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temia04's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was a bit triggering for me because of the body image issues that Taylor dealt with. I have definitely gone through some of the same thought patterns that Taylor had throughout the story, especially her feelings of defeat and helplessness during her situation at the end of the book. I think the topic was broached well and I liked the fact that Conor was always reassuring her. I enjoyed the friendship that Conor and Taylor shared and I felt like they were both equally developed characters. This was a challenging yet hopeful read for me and I really liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia
katharina90's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.5
I always appreciate a FMC in a larger body but the constant internalized fatphobia and low self-esteem was repetitive and annoying.
Also the repeated lack of communication by everyone... Yawn!
(To make things worse there are two breakups due to this. He refuses to communicate, they break up. She gives him a bunch of shit for it, then turns around and does the same thing, leading to second breakup. Lazy writing. )
Also the repeated lack of communication by everyone... Yawn!
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse
ameliabiblio's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
I have to admit, this one got off to a bit of a rough start, but once the story started in earnest, I was hooked. I was bothered at first because I couldn't tell if Taylor was actually fat or if she just thought she was fat and honestly, I'm still not sure. Either way would have worked because both would be a representation of some sort, but I felt like I wasted time trying to figure that out. But maybe that's a me problem. But basically, I felt like the beginning was cliche and unoriginal and kind of boring, but once we got to the meat of the story, which was about halfway through, I was all in.
I loved watching Conor and Taylor confront their own demons and insecurities head on and with each other's support. I thought it was actually pretty brilliant tohave them make the exact same mistake with each other. It put them on even ground and showed how irrational acting like that is, but also how it's so easy to fall into bad habits to protect yourself. Once the story had more depth, it really came alive. If the whole book had felt like that, it would honestly probably have gotten 5 stars, but as it is, the beginning was pretty meh and an amazing ending can only make up for so much.
I'm so excited to continue reading Elle Kennedy's other books. I'm glad I gave her another chance after feeling pretty neutral about The Deal. (Which I am planning to return to and reevaluate after loving so many of the other books in the series.)
I loved watching Conor and Taylor confront their own demons and insecurities head on and with each other's support. I thought it was actually pretty brilliant to
I'm so excited to continue reading Elle Kennedy's other books. I'm glad I gave her another chance after feeling pretty neutral about The Deal. (Which I am planning to return to and reevaluate after loving so many of the other books in the series.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment
ehunt's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
shaesensual's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
"I'm too young to be this unhappy, and too loved to be this alone"
This quote really describes my change of heart about the final 15% of this book because this felt like something the main character had already discovered before reaching this point in the story.
Light spoilers ahead, but I've got a lot to rant about. So much time is spent building a foundation of trust, support, and honesty between these characters only for that to be thrown away in an instant. Not only do things blow up again, Taylor then takes the unnecessary step of insulting all of Conor's deepest insecurities. Taylor struggles with her self image due to her weight, which I wish took up less of this book because she's a more dynamic character than that, but when Conor has his own turmoil, he doesn't start calling her fat and saying nobody could possibly want to be with her. Taylor, on the other hand, says things to Conor that I might consider unforgivable even taking into consideration the circumstances. Her actions were just to harm him and it felt like taking 1,000 steps backwards in their growth as a couple. And he somehow manages to immediately forgive her and even says she was right. Additionally, there is a lot of gratitude for Conor's reaction in this final section of the book as if its so remarkable, but I can't honestly imagine an adult who would have reacted any differently. This book would have received a 4.25/4.5 rating from me without this major shift towards the end or bad just ended after the gala conflict.
Really wish this had a stronger ending overall as this was the weakest book in the series.
The positives: the fake relationship into real was really great. I loved all the "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" comments when they were still both unsure. I thought their flirting dynamic and conversations together were fun and cute. Overall a really fun couple to read about.
The spice was spicy in this book! I loved seeing repeated scenes of foreplay leading up to their first time having sex. Standalone, these scenes are great but the fact that their first time happens immediately following the biggest fight in their relationship and Conor's sudden change of heart makes it less sexy than it could have been because that conflict is still right there. And, in all honesty, I had no interest in the final sex scene after Taylor gets sexually exploited. The resolution with Conor and from that type of trauma was too quick for me. Not to mention “fuckturtles” was beyond weird.
This quote really describes my change of heart about the final 15% of this book because this felt like something the main character had already discovered before reaching this point in the story.
Light spoilers ahead, but I've got a lot to rant about. So much time is spent building a foundation of trust, support, and honesty between these characters only for that to be thrown away in an instant. Not only do things blow up again, Taylor then takes the unnecessary step of insulting all of Conor's deepest insecurities. Taylor struggles with her self image due to her weight, which I wish took up less of this book because she's a more dynamic character than that, but when Conor has his own turmoil, he doesn't start calling her fat and saying nobody could possibly want to be with her. Taylor, on the other hand, says things to Conor that I might consider unforgivable even taking into consideration the circumstances. Her actions were just to harm him and it felt like taking 1,000 steps backwards in their growth as a couple. And he somehow manages to immediately forgive her and even says she was right. Additionally, there is a lot of gratitude for Conor's reaction in this final section of the book as if its so remarkable, but I can't honestly imagine an adult who would have reacted any differently. This book would have received a 4.25/4.5 rating from me without this major shift towards the end or bad just ended after the gala conflict.
Really wish this had a stronger ending overall as this was the weakest book in the series.
The positives: the fake relationship into real was really great. I loved all the "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" comments when they were still both unsure. I thought their flirting dynamic and conversations together were fun and cute. Overall a really fun couple to read about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Misogyny, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Dysphoria
tannerlauren's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
bcvogel90's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
skyhazzard's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
5.0
I think this was my favorite out of the series but just by a little bit cause I also loved book 3.
I really enjoyed how Conor and Taylor just liked spending time together. Their fake dating really didn’t last that long because it developed into something real and they both decided to just take a chance on it. Conor was just in it from that first night they spent talking to each other. He never once (excluding when he got dumped and drunk, which yes slight disappointment in him but he was really so far gone he barely remembered what had happened during that 12 hour missing period) thought about seeing anyone else just wanted to keep hanging out with her. And I love how comfortable Taylor was with him, she gained some more confidence hanging out with him and his friends.
Omg his friends were ride or die for her. They wanted to come on her makeover montage and all had thoughts about what new looks she should try. And they were ready to fight for her when the time came, I was just like these boys. Oh and Coach Jensen dating Taylor’s mom lol! That provided some good moments.
I am sad we never got to witness the pig mascot…
I really enjoyed how Conor and Taylor just liked spending time together. Their fake dating really didn’t last that long because it developed into something real and they both decided to just take a chance on it. Conor was just in it from that first night they spent talking to each other. He never once (excluding when he got dumped and drunk, which yes slight disappointment in him but he was really so far gone he barely remembered what had happened during that 12 hour missing period) thought about seeing anyone else just wanted to keep hanging out with her. And I love how comfortable Taylor was with him, she gained some more confidence hanging out with him and his friends.
Omg his friends were ride or die for her. They wanted to come on her makeover montage and all had thoughts about what new looks she should try. And they were ready to fight for her when the time came, I was just like these boys. Oh and Coach Jensen dating Taylor’s mom lol! That provided some good moments.
I am sad we never got to witness the pig mascot…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, and Alcohol
amanda994's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
catastrophiclyss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia