The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
slothwithglasses's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia and Mental illness
genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Dementia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
viireads's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia
eleanorpain's review against another edition
emotional
funny
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Mental illness
Moderate: Chronic illness
motaki's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Ableism
nerdysread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
A good romance a bit clichĂ© but lesbian. I had trouble sometimes with how Saoirse actedÂ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Mental illness, and Alcohol
hatterell's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an easy to read and quick YA contemporary that I picked up due to wanting to read more LGBT fiction this year.Â
Although this is primarily pitched as a summer romance (which it is), the strongest part of the book was Smyth's depiction of family. Saoirse's family situation, while not one that I've read before, felt accessible and realistic. I don't know if I've read anything where dementia features so heavily, and I'm pretty sure I've never read a book where a young person has a parent in a care home. I'd love to read Smyth's next book to see if the family representation is as successful.
The romantic storyline was a little more juvenile than the family one, but I thought Saoirse was a realistic 17 year old and I liked Ruby and the other characters from Saoirse's school. I also liked the normalisation of not wanting to go to uni, or taking some time out before you do - most of Saoirse's peers take a gap year to work or support their families. I wasn't overly invested in the romance, but it was sweet with lots of cutesy scenes, and I like how the book tackled learning to communicate with a partner.Â
Although this is primarily pitched as a summer romance (which it is), the strongest part of the book was Smyth's depiction of family. Saoirse's family situation, while not one that I've read before, felt accessible and realistic. I don't know if I've read anything where dementia features so heavily, and I'm pretty sure I've never read a book where a young person has a parent in a care home. I'd love to read Smyth's next book to see if the family representation is as successful.
The romantic storyline was a little more juvenile than the family one, but I thought Saoirse was a realistic 17 year old and I liked Ruby and the other characters from Saoirse's school. I also liked the normalisation of not wanting to go to uni, or taking some time out before you do - most of Saoirse's peers take a gap year to work or support their families. I wasn't overly invested in the romance, but it was sweet with lots of cutesy scenes, and I like how the book tackled learning to communicate with a partner.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Grief and Mental illness
readingpenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Cynical loner Saoirse and hopeless romantic Ruby agree to a series of fun romcom worthy dates with no strings attached, but soon find that you can't have a falling in love montage without falling in love.
Tropes and themes include:
Bad break up/Burned by love
Coming of age
Difficult Home life
Cynic and Romantic
Grand Gesture and Grovel
First a warning that while very romantic, this isn't a capital R capital N Romance Novel with an HEA or even HFN ending. It's more of a coming of age story for Saoirse, and falling in love is a part of it. Saoirse's mother suffers from dementia and lives in a care home. Her father is with a new woman. University is fast approaching. Saoirse has complicated feelings about all of this, and we follow her as she works through them with a back drop of fun outings and romance.
This book will work for you if you like a older YA, younger NA slice-of-life story. If you're looking for light and fluffy book, but grounded in the real world and dealing with some serious topics.
Tropes and themes include:
Bad break up/Burned by love
Coming of age
Difficult Home life
Cynic and Romantic
Grand Gesture and Grovel
First a warning that while very romantic, this isn't a capital R capital N Romance Novel with an HEA or even HFN ending. It's more of a coming of age story for Saoirse, and falling in love is a part of it. Saoirse's mother suffers from dementia and lives in a care home. Her father is with a new woman. University is fast approaching. Saoirse has complicated feelings about all of this, and we follow her as she works through them with a back drop of fun outings and romance.
This book will work for you if you like a older YA, younger NA slice-of-life story. If you're looking for light and fluffy book, but grounded in the real world and dealing with some serious topics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia and Mental illness
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