aleshamiller's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
vrcreads's review against another edition
5.0
"We love films because they make us feel something. They speak to our desires, which are never small. They allow us to escape and to dream and to gaze into eyes that are impossibly beautiful and huge. They fill us with longing. But also. They tell us to remember; they remind us of life. Remember, they say, how much it hurts to have your heart broken. Remember about death and suffering and the complexities of living. Remember what it is like to love someone. Remember how it is to be loved. Remember what you feel in this moment. Remember this. Remember this." I loved this book so much. As a gay woman who wants to make films, this book spoke to me in so many ways. The characters are complex and vibrant and messy and I loved every single one of them. I love love love this book. Going in my favorites for sure. I haven't read a book this fast in so long.
dominicanbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
this was beautiful and had so much depth! i also loved the way it was written, the relationships and character growth.
reedytoeat's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
emilykatereads's review against another edition
5.0
“Don’t you want to kiss me?”
YES, this book was so good. I fell in love with the characters and story and I just feel so happy with the conclusion. What a feel good, but hard-hitting, story. I’m so happy I finally read this.
YES, this book was so good. I fell in love with the characters and story and I just feel so happy with the conclusion. What a feel good, but hard-hitting, story. I’m so happy I finally read this.
hnagle15's review against another edition
3.0
I should start off this review by saying I’m not really one for YA contemporary. I don’t really enjoy stories focused on finding “the one,” but this was widely recommended to me, so I went for it.
What I enjoyed:
- I liked the representation of LGBTQ+ community. It was nice to have a story with a lesbian lead that didn’t end tragically. I also enjoyed that Emi’s sexuality wasn’t the entire focus of the novel. There was no coming out or inner battle – it was fact. Emi is a lesbian.
- I liked the good, solid, female friendship between Charlotte and Emi. I think it’s really important to have strong female friendships because so often in novels we read about how one stabbed the other in the back and the book is either about revenge or getting over it. Charlotte and Emi were two friends who were there for each other. I especially loved that despite Charlotte openly disliking Morgan (Emi’s ex), she was supportive in any way she could be.
What I disliked:
- I felt like that while the characters were 18, they acted like they were in their late twenties. I really dislike when that happens (lookin’ at you, John Green), and find it makes the characters unrelatable.
- On that note, the characters were unrelatable in another way too. While Emi and Charlotte had super cool jobs, they weren’t jobs that the majority of the book’s audience could relate too (I’m assuming, anyway). It was neat to learn about work in the movies, but I felt like it was discussed ad nauseam. Everything was spun around to be a movie. Ava looks pretty in her apartment? Emi thinks about how that scene would play out if it were being shot. Ava looks sad? Again with the movie montage. I found myself rolling my eyes after a while because it felt so pretentious.
- Speaking of pretentious –what was with that frickin Ethiopian tea?! I get it, Toby is super special and got it from the market down the street and only he can get it by the jug full, but I don’t need to hear about it 500 times!
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Overall, this is a light, fluffy summer read and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a quick beach read!
What I enjoyed:
- I liked the representation of LGBTQ+ community. It was nice to have a story with a lesbian lead that didn’t end tragically. I also enjoyed that Emi’s sexuality wasn’t the entire focus of the novel. There was no coming out or inner battle – it was fact. Emi is a lesbian.
- I liked the good, solid, female friendship between Charlotte and Emi. I think it’s really important to have strong female friendships because so often in novels we read about how one stabbed the other in the back and the book is either about revenge or getting over it. Charlotte and Emi were two friends who were there for each other. I especially loved that despite Charlotte openly disliking Morgan (Emi’s ex), she was supportive in any way she could be.
What I disliked:
- I felt like that while the characters were 18, they acted like they were in their late twenties. I really dislike when that happens (lookin’ at you, John Green), and find it makes the characters unrelatable.
- On that note, the characters were unrelatable in another way too. While Emi and Charlotte had super cool jobs, they weren’t jobs that the majority of the book’s audience could relate too (I’m assuming, anyway). It was neat to learn about work in the movies, but I felt like it was discussed ad nauseam. Everything was spun around to be a movie. Ava looks pretty in her apartment? Emi thinks about how that scene would play out if it were being shot. Ava looks sad? Again with the movie montage. I found myself rolling my eyes after a while because it felt so pretentious.
- Speaking of pretentious –what was with that frickin Ethiopian tea?! I get it, Toby is super special and got it from the market down the street and only he can get it by the jug full, but I don’t need to hear about it 500 times!
-
Spoiler
I think the thing I dislike the most about YA contemporary is that it all wraps up so nicely. Ava got the part, she got the money, found the story of her mother. Toby and Charlotte declared their mutual love, and Ava and Emi did the same. It’s just not for me, I like a good story but not everything needs to happen so neatly. I just don’t find it realistic.Overall, this is a light, fluffy summer read and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a quick beach read!
meredithmc's review against another edition
3.0
A bit predictable with some of the major plot points but still, a cute love story.
ireadlikephoeberuns's review against another edition
2.0
I hate to say this, but here goes: this was way too polished to be even slightly interesting. I liked a couple of characters alright and thought the setting was kind of cool, and that's why I'm giving this two stars instead of one. I am so disappointed!