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A review by nefariousbee
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As far as romance books go, this is a great one. Truly. It has great characterization, the pacing is tip top, the amount of sex scenes just the way I like it (high). Maybe the character voices could use some further distinction but hey, nobody is perfect.
It also bares saying the author is very clearly new to being queer which isn't a bad thing, but it's a thing worth noting for potential readers. As well as the characters are all white, middle class cis women, but I think that's less because the author is somehow prejudiced and more because she clearly writes from her personal experiences.
The thing that annoys me is the badly executed tries to be trans people inclusive. I appreciate the sentiment. But having all your lesbian characters always say they're attracted to women and nonbinary people and saying nothing else comes off as these people seeing nonbinary people as women lite. I am sure this was not the intention. Similarly with the question for the seemingly cishet woman about her not being with anyone who wasn't a cis man. If she were with a trans man, it doesn't make her any less straight, and these comments do suggest otherwise.
It is clear the author tries to be inclusive of the whole of queer community. But these are details someone was supposed to notice and point out, but no one did, so I'm speaking up.
I am happy to report that at least the word lesbian isn't treated as a dirty word in this book as opposed to the first one. I hope for great things for the third novel.
It also bares saying the author is very clearly new to being queer which isn't a bad thing, but it's a thing worth noting for potential readers. As well as the characters are all white, middle class cis women, but I think that's less because the author is somehow prejudiced and more because she clearly writes from her personal experiences.
The thing that annoys me is the badly executed tries to be trans people inclusive. I appreciate the sentiment. But having all your lesbian characters always say they're attracted to women and nonbinary people and saying nothing else comes off as these people seeing nonbinary people as women lite. I am sure this was not the intention. Similarly with the question for the seemingly cishet woman about her not being with anyone who wasn't a cis man. If she were with a trans man, it doesn't make her any less straight, and these comments do suggest otherwise.
It is clear the author tries to be inclusive of the whole of queer community. But these are details someone was supposed to notice and point out, but no one did, so I'm speaking up.
I am happy to report that at least the word lesbian isn't treated as a dirty word in this book as opposed to the first one. I hope for great things for the third novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Grief