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A review by estelleidekreads
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
i normally would’ve DNFed but somehow it was like a car crash and i couldn’t look away so i guess bonus points for being entertaining?
my feelings about this book are mixed so im going to break it down:
the romance: 1/5 - honestly i hated it. the initial bet felt so icky and i just didn’t like the dynamics at all. i just don’t like them together at all
the smut: -200/5 BUT im aware this part is extra subjective. just really wasn’t for me. using nicknames in bed when you barely know someone and the over use of the C word just aren’t my thing. i love the c word (are we allowed to write curse words on here???) but as an insult or like yay slay c*nty/ serving c*nt way. again - personal preference but i cringed so hard that i hurt my neck
the sublplot: honestly a decent 3.25/5 which is why it was so annoying that i hated the main plot (romance). i found it entertaining and liked the side characters even tho they were extremely 2 dimensional (tbh everyone is this felt that way even the MCs)
the adhd rep: 2/5 for me it was the “adhd people need meds that’s the only way they can function” rhetoric that pissed me off. i love the bit about adhd traits not being flaws or personal faults but we don’t need yet more media reinforcing the pathologication of neurodivergence. yes meds can change and adhd person’s life for the better, but a lot of us can’t handle the side effects or they don’t work that well or we don’t like how we feel on them or just don’t want them. meds should be an extra thing to make life easier, the main thing with adhd is accessibility, not throwing meds at the problem hoping that’ll make up for the ableist systems that make existing with adhd in our current world so damn hard. again very personal but as someone who really cares about this stuff i couldn’t look past it.
autism rep: 4.25/5 this was done SO well! the non verbal shutdown scene was done so well and i love her dad for being so kind and patient. this is the only reason this book is over 2 stars because everything from removing labels and feeling like your bed has crumbs to missing body language cues was done SO well.
side not: i know the miscommunication bit makes sense in the context but it still annoyed me and i don’t believe it’s realistic it would’ve lasted this long like if they were 15 maybe but those are grown ass women. that’s another thing, it keep feeling like i was reading about teenagers which just isn’t a vibe
my feelings about this book are mixed so im going to break it down:
the romance: 1/5 - honestly i hated it. the initial bet felt so icky and i just didn’t like the dynamics at all. i just don’t like them together at all
the smut: -200/5 BUT im aware this part is extra subjective. just really wasn’t for me. using nicknames in bed when you barely know someone and the over use of the C word just aren’t my thing. i love the c word (are we allowed to write curse words on here???) but as an insult or like yay slay c*nty/ serving c*nt way. again - personal preference but i cringed so hard that i hurt my neck
the sublplot: honestly a decent 3.25/5 which is why it was so annoying that i hated the main plot (romance). i found it entertaining and liked the side characters even tho they were extremely 2 dimensional (tbh everyone is this felt that way even the MCs)
the adhd rep: 2/5 for me it was the “adhd people need meds that’s the only way they can function” rhetoric that pissed me off. i love the bit about adhd traits not being flaws or personal faults but we don’t need yet more media reinforcing the pathologication of neurodivergence. yes meds can change and adhd person’s life for the better, but a lot of us can’t handle the side effects or they don’t work that well or we don’t like how we feel on them or just don’t want them. meds should be an extra thing to make life easier, the main thing with adhd is accessibility, not throwing meds at the problem hoping that’ll make up for the ableist systems that make existing with adhd in our current world so damn hard. again very personal but as someone who really cares about this stuff i couldn’t look past it.
autism rep: 4.25/5 this was done SO well! the non verbal shutdown scene was done so well and i love her dad for being so kind and patient. this is the only reason this book is over 2 stars because everything from removing labels and feeling like your bed has crumbs to missing body language cues was done SO well.
side not: i know the miscommunication bit makes sense in the context but it still annoyed me and i don’t believe it’s realistic it would’ve lasted this long like if they were 15 maybe but those are grown ass women. that’s another thing, it keep feeling like i was reading about teenagers which just isn’t a vibe
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Sexual content