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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
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:
Yes
I initially avoided this book because I thought it was going to be a very stereotypically femme, "woe-is-me, how do i get the girl" book. While there are moments that play into that trope (and others), it also touches on some of the issues surrounding relationships in general.
On the whole, the book itself is cute. CW for toxic relationship. Art style is adorable and the use of color is aesthetically *chef's kiss.* I found my eyes drawn exactly where they were "supposed to" be drawn without feeling overwhelmed by too many visual details.
Stop reading here if you're worried about spoilers. I'll wait.
Freddy does the thing that drives me bananas in every film, book, drama, etc. She recognizes early on that her relationship does not serve her, but she clings to it like a life vest in the middle of the eel-infested ocean from The Princess Bride. She proceeds to let her obsession with her girlfriend - who openly cheats on her at least once (further instances are alluded to but never expressly stated) - affect her friendships; however, everything is magically resolved by a breakup. Fair, but my issue is that it's given the "magic wand" treatment - there's no indication of any passage of time. This is true for all of the ancillary characters and relationships. We're given some insights into situations, but never any resolution. We just get a happy ending in the form of snapshots of smiles. Well and good, but I for one want to know how we got there.
On the whole, the book itself is cute. CW for toxic relationship. Art style is adorable and the use of color is aesthetically *chef's kiss.* I found my eyes drawn exactly where they were "supposed to" be drawn without feeling overwhelmed by too many visual details.
Stop reading here if you're worried about spoilers. I'll wait.
Freddy does the thing that drives me bananas in every film, book, drama, etc. She recognizes early on that her relationship does not serve her, but she clings to it like a life vest in the middle of the eel-infested ocean from The Princess Bride. She proceeds to let her obsession with her girlfriend - who openly cheats on her at least once (further instances are alluded to but never expressly stated) - affect her friendships; however, everything is magically resolved by a breakup. Fair, but my issue is that it's given the "magic wand" treatment - there's no indication of any passage of time. This is true for all of the ancillary characters and relationships. We're given some insights into situations, but never any resolution. We just get a happy ending in the form of snapshots of smiles. Well and good, but I for one want to know how we got there.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
This book has been on my TBR since 2021 (when I got back into reading). It is unsurprising that I only managed to get around to it in a week where I didn't feel like reading a single page of any other book. I think it helped get me out of my mini slump! I absolutely loved this! I'm sure I would've loved it even more if I'd read it in 2021 (while I was in my second year of sixth form and first year of uni), but it was a comfort even now.
The art style is absolutely gorgeous! I'm surprised the average rating isn't higher than it is because the book as a whole is beautiful. I adored the splashes of pink among the greyscale, and every character felt distinct in both design and personality. The plot also unfolds really well. Every moment of frustration I felt was deliberately crafted by the author. The themes get surprisingly heavy, but they were tackled well for a YA audience. I wish I'd read this book as a teenager (it was published when I was 16, which would've been perfect for me)! Just a lovely coming-of-age book that doesn't shy away from difficult topics.
The art style is absolutely gorgeous! I'm surprised the average rating isn't higher than it is because the book as a whole is beautiful. I adored the splashes of pink among the greyscale, and every character felt distinct in both design and personality. The plot also unfolds really well. Every moment of frustration I felt was deliberately crafted by the author. The themes get surprisingly heavy, but they were tackled well for a YA audience. I wish I'd read this book as a teenager (it was published when I was 16, which would've been perfect for me)! Just a lovely coming-of-age book that doesn't shy away from difficult topics.
emotional
fast-paced
frustrating, but is a good exploration of the themes attached. beautiful art and a satisfying conclusion. probably not enjoyable for people who have aged out of teenage immaturity, but as a teen, it felt accurate to stupid teens in a new era. the story felt a little shallow, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
A very real, vulnerable little story that had far too many moments that felt all too familiar. Finally a sapphic/queer story that isn't just romance tropes for the sake of dramatic tension! Things actually get explored and resolved. Half a dozen characters that I just adore. This is a story that I think a lot of us need to hear, to be better to ourselves and our friends. The art is just stunning and really helps direct and guide the mood. The printing is a great size. My only downside is that I was doing a read-along with a few friends and I had to stop and explain a lot of little things that are West-Coast-USA specific tropes; international readers might get a bit lost at times or miss implied things. It also really feels like this should have been set in university, not high school; this is becoming a pet peeve of mine when authors create kids who are way, waaaay more mature than anyone should reasonably expect. But overall, just nearly perfect.
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did, but something about the main character being one of the shittiest friends ever just ruined it for me. She learns to be better, but. I'm not sure how her friends could forgive her so quickly? She also felt as 2D as Laura Dean to me. Maybe I should give her grace because she's a teenager, so she's figuring herself out. And instead of figuring herself out, she's dating someone who's shitty. So. I don't know. It's a good book, but it really was not for me at this time. Don't go into the book expecting to like the MC. Go into it expecting a good story and lovely illustrations.