerwood's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
1.5
boring and offensive trash
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Cancer, Classism, and Stalking
marianneiriss's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Stalking, Vomit, Classism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness
sharebear431's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Stalking, and Classism
saucywench813's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Overall I liked the book, it's pretty much Pretty Woman with the genders reversed and autism rep. If you're not a romance person, I could see it getting frustrating with both of them being insecure and like they're not good enough for the other person when the other person is clearly in love with them, but it works out in favor of the characters, and especially with the message that Stella never needed to try and change herself to get a guy to like her, and if she did, he wouldn't be worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Ableism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, and Alcohol
hannibanani29's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Ableism, Infidelity, and Cancer
Minor: Alcohol, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Cursing
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a cute romance, but it has a lot of problematic elements.
I loved the autistic representation of Stella's character, and many elements of her experience resonated with me as an autistic adult. This being said, I was disappointed that her relationship with Michael seemed to be entirely fixated on removing these autistic traits. There was nothing to change about her, but the happier she was, the less she displayed these autistic traits and the more she worked to remove them. This isn't the reality for most (or more likely, any) autistic people, and I don't think it's a good or healthy standard to show.
Stella's ludicrous wealth also bothered me a lot. She just had this never-ending stream of money to throw at any problem (for example, deciding to pay escort boyfriend $50,000 a month and having a $15 million trust fund). That's more money than I can conceptualize for a person. These elements of infinite wealth were both boring and not at all relatable for me. I can't imagine anybody being so rich that money is literally not an object at all, and it felt like it removed a lot of challenge or intrigue for the plot.
I also don't really understand the dynamic between Stella and Phillip. He seems like such an obvious and flat villain (of course he's obsessed with her and then dates someone else in the same breath). I also don't understand why Stella tolerates him as he is nothing but unkind and predatory towards her. Though autistic people do experience higher rates of abuse than allistic people, and maybe this was the point the author was trying to make, I don't understand Stella acknowledging that this guy is awful and still acquiescing to him.
I loved the autistic representation of Stella's character, and many elements of her experience resonated with me as an autistic adult. This being said, I was disappointed that her relationship with Michael seemed to be entirely fixated on removing these autistic traits. There was nothing to change about her, but the happier she was, the less she displayed these autistic traits and the more she worked to remove them. This isn't the reality for most (or more likely, any) autistic people, and I don't think it's a good or healthy standard to show.
Stella's ludicrous wealth also bothered me a lot. She just had this never-ending stream of money to throw at any problem (for example, deciding to pay escort boyfriend $50,000 a month and having a $15 million trust fund). That's more money than I can conceptualize for a person. These elements of infinite wealth were both boring and not at all relatable for me. I can't imagine anybody being so rich that money is literally not an object at all, and it felt like it removed a lot of challenge or intrigue for the plot.
I also don't really understand the dynamic between Stella and Phillip. He seems like such an obvious and flat villain (of course he's obsessed with her and then dates someone else in the same breath). I also don't understand why Stella tolerates him as he is nothing but unkind and predatory towards her. Though autistic people do experience higher rates of abuse than allistic people, and maybe this was the point the author was trying to make, I don't understand Stella acknowledging that this guy is awful and still acquiescing to him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Cancer, and Abandonment
Minor: Stalking and Sexism