ahen's review
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Loved how it wasn't cliche
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
kayleejanes's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Addiction, and Blood
mashpotato_gurl's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Omg that ending is one of the best endings of a book/movie ever as
Spoiler
SHE DOESNT END UP WITH THE GUY!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
chloelj27's review
emotional
funny
reflective
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
As far as YA books go, I really enjoyed it. This book had me looking back to my first love as a teenager and all the struggles we faced in those years.
Audrey was such a strong, beautiful character to read about. She took on so much and always kept going despite how hard things were and the pressures she faced. After all she went through, she had matured a lot and so having Harry as the complete opposite was interesting. His end gesture was so beautiful 😍 I would have liked to have seen a bit more about his relationship with his parents however as it was brushed over a little, in my opinion.
Going through comparing romance films to real life romance was such an interesting take and one I’ve found myself doing a lot over the years. Holly could have easily made this a conventional HEA, but she stayed true all throughout the book, showing the real side to relationships with the arguments and insecurities as well as the good moments.
I was stuck of where to rate this, but judging it as a YA book that had all the feels - happiness, sadness, frustration and more, I settled on 4 stars. It had me reflecting back to my own teenage years too. Holly really portrayed a young teenage girl dealing with life’s issues really well.
Audrey was such a strong, beautiful character to read about. She took on so much and always kept going despite how hard things were and the pressures she faced. After all she went through, she had matured a lot and so having Harry as the complete opposite was interesting. His end gesture was so beautiful 😍 I would have liked to have seen a bit more about his relationship with his parents however as it was brushed over a little, in my opinion.
Going through comparing romance films to real life romance was such an interesting take and one I’ve found myself doing a lot over the years. Holly could have easily made this a conventional HEA, but she stayed true all throughout the book, showing the real side to relationships with the arguments and insecurities as well as the good moments.
I was stuck of where to rate this, but judging it as a YA book that had all the feels - happiness, sadness, frustration and more, I settled on 4 stars. It had me reflecting back to my own teenage years too. Holly really portrayed a young teenage girl dealing with life’s issues really well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
faithharsh's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual content, Rape, and Toxic relationship
libbylou905's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
justme12xx's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book is so good. I love this book with my whole heart. (Possible slight spoliers ahead) Audrey and Harry's love story had me rooting for them right from when they first met. Everything about it was so predictable and cheesy but I loved it so much. I never thought I'd enjoy something so cheesy but this book just did it for me.
Harry's zombie movie was a great way to expand Audrey and His relationship. It was such a smart way to tie Harry's friends into the relationship. Rosie being the like "villain" is great with Milo being the like backround past villain in Audrey's life. The girls and how they and Audrey's relationship changes again and again over the course of the book. Leroy being that one person we all need in our life I fell in love with him the second he was mentioned. All of Audrey's family problems. If you can't tell I just love this book.
The last chapter made me tear up a slight bit and it's not even because it's really sad but I knew what was gonna happen and (spoliers major spoliers) then when it actually happened and I knew it was over I wasn't okay. I'd been rooting for their relationship and then it happened and I was so happy and then it all fell apart a matter of days later. Harry's movie he makes her made me feel something and then when she leaves the tears did start coming up. I didn't actually cry but I did tear up because it was just so sad.(end of spoliers)
Please read this book because it's so great. A great romance book just so good. If you can't tell I like this book alot.
Harry's zombie movie was a great way to expand Audrey and His relationship. It was such a smart way to tie Harry's friends into the relationship. Rosie being the like "villain" is great with Milo being the like backround past villain in Audrey's life. The girls and how they and Audrey's relationship changes again and again over the course of the book. Leroy being that one person we all need in our life I fell in love with him the second he was mentioned. All of Audrey's family problems. If you can't tell I just love this book.
The last chapter made me tear up a slight bit and it's not even because it's really sad but I knew what was gonna happen and (spoliers major spoliers) then when it actually happened and I knew it was over I wasn't okay. I'd been rooting for their relationship and then it happened and I was so happy and then it all fell apart a matter of days later. Harry's movie he makes her made me feel something and then when she leaves the tears did start coming up. I didn't actually cry but I did tear up because it was just so sad.(end of spoliers)
Please read this book because it's so great. A great romance book just so good. If you can't tell I like this book alot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Alcohol, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Infidelity
z_oe's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
starlessnights's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming
outsidestar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has a delightful and refreshing take on relationships. And all the references it has to how things work out in movies... chef's kiss.
The only reason this is not getting 5 stars is because I found the beginning rather slow but, once you get passed the half way mark, it just keeps getting better and THAT ENDING. I loved the ending.
The story follows Audrey, a 17 year-old girl who's going through a rough patch relationship-wise. Her now ex-boyfriend recently broke up with her and started dating someone else, her dad left her mom a couple years ago and now wants them to sell their home because well, he needs the money to buy stuff for her new wife (*cough* asshole *cough*).
The result? She dropped drama (her favorite subject), distanced herself from her friends, and is left to take care of her mom's delicate mental state while her older brother is off in college. With all the pressure on her shoulders she needs an escape, and that's how she ends up working at Flicker, a posh cinema where she meets Harry, who would be the charming bad boy of the story.
Having shut herself from romance, when she is asked to pick a part of the media to critically analyze for her media studies class project, she goes with "why is love never like the movies". Let me tell you, this addition to the story was GENIOUS. At the same pace as the story progresses, certain chapters start with a witty critique to different aspects of romance movies like: how the good girl falls for the bad boy, even though they have nothing in common, and for inexplicable reasons she is special and makes him want to change his ways (*eyeroll*); how there's always a formal event the couple goes to so that the boy can realize just how beautiful the girl is (because god forbid he would fall for her for some other reason); or how one of the lovers (usually the boy) always makes a big mistake about 70% into the movie because they can't simply meet, get along, kiss and that's it.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and, while still having every element of the "cliché contemporary", I can say it's different to all other contemporaries out there. Just read it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and HMH Children's Book Group for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.
The only reason this is not getting 5 stars is because I found the beginning rather slow but, once you get passed the half way mark, it just keeps getting better and THAT ENDING. I loved the ending.
The story follows Audrey, a 17 year-old girl who's going through a rough patch relationship-wise. Her now ex-boyfriend recently broke up with her and started dating someone else, her dad left her mom a couple years ago and now wants them to sell their home because well, he needs the money to buy stuff for her new wife (*cough* asshole *cough*).
The result? She dropped drama (her favorite subject), distanced herself from her friends, and is left to take care of her mom's delicate mental state while her older brother is off in college. With all the pressure on her shoulders she needs an escape, and that's how she ends up working at Flicker, a posh cinema where she meets Harry, who would be the charming bad boy of the story.
Having shut herself from romance, when she is asked to pick a part of the media to critically analyze for her media studies class project, she goes with "why is love never like the movies". Let me tell you, this addition to the story was GENIOUS. At the same pace as the story progresses, certain chapters start with a witty critique to different aspects of romance movies like: how the good girl falls for the bad boy, even though they have nothing in common, and for inexplicable reasons she is special and makes him want to change his ways (*eyeroll*); how there's always a formal event the couple goes to so that the boy can realize just how beautiful the girl is (because god forbid he would fall for her for some other reason); or how one of the lovers (usually the boy) always makes a big mistake about 70% into the movie because they can't simply meet, get along, kiss and that's it.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and, while still having every element of the "cliché contemporary", I can say it's different to all other contemporaries out there. Just read it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and HMH Children's Book Group for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse