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cwrose 's review for:
Love, Comment, Subscribe
by Cathy Yardley
This was my Kindle FirstReads pick for September 2021. I loved the whole premise of this book - representing Asian culture, a cute frenemies-to-lovers arc, and a profession (YouTube influencers) that I didn't know much about and looked forward to learning what their lives are really like. And while I did enjoy the story overall, it didn't suck me in and make me ship the two MCs the way I wanted to.
This is the story of Tobin and Lily, frenemies since they were children, and now both successful YouTube influencers in their late 20s, on gaming and beauty. When they both fall into a rut, they're convinced to collab with each other, and sparks fly.
This is a great way to see behind-the-scenes of how social media influencers work to get subscribers and stay current. And I did think the MCs' relationship was quite sweet and charming, when they finally got together.
I wasn't a fan of the prose, and the whole story seemed very tell-y rather than show-y (yes, I am also a writer and I'm aware that you need a good mix of both). I couldn't relate to any of the characters, and never felt close to them. The dialogue also felt very stilted. None of the characters are particularly memorable, especially the supporting characters. I didn't feel like I knew much about any of them. I liked Lily as an ambitious, career-driven woman, but I wasn't a big fan of Tobin. He came off like an immature manchild. Maybe some people are fine with that, but after having dated two men who were emotionally stunted manchildren, it's not cute at all.
The way the book was written and with how the characters behaved (like two teenagers, not two people who are almost 30), it would be better suited for a YA audience, if it wasn't for the amount of swearing (which I have no personal issue with), and detailed sex scenes. And of course, being a rom-com, it follows the typical arc, so it's predictable.
And spoiler, but I did have one particular gripe...
All that being said, I still found it to be a fun, quick read and I definitely enjoyed looking at the private lives of social media influencers!
This is the story of Tobin and Lily, frenemies since they were children, and now both successful YouTube influencers in their late 20s, on gaming and beauty. When they both fall into a rut, they're convinced to collab with each other, and sparks fly.
This is a great way to see behind-the-scenes of how social media influencers work to get subscribers and stay current. And I did think the MCs' relationship was quite sweet and charming, when they finally got together.
I wasn't a fan of the prose, and the whole story seemed very tell-y rather than show-y (yes, I am also a writer and I'm aware that you need a good mix of both). I couldn't relate to any of the characters, and never felt close to them. The dialogue also felt very stilted. None of the characters are particularly memorable, especially the supporting characters. I didn't feel like I knew much about any of them. I liked Lily as an ambitious, career-driven woman, but I wasn't a big fan of Tobin. He came off like an immature manchild. Maybe some people are fine with that, but after having dated two men who were emotionally stunted manchildren, it's not cute at all.
The way the book was written and with how the characters behaved (like two teenagers, not two people who are almost 30), it would be better suited for a YA audience, if it wasn't for the amount of swearing (which I have no personal issue with), and detailed sex scenes. And of course, being a rom-com, it follows the typical arc, so it's predictable.
And spoiler, but I did have one particular gripe...
Spoiler
I also didn't like how, at the end, Lily was the one who had to realize that working isn't everything and she's the one who has to "lighten up", and SHE has to apologize to HIM when HE was the one who walked away from her because she wasn't onboard with his spontaneous plan. I can guarantee that if it had been a man was always working and always had his "eye on the prize", it's much more acceptable and the woman is expected to work around it. It's almost like the whole "woman gives up everything to be with the man" trope, except thankfully she didn't give up her career at the end.All that being said, I still found it to be a fun, quick read and I definitely enjoyed looking at the private lives of social media influencers!