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A review by ahsokasbookshelf
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall I really liked this book. It was a fluffy romcom that was cute and entertaining and had the right amount of steam. I found the characters likable, the romantic tension was top notch, and I loved seeing a plus size lead! Was the premise of a Hollywood celebrity dating a super fan from the fandom a bit far fetched? You bet. But that personally does not bother me as it added to the fun of the story. I got major Notting Hill vibes from this book, which was super fun!
The cons: I think ultimately this book couldn’t decide how to incorporate some of its heavier emotional themes like the parental relationship issues and the fatphobia. I LOVE seeing a confident plus size lead, but I feel that some of April’s confidence was undercut by how severely and frequently she seemed to react to triggers (some of which were just basic miscommunications that could have been cleared up with a conversation). While April made it clear that she wanted to be loved not despite her body, or because of it, but rather for who she is, the narration often focused on her body size as a complication to their love story. As a plus size person myself, I can absolutely see how for some it could feel incomplete to tell this story without addressing the character’s body type differences and the fatphobia that would come with dating someone in the public eye. But for me it was a little too much. I already know that many people are unkind to those in larger bodies, and so I just don’t want to read about it in my escapism-feel-good-romcoms.
The cons: I think ultimately this book couldn’t decide how to incorporate some of its heavier emotional themes like the parental relationship issues and the fatphobia. I LOVE seeing a confident plus size lead, but I feel that some of April’s confidence was undercut by how severely and frequently she seemed to react to triggers (some of which were just basic miscommunications that could have been cleared up with a conversation). While April made it clear that she wanted to be loved not despite her body, or because of it, but rather for who she is, the narration often focused on her body size as a complication to their love story. As a plus size person myself, I can absolutely see how for some it could feel incomplete to tell this story without addressing the character’s body type differences and the fatphobia that would come with dating someone in the public eye. But for me it was a little too much. I already know that many people are unkind to those in larger bodies, and so I just don’t want to read about it in my escapism-feel-good-romcoms.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexual content and Ableism
Minor: Bullying and Emotional abuse