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theemillennialreader 's review for:
Love in 280 Characters or Less
by Ravynn K. Stringfield
funny
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:
Complicated
First off, I absolutely loved the layout of this book. The mix of blog entries, text messages, tweets, and emails kept me engaged from start to finish. It felt like scrolling through Facebook or texting with friends—completely relatable.
Syd’s journey of discovering herself in a new world felt incredibly real. Thinking back to my own college experience, I remember how scary it was. You’re suddenly a small fish in a big pond again, and social media becomes your lifeline. Like Syd, I also made college friends through Twitter.
Throughout one semester, Syd had to juggle her social life, academic goals, career dreams, and tough conversations with friends and family—that’s a lot for anyone. While she did get a bit dramatic at times, I appreciated her self-awareness. She owned her mistakes, offered genuine apologies, and communicated effectively. That’s impressive, especially at her age—many adults are still learning how to do that.
That said, I felt the story got a bit bogged down in the activism plotline and Malcolm’s involvement in it. While I understood how it tied into Syd’s passion for writing, it dragged a little for me. The topic is important, no doubt, but I wasn’t sure it needed quite so much focus in this story. However, I did enjoy making connections to another book I’d read that touched on the same historic writers Syd explored.
The ending truly surprised me—especially the developments with Malcolm and Xavier. The title Love in 280 Characters or Less perfectly captures the theme of how our online personas can begin to define us. In the end, the real journey is learning to love ourselves and stay grounded in the real world.
———
I may be a little late to the party, but I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC of this book!
Syd’s journey of discovering herself in a new world felt incredibly real. Thinking back to my own college experience, I remember how scary it was. You’re suddenly a small fish in a big pond again, and social media becomes your lifeline. Like Syd, I also made college friends through Twitter.
Throughout one semester, Syd had to juggle her social life, academic goals, career dreams, and tough conversations with friends and family—that’s a lot for anyone. While she did get a bit dramatic at times, I appreciated her self-awareness. She owned her mistakes, offered genuine apologies, and communicated effectively. That’s impressive, especially at her age—many adults are still learning how to do that.
That said, I felt the story got a bit bogged down in the activism plotline and Malcolm’s involvement in it. While I understood how it tied into Syd’s passion for writing, it dragged a little for me. The topic is important, no doubt, but I wasn’t sure it needed quite so much focus in this story. However, I did enjoy making connections to another book I’d read that touched on the same historic writers Syd explored.
The ending truly surprised me—especially the developments with Malcolm and Xavier. The title Love in 280 Characters or Less perfectly captures the theme of how our online personas can begin to define us. In the end, the real journey is learning to love ourselves and stay grounded in the real world.
———
I may be a little late to the party, but I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC of this book!