danielcrogers's review
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug use, Excrement, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
neetarattan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a cute read. You'll love it if you are a superfan of SNL, which is dubbed "TNO" in the book. Sally is a seasoned writer for the show and Noah is a celebrity host and musical guest. The first chapter provides a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of production from writing to pitching to editing to rehearsal and finally culminates in the live episode’s filming.
I tandem read: audio & physical book. Complaint about the formatting: if you listen to the audiobook, be forewarned that the first chapter is some-250-odd-mins long, no joke. I'd have preferred it split into smaller chunks by date rather than 3 large chapters with no further granularity. The second chapter switches from diary- to email-format with literal html headers and from/to/date/time/subject lines. The concept of having a COVID pen-pal is cute until it goes on too long to the point they're talking past each other and one wonders how they haven't moved this to at least voice if not video chat.
When they finally meet up in Chapter 3 I find myself smiling and rooting for them, despite the fact that this a highly improbable pairing. Noah is too good to be true, and the Danny Horst rule less far-fetched than I'd like it to be. The MMC being a hunky, ripped, surfer-like heart-throb, propelled to fame as a teen, with gals and paparazzi throwing themselves at him wherever he goes, makes it hard to fathom that even if he did notice and appreciate Sally's talent, that he would fall so hard and so fast after knowing her for a period of less than a week. It might have been less dubious for him to have emailed her out of regret for what could have been after 2 years of no comms, had she not been rude, cold, condescending, and generally unpleasant to him. Not to mention that she's a bit of a plain-Jain.
Still, I was able to suspend my disbelief and flew through the second half. It was funny. There was a depth to it. It highlighted real issues, insecurities.
I tandem read: audio & physical book. Complaint about the formatting: if you listen to the audiobook, be forewarned that the first chapter is some-250-odd-mins long, no joke. I'd have preferred it split into smaller chunks by date rather than 3 large chapters with no further granularity. The second chapter switches from diary- to email-format with literal html headers and from/to/date/time/subject lines. The concept of having a COVID pen-pal is cute until it goes on too long to the point they're talking past each other and one wonders how they haven't moved this to at least voice if not video chat.
Spoiler
When they finally meet up in Chapter 3 I find myself smiling and rooting for them, despite the fact that this a highly improbable pairing. Noah is too good to be true, and the Danny Horst rule less far-fetched than I'd like it to be. The MMC being a hunky, ripped, surfer-like heart-throb, propelled to fame as a teen, with gals and paparazzi throwing themselves at him wherever he goes, makes it hard to fathom that even if he did notice and appreciate Sally's talent, that he would fall so hard and so fast after knowing her for a period of less than a week. It might have been less dubious for him to have emailed her out of regret for what could have been after 2 years of no comms, had she not been rude, cold, condescending, and generally unpleasant to him. Not to mention that she's a bit of a plain-Jain.
Still, I was able to suspend my disbelief and flew through the second half. It was funny. There was a depth to it. It highlighted real issues, insecurities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Death of parent
carla20's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction
thaliareads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
This was a fun read. It had slow burn, it had instant love, it was giving "You've got Mail" vibes, and it had a strong FMC.
Personally, in most cases I'm not a big fan of miscommunication or in the case of this book the intentional sabotaging of a (potential) relationship over having a hard conversation. I also got a bit thrown off when the setting shifted to the pandemic. It turned out to be a great setting for the majority of the story, but it was a bit out of left field.
Personally, in most cases I'm not a big fan of miscommunication or in the case of this book the intentional sabotaging of a (potential) relationship over having a hard conversation. I also got a bit thrown off when the setting shifted to the pandemic. It turned out to be a great setting for the majority of the story, but it was a bit out of left field.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol
alcohol addiction is in reference to a character who is living with addiction, but is healthy and happy and alcohol free at the point the book takes place.kcbatts's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Addiction
TW: Covid in 2020cheypreston's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Death of parent
shannonnrosss's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
There was too much telling rather than showing, especially when it comes to Sally’s internal dialogue and character development. The romance was fun but not incredibly convincing, both Sally and Noah are kind of lukewarm. The political commentary felt one dimensional and performative while the pandemic plot took me out of the story. The epilogue felt like reading the conclusion paragraph to that college essay you wrote at 11:58 PM before it was due.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent, Sexism, Racism, and Addiction
sebondurant's review against another edition
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, Alcoholism, Addiction, Dysphoria, and Excrement
penandpaper's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Interesting premise - disappointing execution. There are a few annoying tropes (insta love, miscommunication, and a perfect love interest who ever makes the wrong move) and particular disappointments (the attempt to be politically correct without any self-awareness). But on the whole, it’s just disappointing. I can’t say there’s any of the growth you expect, nor can I say the romance was particularly gratifying when it’s just awkward until the very end. Realistic, maybe, but frustrating, definitely. The final pages made me happy, but I almost DNFed the book multiple times. I wish this had been just a little bit different because it had potential.
For me, COVID is also a trigger, so the explicit illness was too almost much.
For me, COVID is also a trigger, so the explicit illness was too almost much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Addiction, Terminal illness, Suicide, Eating disorder, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexism
ncoletti'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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism