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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I picked this one up randomly from Amazon and was very excited because it focused on BIPOC/Asian characters in a contemporary setting. Exciting! Once I started reading, I have to admit the "YouTube influencer" aspect was a little bit "bleh" for me -- I'm not someone that really understands the desire to be an influencer and I'm always confused when people take all of their advice from people on the internet (oh no, I'm old? maybe I'm just old?). That being said, I tried to keep wading through the story, which had a lot to do with the cross-channel influencing the pair is doing on their pages. So, of course they're going to start spending a lot of time together, are going to fall in love, and of course there is going to be steamy sex (not a spoiler, that's really just what we've set up in any romance).
I like Tobin and Lily. The story itself is okay. The romance is good. It just wasn't a story that I fell in love with, it was more of a story that I really, really wanted to like but then it was "ok". I'll definitely be following this author and looking for some more of her novels. I think I'd really enjoy one that wasn't so focused on the YouTube and influencer stuff.
I like Tobin and Lily. The story itself is okay. The romance is good. It just wasn't a story that I fell in love with, it was more of a story that I really, really wanted to like but then it was "ok". I'll definitely be following this author and looking for some more of her novels. I think I'd really enjoy one that wasn't so focused on the YouTube and influencer stuff.
adventurous
funny
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
There's a lot I liked about this book. I thought the banter was great between the characters and I liked that they were both Asian American (but from different cultures). I thought the backdrop of YouTube and social media was a cool choice. The sort of frienemies-to-lovers was cool cuz there was mutual annoyance but not complete hatred. Also, there was some points where I literally laughed out loud (I love Lily being Type A and also the angriest person alive).
I think where it lost me a bit was the ending and their fallout. I just feel like there wasn't enough like...planting of *why* they would have an argument like that and not talk to each other because there was no interactions prior in the book that would lead me to believe that. But they did literally fix it like 48 hours later....?? So it was fine. I still enjoyed it enough that I will more than likely read the second book in the series.
I think where it lost me a bit was the ending and their fallout. I just feel like there wasn't enough like...planting of *why* they would have an argument like that and not talk to each other because there was no interactions prior in the book that would lead me to believe that. But they did literally fix it like 48 hours later....?? So it was fine. I still enjoyed it enough that I will more than likely read the second book in the series.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was my Kindle FirstReads pick for September 2021. I loved the whole premise of this book - representing Asian culture, a cute frenemies-to-lovers arc, and a profession (YouTube influencers) that I didn't know much about and looked forward to learning what their lives are really like. And while I did enjoy the story overall, it didn't suck me in and make me ship the two MCs the way I wanted to.
This is the story of Tobin and Lily, frenemies since they were children, and now both successful YouTube influencers in their late 20s, on gaming and beauty. When they both fall into a rut, they're convinced to collab with each other, and sparks fly.
This is a great way to see behind-the-scenes of how social media influencers work to get subscribers and stay current. And I did think the MCs' relationship was quite sweet and charming, when they finally got together.
I wasn't a fan of the prose, and the whole story seemed very tell-y rather than show-y (yes, I am also a writer and I'm aware that you need a good mix of both). I couldn't relate to any of the characters, and never felt close to them. The dialogue also felt very stilted. None of the characters are particularly memorable, especially the supporting characters. I didn't feel like I knew much about any of them. I liked Lily as an ambitious, career-driven woman, but I wasn't a big fan of Tobin. He came off like an immature manchild. Maybe some people are fine with that, but after having dated two men who were emotionally stunted manchildren, it's not cute at all.
The way the book was written and with how the characters behaved (like two teenagers, not two people who are almost 30), it would be better suited for a YA audience, if it wasn't for the amount of swearing (which I have no personal issue with), and detailed sex scenes. And of course, being a rom-com, it follows the typical arc, so it's predictable.
And spoiler, but I did have one particular gripe...
All that being said, I still found it to be a fun, quick read and I definitely enjoyed looking at the private lives of social media influencers!
This is the story of Tobin and Lily, frenemies since they were children, and now both successful YouTube influencers in their late 20s, on gaming and beauty. When they both fall into a rut, they're convinced to collab with each other, and sparks fly.
This is a great way to see behind-the-scenes of how social media influencers work to get subscribers and stay current. And I did think the MCs' relationship was quite sweet and charming, when they finally got together.
I wasn't a fan of the prose, and the whole story seemed very tell-y rather than show-y (yes, I am also a writer and I'm aware that you need a good mix of both). I couldn't relate to any of the characters, and never felt close to them. The dialogue also felt very stilted. None of the characters are particularly memorable, especially the supporting characters. I didn't feel like I knew much about any of them. I liked Lily as an ambitious, career-driven woman, but I wasn't a big fan of Tobin. He came off like an immature manchild. Maybe some people are fine with that, but after having dated two men who were emotionally stunted manchildren, it's not cute at all.
The way the book was written and with how the characters behaved (like two teenagers, not two people who are almost 30), it would be better suited for a YA audience, if it wasn't for the amount of swearing (which I have no personal issue with), and detailed sex scenes. And of course, being a rom-com, it follows the typical arc, so it's predictable.
And spoiler, but I did have one particular gripe...
Spoiler
I also didn't like how, at the end, Lily was the one who had to realize that working isn't everything and she's the one who has to "lighten up", and SHE has to apologize to HIM when HE was the one who walked away from her because she wasn't onboard with his spontaneous plan. I can guarantee that if it had been a man was always working and always had his "eye on the prize", it's much more acceptable and the woman is expected to work around it. It's almost like the whole "woman gives up everything to be with the man" trope, except thankfully she didn't give up her career at the end.All that being said, I still found it to be a fun, quick read and I definitely enjoyed looking at the private lives of social media influencers!
I tried to read this three different times. Neither character felt true to their age and both were annoying.
Too cute
This was too cute! Perfect ROM com material and I was rooting for both of the characters! And I can totally see where the next book is going
This was too cute! Perfect ROM com material and I was rooting for both of the characters! And I can totally see where the next book is going
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
KUโs read-and-listen options arenโt always great, but theyโre serviceable and this was another good listen.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ: Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley, book one in the Ponto Beach Reunion series.
๐๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ: Enemies-to-lovers, social media influencers, opposites attract.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Lily needs fresh content to help her channels grow. Tobin is in a creative rut. The former high school enemies agree to collaborate, regardless of their different personalities and working styles.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Sometimes, you need an audio book. And Iโm not always a huge fan of them - donโt worry, I wonโt go on a rant here - but KU read-and-listens are a good option for me personally.
Theyโre also a reason I can find new authors and try new books.
I didnโt love this book, but it was an ok story for sure. I think most of the reason I didnโt love it was Lilyโs character. Though she grew thru the story and eventually was called out for her behavior, her vibe was super stuck up and rigid, and I didnโt find a redeeming quality in here until closer to the end.
But her relationship with Tobin was cute, and his role in the book was fun. Iโve talked a bit about character relatability in the last few months, and both of them werenโt super relatable to me - as influencers who care about numbers, it was a little meta.
But it had its moments, and Iโm personally happy Tobin is happy ๐
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ: Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley, book one in the Ponto Beach Reunion series.
๐๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ: Enemies-to-lovers, social media influencers, opposites attract.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Lily needs fresh content to help her channels grow. Tobin is in a creative rut. The former high school enemies agree to collaborate, regardless of their different personalities and working styles.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Sometimes, you need an audio book. And Iโm not always a huge fan of them - donโt worry, I wonโt go on a rant here - but KU read-and-listens are a good option for me personally.
Theyโre also a reason I can find new authors and try new books.
I didnโt love this book, but it was an ok story for sure. I think most of the reason I didnโt love it was Lilyโs character. Though she grew thru the story and eventually was called out for her behavior, her vibe was super stuck up and rigid, and I didnโt find a redeeming quality in here until closer to the end.
But her relationship with Tobin was cute, and his role in the book was fun. Iโve talked a bit about character relatability in the last few months, and both of them werenโt super relatable to me - as influencers who care about numbers, it was a little meta.
But it had its moments, and Iโm personally happy Tobin is happy ๐
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐๏ธ on KU