Scan barcode
bella613's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one was cute. I haven’t actually read the hating game, but I watched it. I listened to this because I loved that one. It’s not quite as good but it’s a fun read and there aren’t giant red flags all over the relationship like some romance books.
I liked the characters, and the premise, but I did put it down a couple times because it didn’t hold me captive. The narrator was good and easy to listen to. Will probably look into more from the author.
I liked the characters, and the premise, but I did put it down a couple times because it didn’t hold me captive. The narrator was good and easy to listen to. Will probably look into more from the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Medical content, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Death
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
lisa_m's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this better than the Hating Game. I think I just related to the characters more. The Hating Game just felt soo fictional and this book sometimes does too but it still felt way more real somehow.
There were still some weird dynamics that you have to overlook in order to enjoy this book though.
Tom Vakeska, the love interest is a childhood friend and is throughout the book referred to as "adopted" or "the third sibling". That made me a bit uncomfortable tbh but other than that there dynamic was quite cute.
What made me like this book was that two of my favourite tropes are in it:
1. absolute adoration / being 100% in love with no other option + lots and lots of pining
2. they know each other so so well including their worst flaws and still they love each other.
Also there is the sibling relationship between Darcy and her brother which was so heartwarming. I mean they fight a lot and I sometimes thought they genuinely hate each other but when they show how much they each care about the other person it's so adorable!
There were still some weird dynamics that you have to overlook in order to enjoy this book though.
Tom Vakeska, the love interest is a childhood friend and is throughout the book referred to as "adopted" or "the third sibling". That made me a bit uncomfortable tbh but other than that there dynamic was quite cute.
What made me like this book was that two of my favourite tropes are in it:
1. absolute adoration / being 100% in love with no other option + lots and lots of pining
2. they know each other so so well including their worst flaws and still they love each other.
Also there is the sibling relationship between Darcy and her brother which was so heartwarming. I mean they fight a lot and I sometimes thought they genuinely hate each other but when they show how much they each care about the other person it's so adorable!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Grief, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
miglena's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I felt like the place and the relationship between Tom and Darcy was super entertaining and I loved it.
I would have given this book better stars if Jamie and Darcy's relationship was executed differently. I wish there was some kind of genuine apology from Jamie. It felt like the reader was just supposed to look over his disrespect toward Darcy just cause they're twins. Doesn't sit right with me.
The ending also felt rushed and there could have been better detail to explain what was going on.
This is the second book I've read from Sally Thorne where a man in the female main character's life treats her like shit and we're supposed to just forgive him and have it glossed over without any real character development or genuine apology.
I would have given this book better stars if Jamie and Darcy's relationship was executed differently.
The ending also felt rushed and there could have been better detail to explain what was going on.
This is the second book I've read from Sally Thorne where a man in the female main character's life treats her like shit and we're supposed to just forgive him and have it glossed over without any real character development or genuine apology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual harassment
meghanm404's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
More...