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antidietleah's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and Cancer
Minor: Biphobia and Sexual content
morganish's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
This might not be my most favorite book of the year, but it was a cute little story that served to keep me invested and entertained, and managed to do so because it's a fairly light, digestible read. I should say that I have a very specific relationship with most YA contemporary and contemporary romance (this isn't YA, but the two genres function in very similar ways for me in my brain). They are just easy, largely pleasant reads, which often have more inclusivity and are less problematic than most other contemporary fiction (and even some pure sff). As a result I always come back to them even if they never really creep over into true faves.
This book, like all the rest, fits that bill. It's got easy, digestible prose, comfortably predictable storylines, and effortlessly incorporates people who are queer, non-white, or disabled (and this book prominently features characters that hit a bunch of different identities without making a big production out of it or ever becoming an "issue" book). The thing I like best were the unique, quirky, personality-filled cast of characters. And the way the romance felt imperfect in realistic ways, while still being one I couldn't help but root for.
I especially loved the main love interest! He was cute, but smart in a dry, imperfect way. He didn't always know the right thing to do or say, but still came across as someone you could understand the MC falling for. The MC herself had a more complicated storyline than I expected when I picked it up - one part romance, one part self-discovery, one part grief. The conceit of the app didn't entirely work for me, but I didn't expect much from it. The scifi of it all wasn't really the main part of the story, so it didn't do much to drag down my reading experience.
I guess I'd say content warnings for... maybe infidelity, if you squint? The main character is actively dating around over the course of the book, trying with inconsistent interest to find "the one" that her app is insisting upon. This occasionally leads to some complicated mixups and moments of jealousy, but nothing long-lasting. There were some other aspects of both romantic and sexual relationship portrayals that I'm not sure if pressed I'd cosign, but they seem pretty minor and like I'd probably be nitpicking to point them out.
Like I said, while I do read the occasional light-hearted, easy-to-read contemporary story, I'm not necessarily great at recommending them or knowing what die-hard contemporary readers think is good or are looking for. So I can only say that if you are a contemporary reader looking for a lot of diversity (including a love interest who's bi, and side characters who are disabled, nonbinary, non-white, and other types of queer), it would be strange not to give this one a try. If you like stories about late-twenty-somethings going through major life changes and having to build new communities from scratch, or about 20-somethings going through grief from losing a friend, this might be a good choice for you, too.
But if you're going to be weird about reading a book that has diversity, maybe just go ahead and sit this one out. Or if you're someone for whom consistency/believability/lore really matters when scifi or fantasy elements are in play, take a pass.
This book, like all the rest, fits that bill. It's got easy, digestible prose, comfortably predictable storylines, and effortlessly incorporates people who are queer, non-white, or disabled (and this book prominently features characters that hit a bunch of different identities without making a big production out of it or ever becoming an "issue" book). The thing I like best were the unique, quirky, personality-filled cast of characters. And the way the romance felt imperfect in realistic ways, while still being one I couldn't help but root for.
I especially loved the main love interest! He was cute, but smart in a dry, imperfect way. He didn't always know the right thing to do or say, but still came across as someone you could understand the MC falling for. The MC herself had a more complicated storyline than I expected when I picked it up - one part romance, one part self-discovery, one part grief. The conceit of the app didn't entirely work for me, but I didn't expect much from it. The scifi of it all wasn't really the main part of the story, so it didn't do much to drag down my reading experience.
I guess I'd say content warnings for... maybe infidelity, if you squint? The main character is actively dating around over the course of the book, trying with inconsistent interest to find "the one" that her app is insisting upon. This occasionally leads to some complicated mixups and moments of jealousy, but nothing long-lasting. There were some other aspects of both romantic and sexual relationship portrayals that I'm not sure if pressed I'd cosign, but they seem pretty minor and like I'd probably be nitpicking to point them out.
Like I said, while I do read the occasional light-hearted, easy-to-read contemporary story, I'm not necessarily great at recommending them or knowing what die-hard contemporary readers think is good or are looking for. So I can only say that if you are a contemporary reader looking for a lot of diversity (including a love interest who's bi, and side characters who are disabled, nonbinary, non-white, and other types of queer), it would be strange not to give this one a try. If you like stories about late-twenty-somethings going through major life changes and having to build new communities from scratch, or about 20-somethings going through grief from losing a friend, this might be a good choice for you, too.
But if you're going to be weird about reading a book that has diversity, maybe just go ahead and sit this one out. Or if you're someone for whom consistency/believability/lore really matters when scifi or fantasy elements are in play, take a pass.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Ableism and Biphobia
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