A review by frantically
The Wallflower by J.L. Beck

dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Enjoyable! Ending wasn't my fav but Drew and Bell got me through it.

While the "bully who's actually just abused :((" trope has been done to death, I still wasn't *too* annoyed by it here. Mainly because yes, Drew was abused by his dad but he was also just a dick in general, abuse or no 🤷🏻‍♀

The hunt part was really the best bit, Drew and Bell's push and pull is so well written and gives a good enough base for the rest of the book.

There were parts I wish that had just been written out better. Both of their mums are ill. The word cancer is mentioned maybe two times? But we get no further explanation, no symptoms, nothing. With Drew's mum, it's understandable, his dad's trying to hide everything, but Bell goes to appointments with her mum and the doctor still just calls it "an illness". Maybe it's a plot point in the sequel? Who knows. Still kinda weird.

All in all, nothing revolutionary bug with just the right type of spice to still make it fun.
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