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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
This was a really fun, quick, easy read. Charlie’s development as a character is lovely. I don’t know why but I’m a little obsessed with the valentines pink/red theming of everything. Blaze absolutely killed me anytime his dialogue came up. I think I see a bit of myself in him tbh. Trans rep was phenomenal as always.
There’s nothing really bad I have to say about this book. The plot wasn’t the most complex mind-blowing thing ever but it’s not meant to be one of those books and I think it was balanced quite well. If I had to be super picky I wanted more build up to Jasper figuring out who Charlie was. Build up in the sense of more close calls. The encounters they did have with that felt a bit subtle/too safe for me. Same with the eventual romance. I wanted more flirting and tension before their kiss. Lastly, I felt like Luis’s character kind of floated off the pages after a while and only came back really randomly once in the end as if the author suddenly remembered he existed lol. Other than those picky things I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book and I will always read anything Page Powars writes.
Maybe because I’m a bit older now but the mc and love interest and everybody in the book really just felt sooo young to me and it’s cause they are (like 16 I think?? Sophomores). Guess I haven’t read a YA romance in a while lol!
I am also curious to see how the book would have turned out differently for someone who did not yet have access to gender-affirming care and/or someone who was trans but didn’t want to make any surgical or hormonal changes. I think part of why Charlie didn’t encounter a lot of negativity towards him being trans is because he was extremely passing. I think it’s important to share those kinds of stories too because those who don’t “pass” or ascribe to definitive gender performance binaries are often the most vulnerable.
There’s nothing really bad I have to say about this book. The plot wasn’t the most complex mind-blowing thing ever but it’s not meant to be one of those books and I think it was balanced quite well. If I had to be super picky I wanted more build up to Jasper figuring out who Charlie was. Build up in the sense of more close calls. The encounters they did have with that felt a bit subtle/too safe for me. Same with the eventual romance. I wanted more flirting and tension before their kiss. Lastly, I felt like Luis’s character kind of floated off the pages after a while and only came back really randomly once in the end as if the author suddenly remembered he existed lol. Other than those picky things I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book and I will always read anything Page Powars writes.
Maybe because I’m a bit older now but the mc and love interest and everybody in the book really just felt sooo young to me and it’s cause they are (like 16 I think?? Sophomores). Guess I haven’t read a YA romance in a while lol!
I am also curious to see how the book would have turned out differently for someone who did not yet have access to gender-affirming care and/or someone who was trans but didn’t want to make any surgical or hormonal changes. I think part of why Charlie didn’t encounter a lot of negativity towards him being trans is because he was extremely passing. I think it’s important to share those kinds of stories too because those who don’t “pass” or ascribe to definitive gender performance binaries are often the most vulnerable.
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
I LOVED this book! The characters were so diverse and I loved every single one whenever they were on the page. It was just unrealistic enough to be realistic, and I read through it in one day I was so engrossed. Powars had made another lifelong fan in me.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so excited to read this book when it came out, however, I was disappointed. It took like 65% of the book to finally get into it, I even thought about DNFing it, but I'm too stubborn and I needed to know how it would end.
To begin with, I didn't particularly like the characters. I found Charlie quite annoying throughout the story; it just frustrated me endlessly his attitude towards Jasper and poetry—he dislikes it only because of Jasper? And Jasper was oblivious to his privilege and was so arrogant, how did Charlie fall in love? No idea. The side characters weren't much better; there were stories set up for them that added nothing to their arc, if there ever was one. Delilah, for instance, existed solely for the STRIP disaster and as "support for Charlie", yet, their friendship didn't feel real because it was barely there.
Page's repetitiveness also bothered, he would mentioned things over and over again, like how Jasper broke Charlie's heart; it's something that I also noticed on his debut novel. And, once again, the friend group had their roles they stuck to, not once evolving. The ending was also rushed.
I didn't feel Jasper and Charlie's relationship. First of all, I don't even know how they were attracted to each other, sure, there were flashbacks, but nothing that made me root for their "reconnection." And once they were both on equal ground,Charlie being aware that Jasper had been looking for him and Jasper finding out Charlie's identity, I wasn't excited about their romance because there was a constant push and pull coming from Charlie, they spent more time fighting each other and barely trying to make out rather that building a meaningful relationship. I think Jasper ultimatum, "because you still don’t like me enough to take the risk," would have been more powerful if that had truly been their crux. It wasn't. Charlie's "hate" and distrust towards Jasper for about 70% of the book was.
Also, the whole thing about Jasper being this popular poet just made me laugh once we actually saw his poems, they suck.
To begin with, I didn't particularly like the characters. I found Charlie quite annoying throughout the story; it just frustrated me endlessly his attitude towards Jasper and poetry—he dislikes it only because of Jasper? And Jasper was oblivious to his privilege and was so arrogant, how did Charlie fall in love? No idea. The side characters weren't much better; there were stories set up for them that added nothing to their arc, if there ever was one. Delilah, for instance, existed solely for the STRIP disaster and as "support for Charlie", yet, their friendship didn't feel real because it was barely there.
Page's repetitiveness also bothered, he would mentioned things over and over again, like how Jasper broke Charlie's heart; it's something that I also noticed on his debut novel. And, once again, the friend group had their roles they stuck to, not once evolving. The ending was also rushed.
I didn't feel Jasper and Charlie's relationship. First of all, I don't even know how they were attracted to each other, sure, there were flashbacks, but nothing that made me root for their "reconnection." And once they were both on equal ground,
Also, the whole thing about Jasper being this popular poet just made me laugh once we actually saw his poems, they suck.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Cursing
Damn these bitches gay. Good for them. Good for them.
(I just wish we got more especiallyafter they got together)
(I just wish we got more especially
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Gods this was cute. I was iffy about Jasper at the start but he redeemed himself so well!!! I read Powars’ debut about a year ago and adored it. This book definitely shows their growth as an author. The story was heartfelt and sweet and perfectly teenager. As an adult reading it, at time I thought “AHHHHH JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER PROPERLY,” but that’s what being young is like. You’re running from one thing to another and panicking like your life depends on it. Charlie’s focus on grades and rankings takes me back to my own single minded focus in high school. Their chaos and confusion reminds me of my own stumbling flings back then. It’s a lovely read.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute quick read. Some of the dialogue made me cringe at times. And not because teenagers are cringe, because they are, but because it was absolutely not something a teenager would say, no matter how pretentious. I think a high school aged reader would love this though!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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