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A review by livlamentloathe
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
All I've heard is good reviews of this book and I need to ask: have you ever been in a relationship with good communication? Have y'all ever heard of TELLING your partner your feelings and being straight with them and listening before storming off?
That said, I did like parts of this. Despite the bad communication, Elle and Darcy were sweet together. I especially liked Elle's family issues, and Darcy's whole thing. Like just her period. I adored her.
Spoilers under cut:
The ending was exhausting. How Elle was perfect and never did a bad thing in her life and was such a sad martyr. Boo hoo. I liked Elle and I totally side with her on all her family nonsense, but with Darcy? Yeah, she was partly right but she was also a bitch about it. She told Darcy she didn't have a heart when everything she'd learned until that point said otherwise. ALSO LET'S CONTEXTUALIZE: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THEY STARTED DATING!!! Maybe TWO since they met!!! It's not insane at ALL to be confused about what you're doing still -- and they never really HAD a convo about their relationship prior to the ending. Both were insecure and self-doubting so they took their frustrations out on one another but it made me so frustrated because they were BOTH wrong. NO, Elle, you were not fucking clear from the start. Yeah, she made a comment on their failed first date, but then everything DID get complicated, to Darcy's point. Yes, Darcy needed to grow a mouth but she's had traumatic relationships all her life so it's fair that it wasn't easy. Also fuck Elle for knowing Darcy has a bad relationship with her mom, and just assuming she would be entirely truthful in that conversation. Like oh wow how inconceivable! Girl who has issues opening up partly because of negligent parent LIES to mother who she's clearly arguing with?????? What a concept!!!
Plus a lot of the secondary characters felt so contrived to me. Their early ministrations were frustrating and often felt forced. Like how Brenden behaved in the first quarter of the book? Clearly it was all set up to justify the fake dating arc. And Margo was a real jerk sometimes-- she made up for it eventually but still.
That said, I did like parts of this. Despite the bad communication, Elle and Darcy were sweet together. I especially liked Elle's family issues, and Darcy's whole thing. Like just her period. I adored her.
Spoilers under cut:
The ending was exhausting. How Elle was perfect and never did a bad thing in her life and was such a sad martyr. Boo hoo. I liked Elle and I totally side with her on all her family nonsense, but with Darcy? Yeah, she was partly right but she was also a bitch about it. She told Darcy she didn't have a heart when everything she'd learned until that point said otherwise. ALSO LET'S CONTEXTUALIZE: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THEY STARTED DATING!!! Maybe TWO since they met!!! It's not insane at ALL to be confused about what you're doing still -- and they never really HAD a convo about their relationship prior to the ending. Both were insecure and self-doubting so they took their frustrations out on one another but it made me so frustrated because they were BOTH wrong. NO, Elle, you were not fucking clear from the start. Yeah, she made a comment on their failed first date, but then everything DID get complicated, to Darcy's point. Yes, Darcy needed to grow a mouth but she's had traumatic relationships all her life so it's fair that it wasn't easy. Also fuck Elle for knowing Darcy has a bad relationship with her mom, and just assuming she would be entirely truthful in that conversation. Like oh wow how inconceivable! Girl who has issues opening up partly because of negligent parent LIES to mother who she's clearly arguing with?????? What a concept!!!
Plus a lot of the secondary characters felt so contrived to me. Their early ministrations were frustrating and often felt forced. Like how Brenden behaved in the first quarter of the book? Clearly it was all set up to justify the fake dating arc. And Margo was a real jerk sometimes-- she made up for it eventually but still.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Biphobia
Emotional Abuse from family/parents, Biphobia mentioned very briefly