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A review by iamkiaraayleen
Love from Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I picked this up on a total whim when my local bookstore didn't have the book that I originally went there for, and after reading it I'm so glad that's the way it played out.
This was the adorable, easy to read, sugary sweet romance I expected, while also discussing important topics such as (internalized) misogyny and double standards at the workplace as well as on social media.
Something to be aware of is that it does feature the miscommunication trope, that has ruined more romance books for me personally than I care to admit. But in this instance the resulting conflict didn't take up much of the book and was handled and resolved in a way that seemed fitting for the plot and the characters, so it didn't take me out of the story the way that it has in other books in the past.
Overall, I liked this a whole lot. Reese and Benny as well as Nat, Clara and the Friends of Flavor were a pleasure to read about and Reese's and Benny's nicknames for each other had me chuckling more than a few times. All while other moments had me thinking about the hardships Reese - as well as many real women - had to face.
The issues that were discussed certainly weren't news to me and won't be to many other readers either, but I still very much appreciate the book's perspective on them as well as the representation in general. And I especially appreciate the underlying message, as put by Nat and Clara, that women "can have it all" - finding romance, being a feminist and being successful in your career can and should co-exist and are by no means mutually exclusive.
This was the adorable, easy to read, sugary sweet romance I expected, while also discussing important topics such as (internalized) misogyny and double standards at the workplace as well as on social media.
Something to be aware of is that it does feature the miscommunication trope, that has ruined more romance books for me personally than I care to admit. But in this instance the resulting conflict didn't take up much of the book and was handled and resolved in a way that seemed fitting for the plot and the characters, so it didn't take me out of the story the way that it has in other books in the past.
Overall, I liked this a whole lot. Reese and Benny as well as Nat, Clara and the Friends of Flavor were a pleasure to read about and Reese's and Benny's nicknames for each other had me chuckling more than a few times. All while other moments had me thinking about the hardships Reese - as well as many real women - had to face.
The issues that were discussed certainly weren't news to me and won't be to many other readers either, but I still very much appreciate the book's perspective on them as well as the representation in general. And I especially appreciate the underlying message, as put by Nat and Clara, that women "can have it all" - finding romance, being a feminist and being successful in your career can and should co-exist and are by no means mutually exclusive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Panic attacks/disorders