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_b0ok_l0v3r's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Good clean romance starter book for 10+
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Toxic friendship
tinysierra's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I went through a big Kasie West phase in like 2017. What I love about her books is that they’re very lighthearted and easy reads.
They may have a tiny bit of social commentary, (The Fill-in Boyfriend talked about social media addiction) but they’re not the most profound stories you’ll read, and that’s okay.
Gia has a lot of privilege as a popular white student body president with a well off family. Her problems compared to what other people are going through in real life are kind of… basic. Even in the story, (offscreen) one of her other friends is dealing with fighting with her mother, her mother dating terrible men, and having to move out because of that. I don’t mean to say that Gia’s problems are not a big deal but… they are not that intense. Sometimes you need to read something fluffy, so I enjoyed the story nonetheless.
I love the fake dating trope. I loved Hayden and Bec as characters. I liked seeing Hayden and Gia’s developing friendship to relationship. Gia’s character development was nice to see.
I did not love seeing a college Junior dating/breaking up with a high school Senior. Yikes.
The characters are not very diverse. One of Gia’s friends is Asian, but we only know that because they talk about her “magic Asian hair” not being messed up by the sea salt after surfing.
They may have a tiny bit of social commentary, (The Fill-in Boyfriend talked about social media addiction) but they’re not the most profound stories you’ll read, and that’s okay.
Gia has a lot of privilege as a popular white student body president with a well off family. Her problems compared to what other people are going through in real life are kind of… basic. Even in the story, (offscreen) one of her other friends is dealing with fighting with her mother, her mother dating terrible men, and having to move out because of that. I don’t mean to say that Gia’s problems are not a big deal but… they are not that intense. Sometimes you need to read something fluffy, so I enjoyed the story nonetheless.
I love the fake dating trope. I loved Hayden and Bec as characters. I liked seeing Hayden and Gia’s developing friendship to relationship. Gia’s character development was nice to see.
I did not love seeing a college Junior dating/breaking up with a high school Senior. Yikes.
The characters are not very diverse. One of Gia’s friends is Asian, but we only know that because they talk about her “magic Asian hair” not being messed up by the sea salt after surfing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
myahstover's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship