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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Took off a quarter point because consent in any sort of romantic activity is important, and I'm real bummed when books for young people don't model that. Like when Belly kisses Conrad when he is clearly not in a good frame of mind because his MOTHER HAS CANCER, that is so inappropriate! She didn't ask! He was clearly not okay! They hadn't talked about it beforehand! Also! What the fuck is up with Belly telling Cam that it's sO uNcOol to ask before you kiss someone! It is not! It makes sure that you're on the same page! It can be very romantic and adorable! It expresses vulnerability instead of dominance! Which is nice when you're like 13! I thought it was fine otherwise. As a person who tends to fall in love with everyone all the time, especially when I was younger, I think I would have been really into this book. Also, I think Ms. Tung is not the strongest narrator. I'm sure she did the part justice, but not every actor can be a narrator - they're different skills.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Why did one of the covers of this book totally whitewash Belly?zoe_archambault's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
it was cute but that was it. i guess im over young adult/teen romances cus it just feels so juvenile and basic and naive. also the audiobook narrator had a really annoying voice and kept laughing while delivering lines which made it hard to understand what was actually said. i think a different audio person would have made this easily a 3 or 3.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Suicidal thoughts
cnannery19's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
dblue236's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.0
By the time I got halfway through this book, it was glaringly apparent to me that I am not its target audience. But having said that, I can absolutely see its appeal for teenage girls and if I had read it 20-25 years ago, I probably would have adored it. It's well written and the characters are lovable, and once I learned to get past the massive amount of teen angst, I did enjoy the story. The "big reveal" toward the end was painfully obvious from about 20 pages in, but it was a good bit of escapism and overall I enjoyed it despite being too old and cynical for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
leexpen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
π SYNOPSIS:
Belly spends every summer at a beach house with her mother, brother, two beautiful boys, and their mother. Growing up, she mostly passed time at the house with the parents, but this year, everything changes.
ππΊοΈπΊππ₯πΊππ©βπ§βπ¦π©βπ¦βπ¦
ππ» RECOMMENDATION:
β₯οΈ SKIP it (and the Netflix show). You know this story already, and you can find other versions with better characters.
π¬ FAVORITE QUOTES:
Sometimes it's like people are a million times more beautiful to you in your mind. It's like you see them through a special lens. But maybe if it's how you see them, that's how they really are. It's like the whole tree falling in the forest thing.
My dad once told me that Winstone Churchill said that Russia was riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. According to my dad, Churchill had been talking about my mother. This was before the divorce, and he said it half-bitterly, half-respectfully. Because even when he hated her, he admired her.
So this was my power over her: my supposed innocence over her supposed sluttiness. It was all such BS. I would've traded my spot for hers in a second.
π FORMAT:
π§
π COMMENTS:
β’ This story is warm and cutesy, just what one expects from a romance, especially a teen romance. It follows the story beats you expect from a childhood friends-to-lovers story. Combined with the short, focused chapters, it's an easy read.
β’ The narrator does an amazing job of sounding like a sweet, excited teenager. It's a shame Belly is completely annoying and oblivious, and most of the cast is frustrating too. (Thank you, Susannah, for being the exveption!)
β’ There is a scene in which Belly says asking someone before kissing is awkward. I'd like to remark that consent is important, and Belly is wrong on this subject. If it feels awkward to ask or to say yes, you shouldn't be doing it yet!
β’ Toward the end of the book, the pacing is uncomfortably fast. There is a major reveal that readers hardly get any time to feel.
β’ NOTE: The plot and characters differ significantly from the Amazon series. They're only loosely similar. Amazon does it better, but they're both easy skips.
β’ This story is warm and cutesy, just what one expects from a romance, especially a teen romance. It follows the story beats you expect from a childhood friends-to-lovers story. Combined with the short, focused chapters, it's an easy read.
β’ The narrator does an amazing job of sounding like a sweet, excited teenager. It's a shame Belly is completely annoying and oblivious, and most of the cast is frustrating too. (Thank you, Susannah, for being the exveption!)
β’ There is a scene in which Belly says asking someone before kissing is awkward. I'd like to remark that consent is important, and Belly is wrong on this subject. If it feels awkward to ask or to say yes, you shouldn't be doing it yet!
β’ Toward the end of the book, the pacing is uncomfortably fast. There is a major reveal that readers hardly get any time to feel.
β’ NOTE: The plot and characters differ significantly from the Amazon series. They're only loosely similar. Amazon does it better, but they're both easy skips.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Drug use
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing
1721egp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Look, it's not bad. This is the kind of book you read while you're laying on the beach and need an easy vacation read or in the backseat during a roadtrip. There's no real plot, but it does end on a cliffhanger that makes you interested in seeing what happens next.
I would've liked to see more character development, for Belly to take some accountability for her actions, but again, I didn't dislike it. The concept is there for a great YA novel with some substance but it just doesn't perform.
I would've liked to see more character development, for Belly to take some accountability for her actions, but again, I didn't dislike it. The concept is there for a great YA novel with some substance but it just doesn't perform.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming and Death of parent
alicesayshi's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Grief
my3bb8's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
irenemayblack's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book was such a let down for me. I didn't go in with the highest of hopes, but with everyone who's read it and gotten into the new show, I expected more. The MC could have had less of a "nobody likes me and I'm always the underdog" attitude. I understand she's the little sister, the "girl" of the group, and sometimes gets left out. But her overall attitude and personality was very mary sue in my opinion. It could have been done better.
On a better note, it wasn't altogether bad if you enjoy a fast paced, light hearted quick read. This would be a good book to blow through for your reading goal in the summer. It just wasn't for me.
On a better note, it wasn't altogether bad if you enjoy a fast paced, light hearted quick read. This would be a good book to blow through for your reading goal in the summer. It just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness, Drug use, and Alcohol
scarlett_f's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood