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A review by forgottencupoftea
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
(to the friends who recommended this book, I'm sorry?)
I don't know? I thought I liked the book in the beginning, mostly because it included things we so rarely see: a plus-size protagonist with a great/serious job, a positive view of the fanfiction world/genre, characters slightly older than they usually are in romances...
But, I very quickly grew bored? I have a couple of theories as to why this happened.
First, the entire plot is based on a show that is essentially Game of Thrones, and Marcus, the love interest, is essentially one of Game of Thrones' actors (I won't name him because reasons, but I'm sure you'll have no problem figuring out who it is). It is all very obvious, it doesn't take a genius to notice and it made me a bit uncomfortable. I have seen Game of Thrones, I'm aware of how most fans (me included) were disappointed with the way the show went, I'm also aware of how some actors felt about it. It was essentially like reading a "big fix-it fic" about how GOT ended a couple of years ago.
Second, though I really wanted to love the protagonists I didn't? I thought they fell a bit flat? and were always reduced to certain aspects of their personalities. She is a fat woman, who works as a geologist, she also writes fanfiction. He is a dyslexic actor, who's playing dumb but is actually smart, he also writes fanfiction (about his own show). They keep being very dramatic about those different personalities they have, and I just wanted to scream at them.
Finally, there was little to no chemistry between April and Marcus? There were lots (like loooots) of sex scenes, but I really struggled to see any romance/love between them?
I did like a couple of things. The author did manage to fit in a couple of interesting points about boundaries and knowing what you deserve. I loved the body positivity! (though maybe April could have been described as something else than "round")
Overall: it was cute at times, no denying, but not really what I expect from a good romance.
I don't know? I thought I liked the book in the beginning, mostly because it included things we so rarely see: a plus-size protagonist with a great/serious job, a positive view of the fanfiction world/genre, characters slightly older than they usually are in romances...
But, I very quickly grew bored? I have a couple of theories as to why this happened.
First, the entire plot is based on a show that is essentially Game of Thrones, and Marcus, the love interest, is essentially one of Game of Thrones' actors (I won't name him because reasons, but I'm sure you'll have no problem figuring out who it is). It is all very obvious, it doesn't take a genius to notice and it made me a bit uncomfortable. I have seen Game of Thrones, I'm aware of how most fans (me included) were disappointed with the way the show went, I'm also aware of how some actors felt about it. It was essentially like reading a "big fix-it fic" about how GOT ended a couple of years ago.
Second, though I really wanted to love the protagonists I didn't? I thought they fell a bit flat? and were always reduced to certain aspects of their personalities. She is a fat woman, who works as a geologist, she also writes fanfiction. He is a dyslexic actor, who's playing dumb but is actually smart, he also writes fanfiction (about his own show). They keep being very dramatic about those different personalities they have, and I just wanted to scream at them.
Finally, there was little to no chemistry between April and Marcus? There were lots (like loooots) of sex scenes, but I really struggled to see any romance/love between them?
I did like a couple of things. The author did manage to fit in a couple of interesting points about boundaries and knowing what you deserve. I loved the body positivity! (though maybe April could have been described as something else than "round")
Overall: it was cute at times, no denying, but not really what I expect from a good romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Emotional abuse