lbenton415's review
I usually love Kennedy Ryan books, but this one really upset me. Spoiler Warning! I really didn't like this book the main character is judgemental, but then acts like a hypocritic. It seems like all Banner's relationship are toxic af.
Spoiler
The main character, Banner gets upset when one of the clients partner's cheats on them and call them a wh*re, but then Banner cheats on her partner just cause she's not fulfilled in the relationship. Like talk to your partner (I forgot his name). There are constant flashbacks from college and that whole situation which I understand and Banner's insecurities with Jared. However, in the present you're still letting people get in your head instead of talking to Jared about what you're insecure about. (i.e when Banner's talking to her manager in the bar and he says Jared is going to hire her. Then she spirals talking about is he only doing this so she will become Jared's agent. Banner also presents like she accepts her body, but then has internalized fatphobia and counting calories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
sarahholt's review
The nicest thing I can say about this book is that I'm glad it was the last book of Kennedy Ryan's that I have read, if this was the first book I tried of hers, I would not have continued reading her work.
I loved the glimpses of Jared that we got to see in Long Shot and was excited for his story with Banner but this was a let down from the beginning.
I love that Kennedy Ryan isn't afraid to write messy truths, it was what drew me to her in the first place. Life is heartbreaking and horrible and uncomfortable sometimes and that isn't often displayed in books. I read Long Shot and Hook Shot first and fell in love with the care and reverence in her writing for Iris and Lotus and interpersonal violence/assault situations.
I naively thought she would have the same care for fat characters but that couldn't be further from the truth.
I had hoped that during the time jump, Banner would have gained confidence in her body and knowing there is nothing wrong with it. Instead, the first thing we learn about her is that she is on a weight loss journey to be the "right kind of curvy."
That is where I stopped reading. If I wanted to read about a fat girl who didn't need to lose weight on weight watchers, I would have just read my journal from high school.
I'm so disappointed in this book and I don't know if I will keep reading her work.
I loved the glimpses of Jared that we got to see in Long Shot and was excited for his story with Banner but this was a let down from the beginning.
I love that Kennedy Ryan isn't afraid to write messy truths, it was what drew me to her in the first place. Life is heartbreaking and horrible and uncomfortable sometimes and that isn't often displayed in books. I read Long Shot and Hook Shot first and fell in love with the care and reverence in her writing for Iris and Lotus and interpersonal violence/assault situations.
I naively thought she would have the same care for fat characters but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Spoiler
fucking the fat girl as a hazing prank is overdone and not funny or good plot. It doesn't matter that he walked away from them when his entry to the society was based on that because in the end he did it anyway. It felt like he fucked her to prove that he wasn't fucking her for the society which, in the end, is doing it for them anyway. Based on Banner's POV, there had not been enough build up in their relationship for it to be believable that he wanted to sleep with her. The "fat girl can't tell when someone is attracted to her" trope is also over done and dehumanizing. Jared is the only MMC in any of Kennedy Ryan's books who does not make is absolutely clear before they have sex that he is obsessed with her all of her body.I had hoped that during the time jump, Banner would have gained confidence in her body and knowing there is nothing wrong with it. Instead, the first thing we learn about her is that she is on a weight loss journey to be the "right kind of curvy."
That is where I stopped reading. If I wanted to read about a fat girl who didn't need to lose weight on weight watchers, I would have just read my journal from high school.
I'm so disappointed in this book and I don't know if I will keep reading her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
chekwube's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Jared and Banner brooooo
I thought this was such an interesting book because there were so many twists and turns to it that I almost couldn’t keep up😂😂
This book was EVERYWHERE LMAOOO
Didn’t even deep it until I started writing this review but wow. It was a really good book that explored a lot of themes. I loved Banner’s strong personality and the fact that even though she was a strong person with a beautiful soul, she also had points in the book where she made wrong decisions that still ended up pushing her the way she was meant to be.
Everything happens for a reason for real.
I liked this book.
I thought this was such an interesting book because there were so many twists and turns to it that I almost couldn’t keep up😂😂
Spoiler
Jared’s bros calling Banner fat and her cutting him off. Only to become a big shot in New York after being the chosen one in her firm for Zo. Then her being with Zo to Jared coming back in her life and she cheating on Zo multiple times 😭 to her then realizing she didn’t really love Zo in a non-platonic way. To Jared picking her back up and her letting it happen. To her absolute badassness. To Zo falling sick and her helping him to her mom not liking her decision to leave Zo for Jared. To Zo and Jared fighting for her and Zo almost dying but recovering and finding himself a latina mami.Spoiler
This book was EVERYWHERE LMAOOO
Didn’t even deep it until I started writing this review but wow. It was a really good book that explored a lot of themes. I loved Banner’s strong personality and the fact that even though she was a strong person with a beautiful soul, she also had points in the book where she made wrong decisions that still ended up pushing her the way she was meant to be.
Everything happens for a reason for real.
I liked this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Gaslighting
andycob's review
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
Minor: Suicide attempt and Toxic relationship
aryn_back's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer and Misogyny
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