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lizaxwin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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
3.0
I‘m so ambivalent about this book. I really hated the FMC in like the first half of the book, but she got better and recognised her mistakes and everything. But… idk… her constant hate on other women made it kinda unpleasant nonetheless. I mean, why do we have the constant need to put other women down? Isn‘t it enough that men do that (which was basically the whole point of the book). Idk… the ending was OK. Yeah… definitely check trigger warnings for this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting
ccassidy98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Flew through this in just 3 days. Major trigger warnings so do check those out before reading, this is not the book that the blurb would suggest!
Hard hitting and difficult to read at times but oh so raw and real. I didn’t think much to Joshua, but April was such a relatable and well-written character.
Brings up some important topics and thoughts about dating, who we present ourselves as, and the realities of se*ual as*ault and toxic masculinity.
Hard hitting and difficult to read at times but oh so raw and real. I didn’t think much to Joshua, but April was such a relatable and well-written character.
Brings up some important topics and thoughts about dating, who we present ourselves as, and the realities of se*ual as*ault and toxic masculinity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
murakamiii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
I got through this book in about 3 days, it just sucks you in!! Feels hopeful and hopeless simultaneously, a perfect mix of optimism about a hard situation and realist pessimism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
lucy33's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ok, 12th and final book of holly bourne's!!!! is it my favourite of her's? idk, i hate pitting books against each other (they're all different wtf how??), struggle enough to give ratings for books. this book had some beautiful passages and simular to How Do You Like Me Now? (HB's other adult novel), contained a lot of my pondering questions - that was nice, made me feel less crazy. the MC was beautifully (perfectly, honestly) written, and it was heartening to see a real human being for a character rather than a fabricated version of the favourite things in a person. (the story literally being about fabricating/pretending to be a perfect person lol.) I really enjoyed how the final paragraph was written was an ambiguous s/o it was such the perfect way to wrap up the story. I loved how the different types of paragraphs were, and some of the shorter chapter paragraphs passages were so beautifully written. the chapter lengths were all perf, some short and long thank you very much, my lovely. overall, the book made me heart yurn and it was utterly gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
megrmunday's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
itsharrietrj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
k888flan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
clofle92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
He said he was looking for a 'partner in crime' which everyone knows is shorthand for 'a woman who isn't real'.
April is kind, pretty, and relatively normal - yet she can't seem to get past date five. Every time she thinks she's found someone to trust, they reveal themselves to be awful, leaving her heartbroken. And angry.
If only April could be more like Gretel.
Gretel is exactly what men want - she's a Regular Everyday Manic Pixie Dream Girl Next Door With No Problems.
The problem is, Gretel isn't real. And April is now claiming to be her.
As soon as April starts 'being' Gretel, dating becomes much more fun - especially once she reels in the unsuspecting Joshua.
Finally, April is the one in control, but can she control her own feelings? And as she and Joshua grow closer, how long will she be able to keep pretending?
April is kind, pretty, and relatively normal - yet she can't seem to get past date five. Every time she thinks she's found someone to trust, they reveal themselves to be awful, leaving her heartbroken. And angry.
If only April could be more like Gretel.
Gretel is exactly what men want - she's a Regular Everyday Manic Pixie Dream Girl Next Door With No Problems.
The problem is, Gretel isn't real. And April is now claiming to be her.
As soon as April starts 'being' Gretel, dating becomes much more fun - especially once she reels in the unsuspecting Joshua.
Finally, April is the one in control, but can she control her own feelings? And as she and Joshua grow closer, how long will she be able to keep pretending?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
farrahleigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault