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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
It was super cute. Man was Charlie just a huge ball of anxiety and I related a little too hard with that. Like boy if you don’t calm down. All the boys were so fun (Blaze the Chunni was def my fav) and I wish we got to see more of the girls but it mostly focuses on the boys school so eh.
A few things seemed to kind of peter off and just be kind of meh with how the storyline progressed like the other gay kid getting a date or the letters in the finale. Like they were tied up but kind of loosely so they def could have been expanded by a bit to really hone it in. It still was all mostly satisfying as it stuck more to being about Charlie and ya boy not Draco Malloy uhhh I mean Jasper.
It was a fun read. Nothing too spicy, disturbing or wild but it was very cute.
A few things seemed to kind of peter off and just be kind of meh with how the storyline progressed like the other gay kid getting a date or the letters in the finale. Like they were tied up but kind of loosely so they def could have been expanded by a bit to really hone it in. It still was all mostly satisfying as it stuck more to being about Charlie and ya boy not Draco Malloy uhhh I mean Jasper.
It was a fun read. Nothing too spicy, disturbing or wild but it was very cute.
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
as someone who went to boarding school and sleepaway shakespeare camp where i ended up dating both my tutors and my roommates, i ate this book up.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Transphobia
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
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:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
My end rating is a 3.25. I wouldn’t consider this a spoiler review but I’ll preface that you should proceed with caution just in case.
I’m at best conflicted with my feelings on this book. I almost dnf’d it multiple times, including several just within the 15-35% mark. I hated Jasper. I was completely disengaged with the plot. A lot of this I attribute to my own personal tastes. It was very over the top in some ways which isn’t always my thing. Implausible scenarios, interesting caricatures, and irritating situations ran wild. The only people I liked were Luis and Xavier.
It started turning around in the later half of the book and I was finally getting interested, even though I still didn’t like Jasper until about the 60-70% or so mark. I also think it had an interesting commentary and representation on academic pressure and the ridiculous standards so many students have to meet, especially with these just being kids.
The last 25% of the book saved it for me. I actually thought the ending was really well done. I finally saw chemistry between Jasper and Charlie, I cared about the plot and wanted them to succeed, and I found myself smiling and laughing through the end. In fact, I’m fighting a euphoria from the ending to write a review on the full book. I also was impressed with some of the communication in some of the later scenes between Jasper and Charlie, though at other points it’s miscommunication galore.
I wish I’d loved it more than I did, and I wish I could give it a higher rating. I’m mostly just happy that I did in fact finish it, but I didn’t want to have to fight the urge to DNF so many times before we got there.
I would still recommend this book to other people based on what they may like. It just wasn’t fully for me. I would still give the author another go!
My end rating is a 3.25. I wouldn’t consider this a spoiler review but I’ll preface that you should proceed with caution just in case.
I’m at best conflicted with my feelings on this book. I almost dnf’d it multiple times, including several just within the 15-35% mark. I hated Jasper. I was completely disengaged with the plot. A lot of this I attribute to my own personal tastes. It was very over the top in some ways which isn’t always my thing. Implausible scenarios, interesting caricatures, and irritating situations ran wild. The only people I liked were Luis and Xavier.
It started turning around in the later half of the book and I was finally getting interested, even though I still didn’t like Jasper until about the 60-70% or so mark. I also think it had an interesting commentary and representation on academic pressure and the ridiculous standards so many students have to meet, especially with these just being kids.
The last 25% of the book saved it for me. I actually thought the ending was really well done. I finally saw chemistry between Jasper and Charlie, I cared about the plot and wanted them to succeed, and I found myself smiling and laughing through the end. In fact, I’m fighting a euphoria from the ending to write a review on the full book. I also was impressed with some of the communication in some of the later scenes between Jasper and Charlie, though at other points it’s miscommunication galore.
I wish I’d loved it more than I did, and I wish I could give it a higher rating. I’m mostly just happy that I did in fact finish it, but I didn’t want to have to fight the urge to DNF so many times before we got there.
I would still recommend this book to other people based on what they may like. It just wasn’t fully for me. I would still give the author another go!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for my gifted eARC.
Synopsis: Charlie has made it into Valentine, the prestigious school, now he just needs to hide his trans state from the roommate he wasn’t supposed to have, who just happened to be his crush from summer camp.
Read this for:
- light academia
- boarding school
- roommates
- love letters
- ridiculous situations
My thoughts: Charlie is an anxiety ridden teen trying his best to achieve, at school, at life, not at love. I totally sympathized with his character, I was a transfer mid year and it was a chore to figure out the new school. Charlie’s trials with Jasper, from love letter tutoring to passing so hard that Jasper didn’t recognize him, is handled with care but also with the irreverent love that only can come from someone who remembers their teens. Also, Page pulls the best curveball in their dedication.
Highly recommend for a lighter look at high school hijinks.
Synopsis: Charlie has made it into Valentine, the prestigious school, now he just needs to hide his trans state from the roommate he wasn’t supposed to have, who just happened to be his crush from summer camp.
Read this for:
- light academia
- boarding school
- roommates
- love letters
- ridiculous situations
My thoughts: Charlie is an anxiety ridden teen trying his best to achieve, at school, at life, not at love. I totally sympathized with his character, I was a transfer mid year and it was a chore to figure out the new school. Charlie’s trials with Jasper, from love letter tutoring to passing so hard that Jasper didn’t recognize him, is handled with care but also with the irreverent love that only can come from someone who remembers their teens. Also, Page pulls the best curveball in their dedication.
Highly recommend for a lighter look at high school hijinks.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let's hear some commotion for that cover! The immaculate vibes and fun synopsis drew me in. Unfortunately, I never fully connected with these characters or this story as a whole. The boarding school setting is intense and well-rendered, but Charlie's incessant anxiety (paranoia, really) grated on me and Jasper's vanity, even if it's only a front, made me roll my eyes. I do think these characters, despite being juniors in high school, behave more on the younger side of YA. The pacing felt really stop and go, and while I liked the setting and writing style – hence the mid-tier rating – I hate the feeling like I just want the book to be done. I cared just enough to know how the plot resolves, but it's a bummer when the book's contents didn't live up to the premise.
🌶