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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a really cute, quick YA romance that was also a love letter to romance novels. And I adored it. Definitely recommended to others!
📝 The rivals to friends to lovers progression was great, the bumps along the way made sense for teenagers, the game of howl was fun and interesting.
💌📚💓 The FMC/narrator really loves romance novels, and advocates for them to basically everyone she knows by the end of the book. And the points made were good ones, and from a feminist perspective. And I'm right there with her so I was all for it!
🎧 POV was first person, just FMC. The narrator did a good job embodying Rowan as she works through her thoughts and feelings.
🌶️ 2/5 This may be a surprise based on my username, but even though I'm rating this book 5 stars, it had virtually no spice!The characters do hook up at the end but it's described in pretty vague terms. But I'm still giving slight spice points because the tension between the MCs and the thrill of the almost kisses and actual kisses was so teenaged "OMG I like him so much eeeee what's going to happen" and I loved it.
🏳️🌈✊ Rowan (and Neil, we later learn ) is Jewish, by her father's side. Her mother's side of the family is Hispanic. Her friends and classmates are multiple different ethnicities and races and sexual orientations.
📝 The rivals to friends to lovers progression was great, the bumps along the way made sense for teenagers, the game of howl was fun and interesting.
💌📚💓 The FMC/narrator really loves romance novels, and advocates for them to basically everyone she knows by the end of the book. And the points made were good ones, and from a feminist perspective. And I'm right there with her so I was all for it!
🎧 POV was first person, just FMC. The narrator did a good job embodying Rowan as she works through her thoughts and feelings.
🌶️ 2/5 This may be a surprise based on my username, but even though I'm rating this book 5 stars, it had virtually no spice!
🏳️🌈✊ Rowan (
Moderate: Cursing and Antisemitism
Minor: Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
robin_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Academic rivals to lovers, coming of age, eng of High School .. a scanvenger hunt to celebrate graduating that brings the academic rivals together.
This is very fast paced. Everything happens within twenty-four hours. It's very cute, heartwarming, mentions important topics but still wholesome. An easy read for in between.
Yay for Jewisch rep! And bisexual side characters!
This is very fast paced. Everything happens within twenty-four hours. It's very cute, heartwarming, mentions important topics but still wholesome. An easy read for in between.
Yay for Jewisch rep! And bisexual side characters!
Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
annikaa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Graphic: Drug use and Antisemitism
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Car accident
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
olivialandryxo's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’ve said before that I think Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of the best YA contemporary authors, and I stand by that. Though there were a few elements that annoyed me, overall, I thought this was a really fun, quick read. I really liked Rowan and Neil and the progression of their relationship, as well as their individual character development. While I took an immediate liking to Rowan, I wasn’t sure if it was possible for me to like Neil, given that he grated on me initially—but he did, surprisingly, grow on me. His letter in her yearbook was adorable. In general, reading this just made me happy, and that’s how I know a book is good. I’d definitely recommend this one, and upon finishing, I’m quite eager to read more from Solomon.
Representation
Representation
- Mexican-Russian Jewish protagonist
- Jewish love interest and side characters
- lesbian side character
- bisexual side character
- sapphic side couple
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Antisemitism comes from side characters but is always challenged. Violence and injury details are in reference to past events, only mentioned once. As for sexual content, there’s discussion of some characters’ past experiences, but only one mild, on-page sex scene.mpbookreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail