peonyatropos 's review for:

Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday
3.75
emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-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

Good writing, unusual tropes, charming and sweet characters. Somehow, still failed to connect. Perfectly enjoyable, but not gripping. Feels a bit slow-paced. Opportunities for angst/tension ignored and underdeveloped. Very sweet demisexual/bisexual MMC and tough/crusty intellectual FMC. Lovely, unbelievably accepting male friends. Feels just a bit too schmaltzy and contrived, I guess. 
Emotionally, a 3.5* at best. Technically, probably a bit better and will certainly be memorable.