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kelbybooks's review against another edition
3.0
It was I good, I didn't love it but I did enjoy it..... I started it bc I wanted a light hearted contemporary..... it gave me that in the beginning but then took a super dark twist.... lol it was good though
taliaissmart's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of this book made me cringe- not because it was poorly written or anything, but because it felt so trivial. Like, these girls start to connect over a show that is clearly pretty so-so and they're over-complimenting each other on art and writing that is not good. It felt very realistic but in a way that made me remember how I sometimes really dislike the reality of the fan experience. (Sidenote: why are none of these girls shipping the two lead characters together??? Most unrealistic part tbh.)
I thought that the evolution and genuine nature of internet friendship was explored fairly well. I've definitely connected really closely with people without necessarily meeting them irl first, and this book validated that experience.
Where Gena/Finn gets really interesting, though, is in the aftermath of the fan convention. We begin to see the darker aspects of these characters' lives--mental illness, family issues, and then really intense grief--in ways that complicate the narrative. Rather than feeling trite and silly, the characters' relationships recenter around exploring the complexity of love. Toward the end, I teared up several times.
Although the subject matter started out on a somewhat too-sincere note (almost to the point of insincerity), I ended up being very pleasantly surprised by this novel's outcome.
I thought that the evolution and genuine nature of internet friendship was explored fairly well. I've definitely connected really closely with people without necessarily meeting them irl first, and this book validated that experience.
Where Gena/Finn gets really interesting, though, is in the aftermath of the fan convention. We begin to see the darker aspects of these characters' lives--mental illness, family issues, and then really intense grief--in ways that complicate the narrative. Rather than feeling trite and silly, the characters' relationships recenter around exploring the complexity of love. Toward the end, I teared up several times.
Although the subject matter started out on a somewhat too-sincere note (almost to the point of insincerity), I ended up being very pleasantly surprised by this novel's outcome.
actual_hobbit's review against another edition
3.0
I'm at a loss on how to rate this novel. On one hand, it provides such an amazing portrayal of online life and fandom. The conversations between Gena and Finn, as well as their online friends, felt so authentic that at times I honestly thought I was a part of a real online conversation. I was also impressed by how realistically the authors portrayed things like conventions and fanfiction and fandom disputes. So kudos on that.
On the other hand, I was really disappointed by the ending and lack of development at the close of the novel. Finn's inability to commit to either person she loves was frustrating to read, and from a diversity standpoint, not meaningful--not once is her (or Gena's) sexuality brought into focus or examined, which leaves the novel with so much unused potential. Gena's depression and grief was well-written at the start, but the tragedy and her battle for mental health didn't seem to accomplish anything other than moving the plot along. There's no lesson learned, and the book ended without a feeling of resolution.
In short, I was 100% into this story for the first 2/3, and then everything fell flat. I had such high hopes...
On the other hand, I was really disappointed by the ending and lack of development at the close of the novel. Finn's inability to commit to either person she loves was frustrating to read, and from a diversity standpoint, not meaningful--not once is her (or Gena's) sexuality brought into focus or examined, which leaves the novel with so much unused potential. Gena's depression and grief was well-written at the start, but the tragedy and her battle for mental health didn't seem to accomplish anything other than moving the plot along. There's no lesson learned, and the book ended without a feeling of resolution.
In short, I was 100% into this story for the first 2/3, and then everything fell flat. I had such high hopes...
marc7's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not what I was expecting.
Fandom depictions are spot on - well constructed, realistic and believable. The first half of the story is light and fluffy and heart-warming. It takes your breath away with how easy it is to connect to the characters, and their world, and their fandom, and their lives.
Gena and Finn's dynamic was nothing short of enchanting. It was sweet and had a realistic development. It was also messy and convoluted at times, sure, but despite it all you could almost taste where they were heading. And it was exciting. There were a lot of things that needed to be addressed and taken care of, but they clicked in a way that made it almost impossible to not root for them.
And then the whole plot turns on its head. It was a heavy twist - one I wasn't prepared to read about. It was carefully and gently treated, yes, but one that still felt... Unnecessary. And it definitely turned all our character dynamics on their heads'. And I'm not sure how I feel about that.
Actually, no, I do know how I feel: I felt uncomfortable.
Because Gena and Finn had been built up as something, only for it to come crashing down.
And then there were hints of something else between them and Charlie, but that was also left untouched.
Only for the authors to decide to neatly and conveniently package these characters in the simplest - and most unfitting - of ways.
It was disappointing.
I would have been okay with an ambiguous relationship dynamic, but I wanted it to be fully acknowledged. I wanted to the characters, based on how they were constructed, to work their way through this.
If you make two characters fall in love, you have to deal with it. You have to give it some sort of direction (even if not closure). You have to let them come to grips with it. If you let us know they're confused, and don't know how to label themselves, etc., you have to keep on acknowledging the situation - not swipe it under the carpet. And that was severely lacking in this book.
It was enjoyable, and very addictive, but oh so very disappointing.
It could have been more.
Fandom depictions are spot on - well constructed, realistic and believable. The first half of the story is light and fluffy and heart-warming. It takes your breath away with how easy it is to connect to the characters, and their world, and their fandom, and their lives.
Gena and Finn's dynamic was nothing short of enchanting. It was sweet and had a realistic development. It was also messy and convoluted at times, sure, but despite it all you could almost taste where they were heading. And it was exciting. There were a lot of things that needed to be addressed and taken care of, but they clicked in a way that made it almost impossible to not root for them.
And then the whole plot turns on its head. It was a heavy twist - one I wasn't prepared to read about. It was carefully and gently treated, yes, but one that still felt... Unnecessary. And it definitely turned all our character dynamics on their heads'. And I'm not sure how I feel about that.
Actually, no, I do know how I feel: I felt uncomfortable.
Because Gena and Finn had been built up as something, only for it to come crashing down.
And then there were hints of something else between them and Charlie, but that was also left untouched.
Only for the authors to decide to neatly and conveniently package these characters in the simplest - and most unfitting - of ways.
It was disappointing.
I would have been okay with an ambiguous relationship dynamic, but I wanted it to be fully acknowledged. I wanted to the characters, based on how they were constructed, to work their way through this.
If you make two characters fall in love, you have to deal with it. You have to give it some sort of direction (even if not closure). You have to let them come to grips with it. If you let us know they're confused, and don't know how to label themselves, etc., you have to keep on acknowledging the situation - not swipe it under the carpet. And that was severely lacking in this book.
It was enjoyable, and very addictive, but oh so very disappointing.
It could have been more.
angieinbooks's review against another edition
2.0
A book about fandom? A book about people meeting other people through fandom and forming meaningful relationships that don't translate easily in the "real world"? A book that I found on list of LGBTQ-themed books ? Yes, please. Sign me up!
I really wanted to like this book. I have such close connections to fandom and the people I've met through fandom (including my wife!) that I was really excited to see this play out in book form. And, for the most part, the authors nail the entire world of fandom. The format of this book--epistolary--through blogs, emails, chats, texts, journals, pictures was really well executed. And I'm glad the reader was only privy to what could be written in some sort of text/word format. The first part of this book was interesting and addicting in a way, even if I didn't care a thing about whatever TV show they were talking about and didn't care for the fan fiction at all, but it was so great to see everyone interact and rage and disagree. It was sweet to watch this friendship grow (though how they became so close, so quickly is something I still don't get, but whatever. It was sweet).
And then PLOT happens, and the entire tone of the book changes and the promise of whatever Gena and Finn have (whether romantic or not) changes and I didn't care. I didn't even like them anymore--separately or together. I felt somewhat duped. Duped by my expectations, I guess. Duped by the promise of this great friendship that may materialize into something more. SPOILER: It doesn't.
I really felt, when it was all said and done, that it was a massive waste of my time. But the first bit was good and different.
Spoiler
It's notI really wanted to like this book. I have such close connections to fandom and the people I've met through fandom (including my wife!) that I was really excited to see this play out in book form. And, for the most part, the authors nail the entire world of fandom. The format of this book--epistolary--through blogs, emails, chats, texts, journals, pictures was really well executed. And I'm glad the reader was only privy to what could be written in some sort of text/word format. The first part of this book was interesting and addicting in a way, even if I didn't care a thing about whatever TV show they were talking about and didn't care for the fan fiction at all, but it was so great to see everyone interact and rage and disagree. It was sweet to watch this friendship grow (though how they became so close, so quickly is something I still don't get, but whatever. It was sweet).
And then PLOT happens, and the entire tone of the book changes and the promise of whatever Gena and Finn have (whether romantic or not) changes and I didn't care. I didn't even like them anymore--separately or together. I felt somewhat duped. Duped by my expectations, I guess. Duped by the promise of this great friendship that may materialize into something more. SPOILER: It doesn't.
I really felt, when it was all said and done, that it was a massive waste of my time. But the first bit was good and different.
theloveofinches's review against another edition
4.0
when I hear a book is about fandom and friendship, I expect it to stay relatively lighthearted and simple, but that book is no Hannah Moskowitz book. this story was unexpected. it handled grief and mental illness from the outside pov in unconventional ways, but it all came together. I loved the mixing in of poetry at the end. I like that I spent a lot of this book not knowing what was coming next. I like that we are left with hope but not resolution. like real life.
theashleeaffliction's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
misssusan's review against another edition
4.0
welp i cried absolutely everywhere and i'm about to drive off to work on 4 hours of sleep and i can honestly say i have no regrets
someday i will be an adult who will prioritize a consistent sleep schedule over feels but not today
anyways i recommend reading some of the unhappy reviews of this book because tbh, they're all making fair points? particularly over the way gena and finn's relationship played out in the second half of the novel. i, however, can offer no such critique because this book hit me where i live and i'm still floating on it
4 stars
someday i will be an adult who will prioritize a consistent sleep schedule over feels but not today
anyways i recommend reading some of the unhappy reviews of this book because tbh, they're all making fair points? particularly over the way gena and finn's relationship played out in the second half of the novel. i, however, can offer no such critique because this book hit me where i live and i'm still floating on it
4 stars