grinnoir's review
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
abbybarker's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
biancahartley's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Only rated this high because I enjoyed the prose somewhat. Otherwise it was alright. I have yet to find a book from this author that I enjoyed as much as Heartbreak Boys. All his protagonists are very similar, so many that's it.
As for this one: I simply felt nothing for the main romance, and I kept waiting for Lemon Boy/Caleb to play a bigger part in the story, or better yet, for him to be the main love interest. (But that would've perhaps caused its own problems since I don't believe this author would handle race well, i.e. only the POC characters' races are noted, everyone else is persumed "normal"/white; the only two black characters end up together.)
Also, everyone is weirdly invested in the MC's dull love life.
The mystery element could've been interesting but this was clearly more interested in being a YA romance, which is fine, but ultimately a bit disappointing from a story perspective.
As for this one: I simply felt nothing for the main romance, and I kept waiting for Lemon Boy/Caleb to play a bigger part in the story, or better yet, for him to be the main love interest. (But that would've perhaps caused its own problems since I don't believe this author would handle race well, i.e. only the POC characters' races are noted, everyone else is persumed "normal"/white; the only two black characters end up together.)
Also, everyone is weirdly invested in the MC's dull love life.
The mystery element could've been interesting but this was clearly more interested in being a YA romance, which is fine, but ultimately a bit disappointing from a story perspective.
myendlessshelf's review
5.0
Omg I did not want this book to end. All the stars from me! And can we get Simon James Green an Oscar or something for consistently writing the absolute sweetest muppets I’ve ever known!?!
Full review at My Endless Shelf
Full review at My Endless Shelf
marianasm's review
2.0
2,5 *
I didn’t hate this book, but I honestly didn’t care much about it either. The story has 2 main plots: the romance between Ben and Alex and the mystery surrounding the threats to Wonderland. I was completely indifferent to both of them. The characters didn’t stand out either, so I feel like this book is just forgettable. But if you think you’ll enjoy it, honestly give it a go! It can still be a quick and fun read, I guess.
The romance was a big NO for me. I didn’t actually hate them together, I just didn’t see it. They knew each other for 1 day and Alex was already in love with Ben.
I didn’t hate this book, but I honestly didn’t care much about it either. The story has 2 main plots: the romance between Ben and Alex and the mystery surrounding the threats to Wonderland. I was completely indifferent to both of them. The characters didn’t stand out either, so I feel like this book is just forgettable. But if you think you’ll enjoy it, honestly give it a go! It can still be a quick and fun read, I guess.
The romance was a big NO for me. I didn’t actually hate them together, I just didn’t see it. They knew each other for 1 day and Alex was already in love with Ben.
joanna1905's review
3.0
*Rating a 3.5*
This book was a pretty good read, better than I expected when I realised this was by the same author as 'Noah can't even' a book I tried to read but just could not jive with the overly awkward character, dialogue etc.
I did still find that this book has a lot of that (more than I'd like) but not so much that I couldn't get through it.
So let's talk about the characters...
I didn't mind Alex as a protag though I wish he'd have stuck up for himself once and a while, it was hard watching him be a doormat for everyone all the time but overall he was a fairly endearing character and I did root for him.
I liked Ben, Caleb and Efia were nice side characters and were the only people who actually seemed to treat Alex right, though I didn't love quite how pushy Efia was about getting Alex and Caleb together even though Alex protested so many times.
His friends that we see in the first chapter we're very unnecessary and I'm not sure why they were even included. They were only in one scene and after that Alex only even thought about them once when he thought 'haven't heard from x, thought we'd always be friends but oh well'. Which was so weird, yeah friends growing apart happens but this was given so little attention I don't know why they were even included at all.
Finally, Alex's father and Kendra. Kendra was so constantly horrible and nothing short of emotionally abusive. It's no wonder Alex has such low self-esteem when that horrible woman gets on his back for literally everything. Also considering she isn't his mother and the relationship with his father seems fairly new she sure loves playing the mother in the worst possible ways i.e. refusing to give him privacy for no reason. She also constantly talks crap about his mother and her ability to parent as if she's not a literal home wrecker (this isn't explicitly stated but it is inferred a few times).
Alex's father is just as bad because he just lets Kendra get away with everything and never once sticks up for his son when she's being horrible to him. It's not until the very end he actually acknowledges that Kendra is terrible to his son. Also, the small things we find out about his mother makes her sound pretty interesting so I was pretty bummed we never got to meet her.
The mystery plot was pretty well done, a number of suspects were all introduced to keep you guessing but I wasn't totally satisfied with the conclusion. I liked that Maggie was responsible for the fire but I'm confused about what that meant for the rest of the mystery... Did Maggie plan it all because she always wanted to burn it down and start over or did she just take advantage of those circumstances that were really someone else terrorising Wonderland? and if so, who was it?
One thing I did really like was that Alex was just gay and that was that, it's nice reading a queer romance where the main character is out and comfortable so that doesn't arise as a point of tension in the story.
All in all, this is an alright read, I can absolutely see why some people would totally adore it but while I enjoyed it, It's not one of my fav lgbtq+ contemporaries.
This book was a pretty good read, better than I expected when I realised this was by the same author as 'Noah can't even' a book I tried to read but just could not jive with the overly awkward character, dialogue etc.
I did still find that this book has a lot of that (more than I'd like) but not so much that I couldn't get through it.
So let's talk about the characters...
I didn't mind Alex as a protag though I wish he'd have stuck up for himself once and a while, it was hard watching him be a doormat for everyone all the time but overall he was a fairly endearing character and I did root for him.
I liked Ben, Caleb and Efia were nice side characters and were the only people who actually seemed to treat Alex right, though I didn't love quite how pushy Efia was about getting Alex and Caleb together even though Alex protested so many times.
His friends that we see in the first chapter we're very unnecessary and I'm not sure why they were even included. They were only in one scene and after that Alex only even thought about them once when he thought 'haven't heard from x, thought we'd always be friends but oh well'. Which was so weird, yeah friends growing apart happens but this was given so little attention I don't know why they were even included at all.
Finally, Alex's father and Kendra. Kendra was so constantly horrible and nothing short of emotionally abusive. It's no wonder Alex has such low self-esteem when that horrible woman gets on his back for literally everything. Also considering she isn't his mother and the relationship with his father seems fairly new she sure loves playing the mother in the worst possible ways i.e. refusing to give him privacy for no reason. She also constantly talks crap about his mother and her ability to parent as if she's not a literal home wrecker (this isn't explicitly stated but it is inferred a few times).
Alex's father is just as bad because he just lets Kendra get away with everything and never once sticks up for his son when she's being horrible to him. It's not until the very end he actually acknowledges that Kendra is terrible to his son. Also, the small things we find out about his mother makes her sound pretty interesting so I was pretty bummed we never got to meet her.
The mystery plot was pretty well done, a number of suspects were all introduced to keep you guessing but I wasn't totally satisfied with the conclusion. I liked that Maggie was responsible for the fire but I'm confused about what that meant for the rest of the mystery... Did Maggie plan it all because she always wanted to burn it down and start over or did she just take advantage of those circumstances that were really someone else terrorising Wonderland? and if so, who was it?
One thing I did really like was that Alex was just gay and that was that, it's nice reading a queer romance where the main character is out and comfortable so that doesn't arise as a point of tension in the story.
All in all, this is an alright read, I can absolutely see why some people would totally adore it but while I enjoyed it, It's not one of my fav lgbtq+ contemporaries.
liralen's review
4.0
Super cute. Alex is really fun as a character—so try-hard, and sometimes so pathetic, and really, really well intentioned in ways that...sometimes work out. The whole thing is a little over the top at times, but in a really self-aware way. Great supporting cast of characters, and just a lot of fun overall. I rarely read m/m fiction (because...f/f fiction), but this was worth the library wait.
bingereadingandtea's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0