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pinetree_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
There are things I liked about this book and things that I didn't liked about it.
At first I found it quite boring since it reminded me of a Netflix series (Riverdale). There was a lot of swearing in the beginning and it threw me off a bit. Only about 3/5 in on the book it started to get interesting for me. Overall the Characters were promising - especially when you get to the middle - but some choices were weird. It didn't feel right.
Plus there were some plot points and revelation I felt like they didn't really fit. Like:
(For instance I didn't vibe with Brian suddenly being Zoey's Dad or Ashton suddenly being a Stalker and trying to kill her.)
In the end I can confidently say that it indeed is like Riverdale (but in gay). Characters that would be great if they were written just a tad different with more depth. Plot lines that seem random even if they make sense. It gives you the feeling of a mid series that you still watch because somehow you're still hooked on it. At least that's what I think is Riverdale about.
At first I found it quite boring since it reminded me of a Netflix series (Riverdale). There was a lot of swearing in the beginning and it threw me off a bit. Only about 3/5 in on the book it started to get interesting for me. Overall the Characters were promising - especially when you get to the middle - but some choices were weird. It didn't feel right.
Plus there were some plot points and revelation I felt like they didn't really fit. Like:
In the end I can confidently say that it indeed is like Riverdale (but in gay). Characters that would be great if they were written just a tad different with more depth. Plot lines that seem random even if they make sense. It gives you the feeling of a mid series that you still watch because somehow you're still hooked on it. At least that's what I think is Riverdale about.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Car accident
Minor: Death of parent
briochebun's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
2.5 out of 5 ☆’s.
“And whatever fate has in store, we write our own legends now.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚
I was really looking forward to this one — but unfortunately it ended up falling a bit flat for me…:(
I ultimately wanted more from this world & more from its characters (Parry + Brian are an exception to this — I adored them).
There were a lot of times throughout ”Love & Other Cursed Things” where I was frustrated with the characters and their actions (October continuing to be friends with Amelia even though she treats Zoey poorly was extremely frustrating & I’m glad Parry mentioned this to Zoey).
I will say that I did enjoy the latter portion of the novel — but I wish the energy that the final 20% (or so) had was carried throughout the rest of the other 80% as well…
ੈ✩‧₊˚
I would love to receive a Parry + Brian novel one day. ♡
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
lynrose99's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Death and Car accident
banrions's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
This really hit the spot, for me. I wavered between a 4 and a 5 star rating and while usually I tend to round down, this time, I went up. (Also because it’s 4am and I just finished reading and I VERY much should be asleep). I just had so much fun with this, and honestly, I was so pleasantly surprised by this book coming from these authors.
I’ve read everything they’ve put out, and honestly, I have not usually been the target audience, and often, slogged through books I never would have picked up if I hadn’t already latched onto characters a long time ago. Usually, these authors write Hetero (and occasionally MLM) romances, so to finally get something sapphic from them had me both very excited and a little wary. Wary only because a lot of the romances they do tell aren’t usually my cup of tea. I care about the characters, siblings, and friendships they built more in they’re other books most of the time. But with this, I just loved it all.
October is the perfect character for me to fall in love with. A protective ice queen with a soft side is ALWAYS my fictional kryptonite. And she hit so many of my buttons and I was in love with her pretty much from her introduction. That only grew as the story went on and we saw more of her. I really liked Zoey a lot too, and their romance was both really sweet and angsty. Kind of the perfect combo of it, for me. I actually enjoyed the mystery elements of the story, the whole cursed town thing, and I grew to care about the world that these two were in and all of their relationships. Like their other books, there’s a lot of drama and it’s not centered in realism, but it’s not meant to be. I know this is meant to be a standalone, and it ends at a pretty great spot and is wrapped up, but I’d love to see more of this from these authors again. At least hopefully more of something sapphic. Especially now that I know they can do it. And with more characters like October.
I’ve read everything they’ve put out, and honestly, I have not usually been the target audience, and often, slogged through books I never would have picked up if I hadn’t already latched onto characters a long time ago. Usually, these authors write Hetero (and occasionally MLM) romances, so to finally get something sapphic from them had me both very excited and a little wary. Wary only because a lot of the romances they do tell aren’t usually my cup of tea. I care about the characters, siblings, and friendships they built more in they’re other books most of the time. But with this, I just loved it all.
October is the perfect character for me to fall in love with. A protective ice queen with a soft side is ALWAYS my fictional kryptonite. And she hit so many of my buttons and I was in love with her pretty much from her introduction. That only grew as the story went on and we saw more of her. I really liked Zoey a lot too, and their romance was both really sweet and angsty. Kind of the perfect combo of it, for me. I actually enjoyed the mystery elements of the story, the whole cursed town thing, and I grew to care about the world that these two were in and all of their relationships. Like their other books, there’s a lot of drama and it’s not centered in realism, but it’s not meant to be. I know this is meant to be a standalone, and it ends at a pretty great spot and is wrapped up, but I’d love to see more of this from these authors again. At least hopefully more of something sapphic. Especially now that I know they can do it. And with more characters like October.
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, and Stalking
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