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A review by invisible_universes
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It is a cute rom-com most of the time, and the gimmicks it plays with are generally ones that I like.
That said, I wish it would commit a little bit harder to the liar revealed plot. The whole thing feels just a bit tepid as if the author is scared to take a strong stance or make a big swing with it. The good characters are all unerringly 'good' -- all the conflict comes from genuine misunderstanding or interactions with assigned 'bad' characters. Which is somewhat understandable, as I get the appeal of a softer world in which people really aren't out to get you. But I think good, solid drama in a romance has to come from genuine character tension, which this somewhat lacks because both characters need to be so perfectly paragon-ic all the time. Their mistakes are over-justified to make sure you never once have to doubt that they are inherently good people who are doing their best. Because again, the good people here are always unerringly 'good'. Marcus may lie, but he very carefully skirts the temptations of his position-- the author even disposes of usual aspects of the trope to absolve him of what might be considered asshole behavior (continuing to write April via their online personas while they develop their in person relationship). It's not unforgivable, but I do think all of this ratchets down the tension by a peg and leads to a sort of blander story.
The body positivity at the heart of the novel is expressed in what can sometimes feel like trite, over-worn terms, but that's coming from a perspective of someone really familiar with the movement. There's an audience who hasn't heard these encouragements yet, and I honestly think every woman who has ever struggled with body image or self worth deserves to hear these reassurances in an earnest way like this at least once. So while it may fall a little flat for me (despite absolutely being the target demographic for it (young and fat)), I do think it's valuable to have something like this on the market. Beyond the social ramifications, it just caters to a fantasy I think most women (especially fat women) have had in their lives, of someone who sees them beyond whatever fatal flaw and just gets it right. Of all the fantasies romance novels can pander to, who am I to say that one's any lesser? It's appealing, and so too is the book.
That said, I wish it would commit a little bit harder to the liar revealed plot. The whole thing feels just a bit tepid as if the author is scared to take a strong stance or make a big swing with it. The good characters are all unerringly 'good' -- all the conflict comes from genuine misunderstanding or interactions with assigned 'bad' characters. Which is somewhat understandable, as I get the appeal of a softer world in which people really aren't out to get you. But I think good, solid drama in a romance has to come from genuine character tension, which this somewhat lacks because both characters need to be so perfectly paragon-ic all the time. Their mistakes are over-justified to make sure you never once have to doubt that they are inherently good people who are doing their best. Because again, the good people here are always unerringly 'good'. Marcus may lie, but he very carefully skirts the temptations of his position-- the author even disposes of usual aspects of the trope to absolve him of what might be considered asshole behavior (continuing to write April via their online personas while they develop their in person relationship). It's not unforgivable, but I do think all of this ratchets down the tension by a peg and leads to a sort of blander story.
The body positivity at the heart of the novel is expressed in what can sometimes feel like trite, over-worn terms, but that's coming from a perspective of someone really familiar with the movement. There's an audience who hasn't heard these encouragements yet, and I honestly think every woman who has ever struggled with body image or self worth deserves to hear these reassurances in an earnest way like this at least once. So while it may fall a little flat for me (despite absolutely being the target demographic for it (young and fat)), I do think it's valuable to have something like this on the market. Beyond the social ramifications, it just caters to a fantasy I think most women (especially fat women) have had in their lives, of someone who sees them beyond whatever fatal flaw and just gets it right. Of all the fantasies romance novels can pander to, who am I to say that one's any lesser? It's appealing, and so too is the book.