Scan barcode
A review by kcbookshelf
All The Feels by Olivia Dade
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is something special. I think I preferred Spoiler Alert on the whole but I definitely felt like there were more messages and more moments where I was proud of the characters. The personal development of both Alex and Lauren was deep, emotional, and heartwarming! The only reason I didn’t give it the full 5 stars was because there was a bit, around their sex scenes I guess, that it felt like it dipped. The sex scenes were good, didn’t take away anything from the story, but I was definitely at a point where I was ready for the two of them to start wrapping up their story, but I knew I still had a good hundred pages left. That said, I tabbed quite a bit for a romance novel and I wouldn’t definitely recommend to everyone!
The best way for me to describe it is that it is special, honest, and worthy!
I don’t know too much about ADHD but I felt like the representation was just. Alex’s character was full of energy but also you felt the pain, understood the other symptoms, could figure out his train of thought. It was truly well-rounded. Then to have a character that has dealt with abuse at her work place, ultimately getting burnt out, whilst also having dealt with comments about her appearance from people throughout her whole life… it was refreshing for them to both be proud of themselves, to know what’s best for their bodies (even if they don’t always stick to it) and to discuss that with one another. Granted, there are complications, but it was lovely to see their “flaws” (as they would be in a lot of other books) not be flaws at all. They were simply a part of them, part of their personality, part of their drive. And it wasn’t a huge part of the plot either, it aided it perfectly!
The conversations of body image, abuse, domestic abuse, ADHD, fat phobia, mental health, and struggling friendships were dealt with with heart, care and still remained lighthearted.
By the end I felt warm, comforted, and proud. Both of the fictional characters and the real characters in my life (myself, my friends, my family) who have dealt with similar things. It has left me with an outlook that I already had but now understand ways to word it and deal with it.
From your shrewish sister from another mister…
BIG HARPY ENERGY FOREVER
The best way for me to describe it is that it is special, honest, and worthy!
I don’t know too much about ADHD but I felt like the representation was just. Alex’s character was full of energy but also you felt the pain, understood the other symptoms, could figure out his train of thought. It was truly well-rounded. Then to have a character that has dealt with abuse at her work place, ultimately getting burnt out, whilst also having dealt with comments about her appearance from people throughout her whole life… it was refreshing for them to both be proud of themselves, to know what’s best for their bodies (even if they don’t always stick to it) and to discuss that with one another. Granted, there are complications, but it was lovely to see their “flaws” (as they would be in a lot of other books) not be flaws at all. They were simply a part of them, part of their personality, part of their drive. And it wasn’t a huge part of the plot either, it aided it perfectly!
The conversations of body image, abuse, domestic abuse, ADHD, fat phobia, mental health, and struggling friendships were dealt with with heart, care and still remained lighthearted.
By the end I felt warm, comforted, and proud. Both of the fictional characters and the real characters in my life (myself, my friends, my family) who have dealt with similar things. It has left me with an outlook that I already had but now understand ways to word it and deal with it.
From your shrewish sister from another mister…
BIG HARPY ENERGY FOREVER
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Bullying, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Body shaming, and Mental illness