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swamprat410's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
melist6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness
hbae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
emmieb98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
haley49's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship
achay91's review
- 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
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
sarashoup98's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
turnthepages_nl's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
bookfulthoughts's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
“You love so hard, but you need to start believing you are loved.”
I’ve seen many people speak very highly of this book. I thought I'd try it because I wanted a quick and easy read. To start with the good, I found this book funny in some parts and heartfelt in others. I liked the concept of the “forbidden trope” with no fraternization with clients. I thought it made the storyline intriguing. I liked Zander's sweet side and that we could see his fears and vulnerabilities. I found Stevie funny at times and relatable at points.
Now, I do have some reservations about this book. First and foremost, I found that writing style could use some revision. How the characters were described made me question whether I wanted to continue reading. Let's be honest; how many times did I have to read that Zander is a 6’5 defensive hockey player who wears chains? I also understand that his niece is three. These are just some descriptions to make examples of. There are many ways to describe someone's stature, appearance, and age. Once someone is specifically described, re-using the same descriptors is comes off as unnecessary. Recycling descriptions are one of my book pet peeves 😫. Secondly, I understand that Zander’s “persona” was a big part of the plot and that his agent was the middleman. I kept thinking that Zander was not a rookie, and if he had suspicions about his agent, it couldn't be impossible for him to reach out on his own. Especially given how skilled the book portrays him to be. I kept getting frustrated with how easily this problem could have been solved.
WARNING! This is my opinion! I found Stevie's mother borderline… prejudiced. It just didn’t sit right with me some of the excuses that Stevie had for her mom. She is a white southern woman who has a half-black daughter and… “she’s not used to curves” or “But I don’t know what she expected. Her husband, the other half of my DNA, looks nothing like the ginger hair, freckled, thin-framed side of my mom’s family.” Stevies white side of the family. Or “I want to be proud that I’m half of a remarkable man, but it’s hard to be proud of anything when my own mother is disappointed in everything I do.” This just made me uncomfortable and the book didn't address this at all! Only that her mom is toxic but in the harsh meddling mother type of way. I thought that Stevie and her mother's issue had a racial aspect. I could go down a rabbit hole with this one but I digressed 🤷🏾♀️.
Overall I did enjoy this book but I’m unsure if I’m going to read the rest of the series, I don’t think it’s for me.
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Racism
karlapardo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol