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frantically's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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
2.25
I don't care if Sally Thorne doesn't want this to be compared to THG, it's her sophomore novel, of course it's going to compared.
Darcy feels like Thorne read all the criticism she got on Lucy and, in one alcohol-fueled night, created Darcy Bennett. Don't get me wrong – Darcy's fun. But she doesn't feel real, not like Lucy did.
This book is mainly one thing and that is weird. Really strange. It feels like so many different genres all at once. We've got romance (trying to be a rom-com? Who knows.), loooads of litfic vibes and a weird furry/urban fantasy sideplot.
There were so many small parts of this I loved. It took me some time to get into it but I think the middle section was truly the strongest. Yes, Darcy and Tom are both dickheads but I was still rooting for them.
Still, I could already tell their relationship wasn't quite...healthy. There are multiple instances of them describing, in graphic detail, how they'd kill the other's love interests. It became very weird very quickly.
Then – there was the fireplace scene. God, the fucking fireplace scene. That's when I decided to stop reading because I just knew I couldn't love Tom again afterwards. He does the one thing Darcy asks him not to do and when she gets upset (as is her right!) he lets out his sob story. Fuck you Tom and fuck your sob story.
I did really love the chronic illness rep – as a fellow very messy patient who realised she'd run out of her meds a few days ago and it's now Sunday, while I was listening to this, I could very much relate.
The THG epilogue had me squealing, though. Seems like the perfect time for a reread...
Darcy feels like Thorne read all the criticism she got on Lucy and, in one alcohol-fueled night, created Darcy Bennett. Don't get me wrong – Darcy's fun. But she doesn't feel real, not like Lucy did.
This book is mainly one thing and that is weird. Really strange. It feels like so many different genres all at once. We've got romance (trying to be a rom-com? Who knows.), loooads of litfic vibes and a weird furry/urban fantasy sideplot.
There were so many small parts of this I loved. It took me some time to get into it but I think the middle section was truly the strongest. Yes, Darcy and Tom are both dickheads but I was still rooting for them.
Still, I could already tell their relationship wasn't quite...healthy. There are multiple instances of them describing, in graphic detail, how they'd kill the other's love interests. It became very weird very quickly.
Then – there was the fireplace scene. God, the fucking fireplace scene. That's when I decided to stop reading because I just knew I couldn't love Tom again afterwards. He does the one thing Darcy asks him not to do and when she gets upset (as is her right!) he lets out his sob story. Fuck you Tom and fuck your sob story.
I did really love the chronic illness rep – as a fellow very messy patient who realised she'd run out of her meds a few days ago and it's now Sunday, while I was listening to this, I could very much relate.
The THG epilogue had me squealing, though. Seems like the perfect time for a reread...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Sexual content, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Classism, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
glacial_erratic848's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Was this the worst book I've ever read? At least in recent memory, yes it is.
Any cute romantic tropes are vastly overshadowed by the characters' self-hate and the toxic, controlling relationship the male twin has over the female twin and their best friend. None of this is acknowledged or dealt with.
Apart from the bad writing and shallow characters, I can't believe the author would romanticize emotional abuse and try to sell it as a romance novel. Very poorly done.
Any cute romantic tropes are vastly overshadowed by the characters' self-hate and the toxic, controlling relationship the male twin has over the female twin and their best friend. None of this is acknowledged or dealt with.
Apart from the bad writing and shallow characters, I can't believe the author would romanticize emotional abuse and try to sell it as a romance novel. Very poorly done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Misogyny, Bullying, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
book_perk's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Yikes. This book was just terrible. I loved The Hating Game, but Second First Impressions and this one were really not for me. The book starts with Darcy pining over her childhood family friend Tom who is ENGAGED. I thought Darcy's flirtatious and provocative behavior around her engaged friend was inappropriate, immoral, and really just icky. At the end of the novel Darcy forgives Tom for something (no spoilers here!) he did that was creepy, illegal, possessive, and abusive without hesitation or a conversation. Overall I thought the characters were unlikable and lacked depth and I didn't particularly enjoy the writing style. The one thing I did actually enjoy was the setting of a home renovation but I wish it was described in more detail.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
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