A review by lolajh
Written In The Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Quite possibly THE most rushed ending ever.
What about Darcy’s very apparently important exams (that we never even saw her study for LOL) and Christmas and lunch with Jane and Daniel? Like Elle’s entireeeee arc with her family was just left completely unfinished
The journey getting there was a lot better, if a little corny with not the best writing and dialogue hard to understand like “The corners of her mouth puckered, her nose flaring delicately” (no bc what the fuck does that mean)

Beyond the fake-dating, rom-com trope-iness of it all, Darcy and Elle complemented each other quite nicely. Whilst not very well-developed characters, their bond beyond their chemistry was nice, and I’m gonna be honest I wasn’t completely mad with how the book handled the fake dating thing transitioning into reality.
I like that happened  halfway into the book, where I was expecting it to be more the end and I’m so glad it didn’t drag on that long.
The external issues coming between them aren’t the fact that they’re closeted or have internalised homophobia like sooo many sapphic books; them being gay comes second to them just being complex female characters with family issues and past relationship trauma and insecurities. 

Them working through all these things together, communicating with each other, expressing their love through acts of service and gifts and engaging with each other’s interests and Darcy DEFENDING ELLE TO HER FAMILY was all quite refreshing and beautiful. I just wish that the writing was better, the characters were more complex and that ending was more drawn out, god it felt so unfinished.
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