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melbsreads 's review for:
It's Always Been You
by Elin Annalise
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger warnings: aphobia, bullying, stalking, outing, mentions of eating disorder, death of a parent (in the past)
Sigh. I had high hopes for this after really enjoying the first book in the series. But this one, for some reason, just didn't hit the same way. I think it's partly because it's about two women who were at high school together and one bullied the other. Now, years later, the bullied is working at a helpline for asexual people and their loved ones when her bully calls in asking for help. She knows who it is. She doesn't say anything. And, like, I didn't love that from an ethical perspective.
I also struggled at times because this felt like it was less about the relationship between Courtney and Sophie and more about being a series of public service announcements about asexuality. And, like, don't get me wrong. I know the majority of the public knows sweet fuck all about asexuality and is therefore in dire need of said public service announcements. But every time Courtney took a phone call, it pulled me out of the story and I found myself skim reading.
So ultimately? Not for me, and I wished the romance side of things had been far more at the centre of the story than it was, given the premise.
Sigh. I had high hopes for this after really enjoying the first book in the series. But this one, for some reason, just didn't hit the same way. I think it's partly because it's about two women who were at high school together and one bullied the other. Now, years later, the bullied is working at a helpline for asexual people and their loved ones when her bully calls in asking for help. She knows who it is. She doesn't say anything. And, like, I didn't love that from an ethical perspective.
I also struggled at times because this felt like it was less about the relationship between Courtney and Sophie and more about being a series of public service announcements about asexuality. And, like, don't get me wrong. I know the majority of the public knows sweet fuck all about asexuality and is therefore in dire need of said public service announcements. But every time Courtney took a phone call, it pulled me out of the story and I found myself skim reading.
So ultimately? Not for me, and I wished the romance side of things had been far more at the centre of the story than it was, given the premise.