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theburningbook 's review for:
It's Not Like It's a Secret
by Misa Sugiura
The audiobook is a 5/5. It's great. Pity that the story isn't as good..
[Maybe this review contains spoilers? If knowing more details about the MC cheating on her gf is too spoilery for you, then this isn't the review for you. I'm vague, but I think clear enough so you would get some details. I'm sorry if I already spoiled you the whole cheating thing, but many reviews have already, it feels a little like common knowledge.]
As many people, when I started this story I was very surprised and pleased. I read a lot of not-so-flattering reviews and I was prepared to not love this book. But it was great. I loved it so much. The audiobook narrator made it even better.
But then, it all fell apart.
First, the instalove. I'll consider it as such because even though it took a little while of the story for the couple to get together (but not so much, really), there was A LOT happening about so many other things that wasn't the couple, so we didn't get to see a lot about their attraction that led to them being together. It was more like little glimpses of how they liked each other, but not enough so that it justified getting together and be like "you're the best thing that has happened to me" like two chapters after. And, honestly, I wouldn't have cared so much about the instalove-y feeling if after the first half of the book we had seen why they were the best thing to happen to each other, but no. So... Disappointing.
And the thing is, they got together too soon and after barely showing chemistry. Yes, when they did show chemistry it was good, but those were such brief moments I didn't have enough. And, getting together before the midpoint? That means the other half is about screwing the relationship up.
So, second, the cheating. It was so dumb??? Like, I really don't get Sana (the MC). I thought I did and, unlike many others, I didn't find her obnoxious. Yeah, sure, she wasn't great, but she wasn't BAD. She was fine to me. But then she cheated on her girlfriend out of... Thinking she was with someone else? Look, I get it. Rationally I understand why she did it. But the way the whole thing happened made little sense to me. And, WHY CAN'T THIS GIRL COMMUNICATE APPROPRIATELY? Damn, girl.
And third, the end. I liked the way Sana apologized to Caleb for pretending she liked him the way he liked her, but then, when she had to apologize to Jamie, we didn't see them talking about what happened. WHY? Seriously. This is a recurring problem with this book: everything is more developed than the main relationship. Sana's family has like 50% of page time, Sana's friends, discussions about racism and other shenanigans, like 35% and her relationship with Jamie, ACTUALLY SEEING THEM IN LOVE OF FALLING IN LOVE, just like 15% (if this wasn't a romance book, it'd be OK. But it is, so I'm mad). The author didn't develop the relationship correctly BEFORE they got together, glossed over it completely, and then AFTER they got together, it was all about Sana wondering, worrying, cheating, crying, arguing with friends (hers of Jamie's), and dealing with her family. The author even put more thought on her apology to other people than in her apology to the love interest.
Yes, she did a Grand Romantic Gesture™, but I didn't care too much for that. It's OK as a conversation starter, but not as the whole reason we, the audience, get to explain why they are together again. And the worst part is that they said they were going to talk, it's just that the audience wasn't part of the conversation. And it sucks so much. We never got to know Jamie's feelings about being cheated on that way. Like, yes, we know she felt betrayed (duh), and angry that she WAS honest while Sana wasn't, but, really, nothing else? Caleb even got to tell Sana how he felt better than Jamie, and they want to make me root for the main couple? What did Sana do, besides her Grand Romantic Gesture™ to make amends? Yeah, sure, she's sorry, but that's not enough, hon.
Anyway.
I know I sound like I hated this book, but nah. I don't hate it, I'm really disappointed. That's why I'm ranting a lot. The beginning had so much potential, the audiobook narrator was excellent, so having it going downhill from the halfway point was the most disappointing thing ever.
Libro 3 leído durante el mes del Orgullo 2021
[Maybe this review contains spoilers? If knowing more details about the MC cheating on her gf is too spoilery for you, then this isn't the review for you. I'm vague, but I think clear enough so you would get some details. I'm sorry if I already spoiled you the whole cheating thing, but many reviews have already, it feels a little like common knowledge.]
As many people, when I started this story I was very surprised and pleased. I read a lot of not-so-flattering reviews and I was prepared to not love this book. But it was great. I loved it so much. The audiobook narrator made it even better.
But then, it all fell apart.
First, the instalove. I'll consider it as such because even though it took a little while of the story for the couple to get together (but not so much, really), there was A LOT happening about so many other things that wasn't the couple, so we didn't get to see a lot about their attraction that led to them being together. It was more like little glimpses of how they liked each other, but not enough so that it justified getting together and be like "you're the best thing that has happened to me" like two chapters after. And, honestly, I wouldn't have cared so much about the instalove-y feeling if after the first half of the book we had seen why they were the best thing to happen to each other, but no. So... Disappointing.
And the thing is, they got together too soon and after barely showing chemistry. Yes, when they did show chemistry it was good, but those were such brief moments I didn't have enough. And, getting together before the midpoint? That means the other half is about screwing the relationship up.
So, second, the cheating. It was so dumb??? Like, I really don't get Sana (the MC). I thought I did and, unlike many others, I didn't find her obnoxious. Yeah, sure, she wasn't great, but she wasn't BAD. She was fine to me. But then she cheated on her girlfriend out of... Thinking she was with someone else? Look, I get it. Rationally I understand why she did it. But the way the whole thing happened made little sense to me. And, WHY CAN'T THIS GIRL COMMUNICATE APPROPRIATELY? Damn, girl.
And third, the end. I liked the way Sana apologized to Caleb for pretending she liked him the way he liked her, but then, when she had to apologize to Jamie, we didn't see them talking about what happened. WHY? Seriously. This is a recurring problem with this book: everything is more developed than the main relationship. Sana's family has like 50% of page time, Sana's friends, discussions about racism and other shenanigans, like 35% and her relationship with Jamie, ACTUALLY SEEING THEM IN LOVE OF FALLING IN LOVE, just like 15% (if this wasn't a romance book, it'd be OK. But it is, so I'm mad). The author didn't develop the relationship correctly BEFORE they got together, glossed over it completely, and then AFTER they got together, it was all about Sana wondering, worrying, cheating, crying, arguing with friends (hers of Jamie's), and dealing with her family. The author even put more thought on her apology to other people than in her apology to the love interest.
Yes, she did a Grand Romantic Gesture™, but I didn't care too much for that. It's OK as a conversation starter, but not as the whole reason we, the audience, get to explain why they are together again. And the worst part is that they said they were going to talk, it's just that the audience wasn't part of the conversation. And it sucks so much. We never got to know Jamie's feelings about being cheated on that way. Like, yes, we know she felt betrayed (duh), and angry that she WAS honest while Sana wasn't, but, really, nothing else? Caleb even got to tell Sana how he felt better than Jamie, and they want to make me root for the main couple? What did Sana do, besides her Grand Romantic Gesture™ to make amends? Yeah, sure, she's sorry, but that's not enough, hon.
Anyway.
I know I sound like I hated this book, but nah. I don't hate it, I'm really disappointed. That's why I'm ranting a lot. The beginning had so much potential, the audiobook narrator was excellent, so having it going downhill from the halfway point was the most disappointing thing ever.
Libro 3 leído durante el mes del Orgullo 2021