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A review by fjalar
Just Physical by Jae
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.0
Don't read this book of you or someone you love is disabled. I cannot for the life of me understand how this book has any positive reviews, and it pains me to read that some people seemingly read this as an introduction to MS.
Look, I thought there might be something here. I was excited to read this book, to see myself represented in a sapphic romance novel. And when Jill started the book thinking she was undeserving of love and support, I thought that surely, surely she would soon discover that she is more than her illness, more than what she can do for other people. I thought, perfect! Crash is a stunt woman, a physical performer, she knows what it means to fear the loss of her body's functionality - she's come close to getting hurt badly once, she knows the risk. Surely her first girlfriend leaving her because she couldn't deal with her dangerous job was a setup, and she would ask Jill, what would you do if I needed to use a wheelchair one day? Would you still love me? Would you leave me?
Instead, the book is a slog through ableism from every single person we meet. There is no counter-balance whatsoever. Jill thinks disabled people are a burden and shouldn't be in relationships. Her brother thinks she's ill because she's a lesbian. Crash doubts whether she should be with Jill, and her mother confirms that it's a bad idea. Jill's best friend tells her that she would want her girlfriend to leave her, too, if she was diagnosed with MS. Crash's best friend tells her the morality tale of their friend Jimmy who became severly disabled after a stunt accident, and wouldn't Crash do what his girlfriend did and leave if that happened? There's one single character using a wheelchair, and while he's happily married he openly says he wishes his wife would leave him. That's fucked up. Don't tell me that's not fucked up.
I know, I know, Jill has a change of heart during the last forty pages, but that was neither earned nor did it feel natural. The pacing was terrible from start to finish, with the same arguments replaying again, again, and again. If I wanted to read hundreds of pages filled to the brim with rage-inducing ableism, I'd open my browser or any old newspaper, thank you very much.
Also, the characters are two-dimensional, their chemistry non-existent, the sex scenes a turnoff. Don't waste your time on this book. You'll thank me for it.
Look, I thought there might be something here. I was excited to read this book, to see myself represented in a sapphic romance novel. And when Jill started the book thinking she was undeserving of love and support, I thought that surely, surely she would soon discover that she is more than her illness, more than what she can do for other people. I thought, perfect! Crash is a stunt woman, a physical performer, she knows what it means to fear the loss of her body's functionality - she's come close to getting hurt badly once, she knows the risk. Surely her first girlfriend leaving her because she couldn't deal with her dangerous job was a setup, and she would ask Jill, what would you do if I needed to use a wheelchair one day? Would you still love me? Would you leave me?
Instead, the book is a slog through ableism from every single person we meet. There is no counter-balance whatsoever. Jill thinks disabled people are a burden and shouldn't be in relationships. Her brother thinks she's ill because she's a lesbian. Crash doubts whether she should be with Jill, and her mother confirms that it's a bad idea. Jill's best friend tells her that she would want her girlfriend to leave her, too, if she was diagnosed with MS. Crash's best friend tells her the morality tale of their friend Jimmy who became severly disabled after a stunt accident, and wouldn't Crash do what his girlfriend did and leave if that happened? There's one single character using a wheelchair, and while he's happily married he openly says he wishes his wife would leave him. That's fucked up. Don't tell me that's not fucked up.
I know, I know, Jill has a change of heart during the last forty pages, but that was neither earned nor did it feel natural. The pacing was terrible from start to finish, with the same arguments replaying again, again, and again. If I wanted to read hundreds of pages filled to the brim with rage-inducing ableism, I'd open my browser or any old newspaper, thank you very much.
Also, the characters are two-dimensional, their chemistry non-existent, the sex scenes a turnoff. Don't waste your time on this book. You'll thank me for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Chronic illness
Moderate: Lesbophobia