champagne_reads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
From the start I was thinking this was going to be a really strong 4 star read, but the end ruined for me.
From the beginning I was drawn into the story. POC MC with anxiety? Her realtionship with her borther? School that encourages art? Understanding love interest? Sign me up. There were so many moments where I related to Tessa in many ways. She is a person that is hard on herself, but she’s pretty understandable. She is able to get over some red flags, but she is not able to solve a problem even if her life depended on it. That’s what ruined it for me.
When we’re faced with problems near the end of the book THEY DON’T GET RESOLVED AT ALL. There was not any closure. It felt like you turned off a 2000s rom com 10 minutes before the end. I understand that maybe the point was to show the process of learning to love yourself, but with that you just have to solve the problems.
On the other hand, side characters were amazing. The setting is this school for talented artists which includes a whole variety of people (writers, painters, bakers, dancers…). Tessa’s friends were amazing. Sam was amazing. I want a Sam in my life. That is probably what fixed the book for me. Nico was insufferable tho. I think it’s enough to mention that he said he wanted to be like J. K. Rowling and after he was called out he basically ignored it. His whole friend group was awful.
I’m kind of disappointed this didn’t go the way I wanted it to. Anyway it’s still a book I’d reccommend to everyone who’s looking for a fun read with funny side characters, but you’ll lose your nerves.
From the beginning I was drawn into the story. POC MC with anxiety? Her realtionship with her borther? School that encourages art? Understanding love interest? Sign me up. There were so many moments where I related to Tessa in many ways. She is a person that is hard on herself, but she’s pretty understandable. She is able to get over some red flags, but she is not able to solve a problem even if her life depended on it. That’s what ruined it for me.
When we’re faced with problems near the end of the book THEY DON’T GET RESOLVED AT ALL. There was not any closure. It felt like you turned off a 2000s rom com 10 minutes before the end. I understand that maybe the point was to show the process of learning to love yourself, but with that you just have to solve the problems.
On the other hand, side characters were amazing. The setting is this school for talented artists which includes a whole variety of people (writers, painters, bakers, dancers…). Tessa’s friends were amazing. Sam was amazing. I want a Sam in my life. That is probably what fixed the book for me. Nico was insufferable tho. I think it’s enough to mention that he said he wanted to be like J. K. Rowling and after he was called out he basically ignored it. His whole friend group was awful.
I’m kind of disappointed this didn’t go the way I wanted it to. Anyway it’s still a book I’d reccommend to everyone who’s looking for a fun read with funny side characters, but you’ll lose your nerves.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Transphobia
quil's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
The story took a long time to get going, and the MC The MC’s friends and family were all much more likeable, and I’d rather read about them.
Spoiler
spent most of the book being self absorbed and lying to everyone she cares about. It seemed like she was aware she was making bad choices but she didn’t care enough to change until the very end. I was disappointed that after she realizes how much she cares for Sam, she still goes to the gala with Nico because he was persistent and Sam wasn’t answering her texts or calls.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Ableism, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
CW: deadnaming. One of the side characters deadnames Elliot Page. It was published after he came out so someone at the publisher should have caught that before going to print even if the scene was written before he came out, and they could have fixed it in the audiobook but they didn’t.
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