Scan barcode
A review by kait_sixcrowsbooks
By Your Side by Margherita Scialla
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Y’all, this short story has my HEART, oh my goodness. I’m so glad I requested an ARC from the author because this was so cute.
By Your Side by Margherita Scialla is a short story about Emma, a bi allo college student who recently caught her boyfriend cheating and broke up with him. She lives with her life-long friend Dawson and their friend they both met in college, Noah, who is aromantic. Emma spends the story working through her feelings not only towards Noah, but also about her prior relationships in general.
I thought this story was simply lovely. The short story format, while not something I’m entirely familiar with as they aren’t something I look out for on a regular basis, really helped the narrative in my opinion. I feel like if it was anymore drawn out, it wouldn’t be as poignant. In a way — and I mean this in the best way possible — it feels as if it were written like a fanfic would be. There seems to be an assumption that, at the very least, we know and care about who these characters are so while we are given a bit of background on how they meet, the story isn’t bogged down.
The writing itself was quick to read and easy. If I didn’t start it so late in the afternoon, I definitely would have finished this in one sitting because I loved how the story just seemed to flow. The focus was mainly on Emma as she processed through her break-up, her previous relationships, and (most of all) her relationships with both Dawson and Noah and how they differed from each other. I loved this deep-dive we see, and honestly I wish we saw more of it. I really think this could have made a wonderful novella, something that would have allowed for more depth. Not to say that I thought this story was shallow in any way, but I did feel that there were parts I wish we could have seen more of, such as the aspect of being in a queer-platonic relationship with an aro person as you’re allo. But also, who am I kidding, I also truly enjoyed the characters and wish I could’ve seen more of them, if only for my own benefit, lol.
Seriously, though, By Your Side is a wonderful little story, and I hope it can warm others’ hearts as it did mine.
Y’all, this short story has my HEART, oh my goodness. I’m so glad I requested an ARC from the author because this was so cute.
By Your Side by Margherita Scialla is a short story about Emma, a bi allo college student who recently caught her boyfriend cheating and broke up with him. She lives with her life-long friend Dawson and their friend they both met in college, Noah, who is aromantic. Emma spends the story working through her feelings not only towards Noah, but also about her prior relationships in general.
I thought this story was simply lovely. The short story format, while not something I’m entirely familiar with as they aren’t something I look out for on a regular basis, really helped the narrative in my opinion. I feel like if it was anymore drawn out, it wouldn’t be as poignant. In a way — and I mean this in the best way possible — it feels as if it were written like a fanfic would be. There seems to be an assumption that, at the very least, we know and care about who these characters are so while we are given a bit of background on how they meet, the story isn’t bogged down.
The writing itself was quick to read and easy. If I didn’t start it so late in the afternoon, I definitely would have finished this in one sitting because I loved how the story just seemed to flow. The focus was mainly on Emma as she processed through her break-up, her previous relationships, and (most of all) her relationships with both Dawson and Noah and how they differed from each other. I loved this deep-dive we see, and honestly I wish we saw more of it. I really think this could have made a wonderful novella, something that would have allowed for more depth. Not to say that I thought this story was shallow in any way, but I did feel that there were parts I wish we could have seen more of, such as the aspect of being in a queer-platonic relationship with an aro person as you’re allo. But also, who am I kidding, I also truly enjoyed the characters and wish I could’ve seen more of them, if only for my own benefit, lol.
Seriously, though, By Your Side is a wonderful little story, and I hope it can warm others’ hearts as it did mine.