A review by the_vegan_bookworm
Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley

lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.25

There was no genuine relationship between the protagonists, and Ryan was one of the most toxic, red-flag ridden love interests I've come across in literature. Kara wasn't better, but I spent the entire book being increasingly alarmed by Ryan's behaviours and being confused about why everything was being passed off as romantic.

He has been completely obsessed with his ex FOR 10 YEARS. It's not flattering or cute - it's concerning. He named his dog after his ex, despite breaking up years before, and we're supposed to find that romantic and not deeply creepy? He gets engaged to the person who is implicated in his break up with the ex he's obsessed with, which I cannot understand under pretty much any circumstances unless they actually were together when he broke up with Kara for the first time. He decides to move to New York after reconnecting with his ex for less than a week. Then he cheats on his fiancee by getting back together with his ex, and the author tries to play this off as though it's romantic and not manipulative, toxic, messed up and obsessive on many levels. Nothing about this is okay or romantic or even pleasant in any way.

Kara is also deeply concerning. She is obsessed with her exes, including Mark and Ryan, and she clearly has trust and jealousy issues. At no point does she work on those issues at all or even take some space from the people who have led her to have those issues (AKA Ryan).
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