Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Fly With Me by Andie Burke

17 reviews

hmatt's review

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There were parts of this that were very cute, and I think the characterization of the MCs were pretty well done, but I was disappointed by the flimsy fake-dating. It felt sloppily inserted into their otherwise much darker, more challenging (and WAY more interesting) lives. I also wasn't a fan of how the author repeatedly side-steps describing important events by inserting a plot twist - this is hard to describe without spoilers, but it's something that I noticed after it happened more than twice. It felt lazy, and I guess laziness is the main issue I had with the book. The gay-is-okay is a little on the nose at times, and there is a very bad trope-y stalker ex plot

that doesn't get resolved!!!

that I would describe as lazy too. It makes for a weird balance when these bits intersect with the nuanced, well-done exploration of tough topics like  mental health and terminal family illness. I felt these serious bits were well done most of the time

, but even some of these don't get resolved at the end

.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Stalking, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Biphobia and Religious bigotry

smleeth93's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical trauma, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Car accident

Minor: Death, Sexism, Transphobia, and Homophobia

alyssamayreads's review

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia

rencollins's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Overall cute romantic story, would recommend it to anyone who wanted a lighthearted (queer!!) romance. I appreciated the backdrop of the fear of flying inspiring the meet cute. I thought the characters were both loveable and people to root for.

The third act breakup feels appropriate and realistic, and the eventual reunion feels equally as realistic.

Honestly, I didn't think there was a lot of character development. While I loved both characters, and while they each did grow a little, I don't think they grew soso much. I was disappointed that

Olive's family did not have more growth. I thought their story was particularly ripe for some character growth and would have made their inclusion feel more meaningful. As it is, I don't know that Jake's story brings a lot of depth to the book. I see it being included to set up the backstage for why Olive was on a plane if she was so scared of flying, but I think that same backdrop could have been set with a slightly different narrative and we could have avoided the inclusion of Olive's family all together. I found this especially disappointing because I really wanted Olive's family to show some growth (or to show some reason for being included!!), but by the end I just found myself feeling let down.

I do love a queer romance, and in that way, this book totally delivered. While I have some criticisms, I would totally recommend it for someone who loves reading romance and who loves queer stories. I particularly appreciate that all of the families in this book were at least base line accepting of their children's queer identities and familial hate was NOT a central theme of the book. Huge plus for me!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Misogyny

cgoedel's review

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I was looking for a lighthearted queer romance, but was surprised to find really emotional situations and nothing too cliche even though it was full of typical tropes. I wish there would've been a little more closure with a couple conflicts, but this is my new favorite romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexism and Religious bigotry

Minor: Transphobia and Sexual harassment

radish_gal's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Minor: Lesbophobia

dianafraser17's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

This book is in the wrong genre IMHO. It's largely a book about caregiving, grief, and loss - which is not to say romance or love cannot coexist or happen during those activities, but rather that those activities supercede the pacing and dynamics of a romcom structure. 

I skipped 100 pages in the middle. It's deeply sad and anxiety-producing amidst stalker tendencies, family feuds over a loved one's final wishes, and sexism. Are the depictions of those things accurate? Yes. Are they a great space to foster or provoke romcom plotlines? Not really. 

There are also some cruel things said to one another that they gloss over to get to the ending, and I don't love that. 

Mostly I'm sad, disgruntled, and unsatisfied, and need to go calm down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Child death, Stalking, Terminal illness, Death, and Emotional abuse

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

I really enjoyed this book. Olive and Stella were such compelling characters. i like that the romance engaged with the other real life concerns in a way that enhanced the story. parts of the story felt i bit like checking of a list rather than being essential to the story, but the strong ending really tied everything together in a very satisfying way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Cursing, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Stalking, and Terminal illness

danileah07's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Toxic relationship

greatestheights's review

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Homophobia