362 reviews for:

Backhanded Compliments

Katie Chandler

3.4 AVERAGE

lizziedoeslife's review against another edition

4.0

medium-paced

rumours_from_inez's review against another edition

3.5

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: Yes

dolly_dagger87's review against another edition

5.0

funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

brittanya's review against another edition

5.0

emotional lighthearted 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

palnicki92's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 5%

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I know this is petty but the audio cover states "read buy" instead of "read by" and I couldn't stop thinking about it. 

kfreads's review against another edition

3.5

funny lighthearted

befthhh's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful tense 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

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*I received an eARC of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thanks!*

This book was a delightful sports romance with a speculative twist! I am a big fan of the soulmates trope so this story sat well with me. I loved getting to know both Juliette and Luca, (so happy whenever I see dual POV!) and watch their love story unfold. Their different backgrounds, fears, and anxieties, along with the tension of their tennis rivalry, created delicious conflict.

The story flowed well for the most part, although I felt that the “third act break-up” felt rushed. But otherwise I appreciated the secondary plots featuring the other players on tour and Juliette’s family. I wouldn’t mind seeing books about their stories either! Chandler wrote a compelling and sexy story that had me on the hook right from the start. 

novelgossip_pnw's review against another edition

2.0

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I'm always up for a sports romance, particularly if it's sapphic. But you totally lost me at soulmate tattoos and magical realism. Meh.
Maybe it would have been "just another rivals to lovers sports story" buuuuuut we like what we like, and trying to make this one more, just didn't work.

calicokate's review against another edition

3.0

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I enjoyed the magical realism soulmates trope. I found that narrators character accents/accent attempts got annoying over time.

sauceyjocey's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Too slow for me to really get into plus the fated mates was an unnecessary addition to the storyline