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kb33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sora doesn’t seem to have learned anything at all from solo February. The point was to find and add value to her own life without a man, but the moment she thinks things are over with Jack, it’s “Jack betrayed me. My life is desolate and empty. Who cares about a job that I’m not sure I even wanted in the first place?”
The only reason this is getting this rating is because the writing style was good. While the mfc was so seriously flawed and desperately needed therapy - and not just a therapist best friend - she seemed like a real person, and the story flowed.
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Miscarriage
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
dogoodwithbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
2.5
Sora Reid has had enough with love. Having had strings of bad relationship to another, Sora decides to kick off a month-long #GoSolo journey in February and highlight those experiences at her freelancing gig. Sure, running into old childhood friend, Jack Mann, might make
The Second You’re Single isn’t necessarily bad. But it’s not great. When I first heard about the book, I thought that it would be a really cool concept. Though, when I got deep into the book, I don’t think Tanamachi really met my expectations.
One of the things I’ve noticed is that a lot of the characters seem to be the “pick me” type. Sure, there were some exceptions (i.e. Stella) and even Sora at times didn’t fall into the “pick me” trope. But there were too many “pick me” characters to the point where they just sounded annoying or desperate. Worst of all of them were Mal, and I really didn’t like her as a character.
Also, most of the dialogue felt either forced and/or over exaggerated. I get with rom-coms that some things have to go a certain way to fit a particular trope. But Tanamachi writes characters saying things that I don’t feel like most people would actually say. Again, I think this goes into characters either sounding annoying or desperate complaints I mentioned earlier.
Though, there were some things that Tanamachi gets right in this book. One, this book is VERY witty/funny. I think because of Sora's blunt and sometimes sarcastic take on things really helps get this to be a decent read. I also think Sora does go through a really good character development and how she ultimately finds herself. Also, no one can tell me that the epilogue was NOT adorable.
Overall, I don’t think The Second You’re Single is a bad read, but I don’t know if I would read it again either. I think that there were less “pick me” characters and somewhat realistic dialogue, I think would have rated this book higher. Though, if you like books with a sarcastic MC trying to somehow find herself, maybe you can get something out of this book.
Graphic: Body shaming and Infidelity
Moderate: Miscarriage and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Pandemic/Epidemic
elfit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I loved the Asian representation from both main characters, their family dynamics (especially Allie and all her glitter glory), and just the way Sora works through everything. I found myself nodding or saving passages of wisdom.
Over all this one made me happy. It is a comfortable rom-com filled with bacon, annoying exes, and misunderstandings. Just feel goods all around.
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
puria's review
Graphic: Fatphobia
Minor: Infidelity
arbertram10's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage
loveinpanels's review against another edition
- The narrators were great! Cindy Kay and Michael Braun did a great job, especially with the humor.
- The premise was fun. I love a flimsy excuse to keep characters apart, especially when it dissolves quickly. In this case, it's there on the tin - Sora has pledged not to date at all for the month of February and is writing about it for her job. Of course that's when she's reunited with a former friend from elementary school who's grown up to be a sexy baker.
- The friendships were good, too.
- The main characters had genuine chemistry and their banter was cute.
What I didn't like:
- Sora has a near constant commentary about food and bodies. For someone who is supposedly accepting of her size 14 body and refuses to diet, she's talking and thinking about food all the time and judging everyone's bodies. Even when she's thinking they're hot! At one point, she thinks about how Jack has a little beer belly, but not "a gross one."
- All the women except Sora's best friend are awful (or at least not nice), including Sora's mom, who is size 18 and dislikes her body enough to also make Sora feel terrible about hers. (I *know* this is a really common dynamic, but I don't want to read it with everything else.)
I would absolutely try another book by Cara Tanamachi because I think she's got a lot of skill, but the constant body and food talk was really offputting. I came away from every reading session feeling bad about myself and I think readers who have a history of disordered eating should assess their current state of mind before diving into this one.
Thanks to RB Media for a review copy of this audiobook.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer
carolynlovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Minor: Infidelity and Miscarriage
chymerra's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- Sora—While I loved her character, I thought she was a hot mess for most of the book. I did think that she was depressed for a good part of the book, and guess what? She had reason to be. She had a tough few years with some awful things happening to her. I would have been surprised if she wasn’t depressed. She couldn’t trust her feelings when it came to Jack (because his ex was semi-stalking him), and she needed to be single until March 1st. Again, I wasn’t surprised when everything blew up in her face. But it was after that made me impressed with her. Oh, and her love of bacon. I think she and my 9-year-old would get along great. She also cut through the BS when it came to her sister. But I wish that it had been sooner.
- Jack–Did he have his issues? He did. He comes across as too needy and a little desperate at the beginning of the book. He was also too kind to his ex. He took everything that woman did with grace and understanding; that was amazing. I also liked that he understood Sora’s situation with solo February. But I didn’t think he got how big it was until he was forced to the side and hidden away. I didn’t blame him for feeling the way he did. I would have done the same thing.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Stalking
Moderate: Infidelity and Miscarriage
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Child abuse consisted of verbal abuse and neglect.hellowildflower's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Bullying and Miscarriage
Minor: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment