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inkstndfngrs 's review for:
All The Feels
by Olivia Dade
Received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
I have to admit two things: 1. I didn't read Spoiler Alert. It's been out filling holds in my library system for awhile now and I just haven't bothered putting a hold on it myself when I'm in no hurry to wait for it. 2. I almost didn't finish this one.
I did, and I don't regret the time spent reading, but...gosh. I just had a hard time with "all the feels" of All the Feels. For one, Alex is nearly 40 years old. I get, and can even say that I think his ADHD was pretty spot on for his character, but also...he's 40 years old, and really lacked a lot of maturity. That can only partly be blamed on his ADHD. I had an easier time visualizing these characters in their mid-to-late twenties. I don't recall if it ever said how old Lauren was, but I guess I pegged her (oh god, that is not a double entendre or a pun) at my own age: 32ish. Lauren was much better at keeping it together as an adult.
But at the same time...the woman is how old, a therapist, and still lets people push her around and thinks so little of herself? I found her contradictory at best.
I had a couple of other issues going through the book. One: Ron was awful and it really didn't make sense to me that Lauren would (no matter how much her Mom pressured her) to go all the way to Spain to see him. I also don't understand why Ron, even as a total asshole, would pay her to do this job --other than some weird familial obligation. Suspension of Disbelief, engaged. Second: I have come to really dislike fanfiction. The premise of actors of a popular show (I'm visualizing Gods of the Gates as a Game of Thrones-Meets-Xena/Hercules sort of thing) fills me with this completely irrational irritation I just can't explain. The idea of Alex writing it, literally in hopes of redeeming a terrible final season is just...ludicrous. The man has never, at least not mentioned here, written anything before in his life. And apparently, he's just *good*? As someone who admits to getting their start, writing in other people's sandboxes so to speak, this just makes me mad. Writing is a honed skill; even if you're purposefully being over-the-top and ridiculous. You don't just come out of the gate with an amazing story.
So...I didn't really read those little excerpts. They felt like a waste of time. I'm here for the main couple: Alex and Lauren. Not whatever these little side trips were supposed to engage. On a similar note: the text messages were pretty "meh" as well. They didn't add anything, other than to confirm that Ian was an asshole and that the rest of the cast was great (even the weird one with the telepathic cat). However, Alex never engaged in those conversations. So...what was the point?
Over all the book was fine, and I might eventually get around to reading Spoiler Alert, but if there's to be another in this series, I'm not sure I'll bother with it personally. While the body positivity was refreshing, Alex struck me as more creepy obsessive about Lauren's size (blegh). The inclusion of an adult with (managed!) ADHD was an interesting move for inclusiveness.I had a hard time not just regarding it as tokenism though. Perhaps sex-on-a-stick Alex being very into Lauren, regardless of her looks and size was supposed to be some kind of a wish fulfillment move, but this plus-sized person wasn't on board for it, and honestly was a bit disappointed.
I have to admit two things: 1. I didn't read Spoiler Alert. It's been out filling holds in my library system for awhile now and I just haven't bothered putting a hold on it myself when I'm in no hurry to wait for it. 2. I almost didn't finish this one.
I did, and I don't regret the time spent reading, but...gosh. I just had a hard time with "all the feels" of All the Feels. For one, Alex is nearly 40 years old. I get, and can even say that I think his ADHD was pretty spot on for his character, but also...he's 40 years old, and really lacked a lot of maturity. That can only partly be blamed on his ADHD. I had an easier time visualizing these characters in their mid-to-late twenties. I don't recall if it ever said how old Lauren was, but I guess I pegged her (oh god, that is not a double entendre or a pun) at my own age: 32ish. Lauren was much better at keeping it together as an adult.
But at the same time...the woman is how old, a therapist, and still lets people push her around and thinks so little of herself? I found her contradictory at best.
I had a couple of other issues going through the book. One: Ron was awful and it really didn't make sense to me that Lauren would (no matter how much her Mom pressured her) to go all the way to Spain to see him. I also don't understand why Ron, even as a total asshole, would pay her to do this job --other than some weird familial obligation. Suspension of Disbelief, engaged. Second: I have come to really dislike fanfiction. The premise of actors of a popular show (I'm visualizing Gods of the Gates as a Game of Thrones-Meets-Xena/Hercules sort of thing) fills me with this completely irrational irritation I just can't explain. The idea of Alex writing it, literally in hopes of redeeming a terrible final season is just...ludicrous. The man has never, at least not mentioned here, written anything before in his life. And apparently, he's just *good*? As someone who admits to getting their start, writing in other people's sandboxes so to speak, this just makes me mad. Writing is a honed skill; even if you're purposefully being over-the-top and ridiculous. You don't just come out of the gate with an amazing story.
So...I didn't really read those little excerpts. They felt like a waste of time. I'm here for the main couple: Alex and Lauren. Not whatever these little side trips were supposed to engage. On a similar note: the text messages were pretty "meh" as well. They didn't add anything, other than to confirm that Ian was an asshole and that the rest of the cast was great (even the weird one with the telepathic cat). However, Alex never engaged in those conversations. So...what was the point?
Over all the book was fine, and I might eventually get around to reading Spoiler Alert, but if there's to be another in this series, I'm not sure I'll bother with it personally. While the body positivity was refreshing, Alex struck me as more creepy obsessive about Lauren's size (blegh). The inclusion of an adult with (managed!) ADHD was an interesting move for inclusiveness.I had a hard time not just regarding it as tokenism though. Perhaps sex-on-a-stick Alex being very into Lauren, regardless of her looks and size was supposed to be some kind of a wish fulfillment move, but this plus-sized person wasn't on board for it, and honestly was a bit disappointed.