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booksandcoffeewithlexi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Vomit
chase0w0's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
this one is hard to rate for me b/c it will have the most beautifully written chapter of stevie trying her absolute fucking best followed by iris bumbling around making all the obviously-this-is-the-dumbest-choice choices … so prepare for whiplash?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
sophieacton's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
leadabird's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Ashley Herring Blake's Bright Falls novels are like reading Hallmark movies, but with lesbians! (And bisexuals with preferences for non-men! And token brown and nonbinary side characters!) Because the novels try so hard to be "woke," the fact that all of the main characters are cis white women stands out. I would love to see Blake branch out in future novels by bringing the trans/nonbinary characters and characters of color to center stage and allowing them to live fleshed out lives unrealistically supported by their rom-com jobs in the fantastically inclusive small-town world Blake has created...I could spend time more time critiquing the Bright Falls novels, or I could enjoy them for what they are, which are delightful, flawed, queer romance novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
author2223's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I loved the anxiety rep and did still enjoy this one, it was my least favourite of the 3 surprisingly. It was still a good read! Just not my favourite in the series.
It was great having the friend groups as big parts of it!
It was great having the friend groups as big parts of it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Anxiety is heavily featured, internalized trauma from past relationshipsmx_sunshine's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had fun reading this book. I love reading romances involving women. And I enjoyed the queer interpretation of Shakespeare.
But I feel that this book is the weakest of the Bright Falls Series.
The author employs questionable time jumps (2 weeks later and 6 months later) to skip over what would have been interesting scenes.
I really enjoyed Stevie, I thought she was written very well. I liked reading about how she dealt with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). I found it interesting that Stevie is the first character in this series to have a diagnosed mental illness, given queer people have higher risks of developing mental illness. GAD is also one of the most common conditions to appear with additional mental illnesses. So it is an interesting choice for Stevie to only have GAD. Stevie’s growth was the strongest. But there is a lack of development from side characters. They are brought in when convenient, to move the plot along.
I felt it was a bit unrealistic that Iris has suddenly become an author, as well as an artist. I found it hard to believe that Iris drew real scenes from memory.
Iris’ family were introduced all at once in the beginning. They are discarded for the length of the book, only to reappear near the ending. Interactions with friends are interwoven throughout, but it feels like they are sitting on the sidelines waiting to be called in. I didn’t feel like their lives were continuing outside of the main story.
I also didn’t believe the friendship between Vanessa, Adri, and Ren. The author makes a point to tell the reader about their 10 year friendship. But their bond isn’t shown.
Van also reads as a very flat character. She is extremely beautiful and friendly. Every character notes her beauty. She solely exists as Adri’s partner and is not developed on further.
The characters have always been conventionally attractive. I thought it was interesting that the non-binary character had such a strong feminine presentation. They consistently wore makeup, heels and nail polish.
The fake dating trope also wasn’t employed as I had expected. There wasn’t much yearning or uncertainty around potential unrequited feelings. It seemed to settle quite quickly as the protagonists suddenly realised their feelings.
While the cast of characters is technically diverse, I didn’t feel this was integral to the story. Majority of the characters are queer and white. POC are described as such, but it’s not mentioned again. Ren is Japanese American, Vanessa is Latin American, Emery is Black. The only case where someone being a POC influenced their life were brief mentions of how Vanessa taught Latin American literature and decorated her apartment with Latin American art.
As an aside - for how prevalent Iris’ freckles are in the story, I’m surprised they aren’t a part of her character design on the book’s cover.
Also interesting how the book has included no praise for itself and instead refers to praise of her previous two books.
But I feel that this book is the weakest of the Bright Falls Series.
The author employs questionable time jumps (2 weeks later and 6 months later) to skip over what would have been interesting scenes.
I really enjoyed Stevie, I thought she was written very well. I liked reading about how she dealt with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). I found it interesting that Stevie is the first character in this series to have a diagnosed mental illness, given queer people have higher risks of developing mental illness. GAD is also one of the most common conditions to appear with additional mental illnesses. So it is an interesting choice for Stevie to only have GAD. Stevie’s growth was the strongest. But there is a lack of development from side characters. They are brought in when convenient, to move the plot along.
I felt it was a bit unrealistic that Iris has suddenly become an author, as well as an artist. I found it hard to believe that Iris drew real scenes from memory.
Iris’ family were introduced all at once in the beginning. They are discarded for the length of the book, only to reappear near the ending. Interactions with friends are interwoven throughout, but it feels like they are sitting on the sidelines waiting to be called in. I didn’t feel like their lives were continuing outside of the main story.
I also didn’t believe the friendship between Vanessa, Adri, and Ren. The author makes a point to tell the reader about their 10 year friendship. But their bond isn’t shown.
Van also reads as a very flat character. She is extremely beautiful and friendly. Every character notes her beauty. She solely exists as Adri’s partner and is not developed on further.
The characters have always been conventionally attractive. I thought it was interesting that the non-binary character had such a strong feminine presentation. They consistently wore makeup, heels and nail polish.
The fake dating trope also wasn’t employed as I had expected. There wasn’t much yearning or uncertainty around potential unrequited feelings. It seemed to settle quite quickly as the protagonists suddenly realised their feelings.
While the cast of characters is technically diverse, I didn’t feel this was integral to the story. Majority of the characters are queer and white. POC are described as such, but it’s not mentioned again. Ren is Japanese American, Vanessa is Latin American, Emery is Black. The only case where someone being a POC influenced their life were brief mentions of how Vanessa taught Latin American literature and decorated her apartment with Latin American art.
As an aside - for how prevalent Iris’ freckles are in the story, I’m surprised they aren’t a part of her character design on the book’s cover.
Also interesting how the book has included no praise for itself and instead refers to praise of her previous two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
pixelpigeon's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There were a few parts of the plot that I thought were a little flimsy, but overall it's a really enjoyable love story with very vivid characters like the first 2 books. And of course, deliciously spicy scenes 🌶🌶🔥🔥
It ends the trio of books in a satisfying and sweet way.
It ends the trio of books in a satisfying and sweet way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Biphobia
shays's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Vomit
Graphic depictions of Stevie's general anxiety disorderreadwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date was such a fun time! Stevie and Iris are so adorable together, and I love their dynamic.
As a theatre maker I love reading books with actors in them, and this book did such a great job! I feel like the premise of the play was balanced really well within the book so that it didn’t overshadow the character growth and relationships.
Speaking of relationships, they’re all so good! Not only are Stevie and Iris adorable together, but I loved getting the friendship dynamics both from our beloved coven and from Stevie’s friends. Found families are just as important as blood relatives and life partners, and seeing those support systems was so lovely!
Read this book if you love
🩵 fake dating
🩶 anxiety rep
🩵 queer found family
🩶 theatre people
🩵 strong character development
I loved reading the Bright Falls books so much! I can’t wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars
As a theatre maker I love reading books with actors in them, and this book did such a great job! I feel like the premise of the play was balanced really well within the book so that it didn’t overshadow the character growth and relationships.
Speaking of relationships, they’re all so good! Not only are Stevie and Iris adorable together, but I loved getting the friendship dynamics both from our beloved coven and from Stevie’s friends. Found families are just as important as blood relatives and life partners, and seeing those support systems was so lovely!
Read this book if you love
🩵 fake dating
🩶 anxiety rep
🩵 queer found family
🩶 theatre people
🩵 strong character development
I loved reading the Bright Falls books so much! I can’t wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit
Minor: Infidelity