jillybean357's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book, so much. The premise as described by the author is so promising! However… this book felt SO repetitive. I really like the representation and the discussion of race in culture… but the entire middle of the book didn’t seem to evolve anywhere. Most of the book, the characters were doing the same things to try and solve the same problems. The main character spent a lot of time calling other characters out for being self-centered, but I think they were the most self-centered of all. The writing was also a little juvenile. The ending was nice even though it was definitely predictable. Definitely wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read… but… I can’t say it was the best.
bridgetlamington's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.5
cateslittlelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
fast-moving, interesting, and characters i could root for. ace rep!! non-binary rep!! i loved the setting of this story, the problems they were facing, and the contrast between frey & greta. only thing is that we were moving so fast between issues i felt like i didn’t have time to breathe. their love story made it work though!
lio_clementine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
imdunn's review against another edition
3.0
*2.5
This was the lowest rated book on my TBR. I wouldn't say it's the worst book I've ever read, but it certainly wasn't great.
This was the lowest rated book on my TBR. I wouldn't say it's the worst book I've ever read, but it certainly wasn't great.
habanana's review against another edition
3.0
*I don't usually review stuff and other reviews are probably much better worded and portray why this book was not well received, this is just my thoughts.
I read the book and had a fairly good time reading it, but the book's positives do not outweigh the author's past comments and the book's downsides (flat characters, predictable, occasionally tone-deaf MC, weird pacing). I enjoyed being able to see someone like myself- asexual but still interested in romantic relationships- but it felt lacking. A lot of issues dealing with the perception of gender and sexuality were tackled in the book, but I don't think it served those issues true justice. While I had a fine time reading it, I wish I had looked up the author or read reviews before.
I read the book and had a fairly good time reading it, but the book's positives do not outweigh the author's past comments and the book's downsides (flat characters, predictable, occasionally tone-deaf MC, weird pacing). I enjoyed being able to see someone like myself- asexual but still interested in romantic relationships- but it felt lacking. A lot of issues dealing with the perception of gender and sexuality were tackled in the book, but I don't think it served those issues true justice. While I had a fine time reading it, I wish I had looked up the author or read reviews before.
wackyykacky's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
emuhleesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I think the concept of this book––finding oneself and navigating queer identity––is great, and I was really excited to see some asexual representation in one of the characters, but as the story progressed, I became more disappointed than anything else.
Firstly, the pacing was off a lot of the time. There were scenes that should have been more fleshed out (such as the beginning) but weren't, and there were scenes that could've been a bit quicker (towards the end), yet, they dragged on. Overall, I just didn't feel like there was a good balance in the pacing, and that hinders readers' opportunities to understand and connect with the characters on a deeper level.
I wasn't totally a fan of the main character, Frey, either. They seemed very irritating and had a savior complex for the entire book. Additionally, I'm not part of the trans or nonbinary community, so I can't speak much about that aspect of their identity and self-discovery, but I do wish readers got to see the same journey for Greta's asexuality as we do for Frey's trans/nonbinary identity. I really wish we had gotten to dig deeper into Greta's character and I feel that a dual POV might've helped strengthen a lot of the issues with the main character being irritating, as well as give Greta more of a voice as well; being in only Frey's mind every chapter made the book fall flat.
I also felt kind of weird about the (many) scenes/lines where Frey is confronted by the idea of racism existing in their show, and still turns a blind eye to it. There is one time where they even say "I never noticed it," but there were a few other mentions of racism being present in the storylines and scripts previously, so it just seems like willful ignorance at that point.
But I still am very grateful for the opportunity to read an arc of this book!
Firstly, the pacing was off a lot of the time. There were scenes that should have been more fleshed out (such as the beginning) but weren't, and there were scenes that could've been a bit quicker (towards the end), yet, they dragged on. Overall, I just didn't feel like there was a good balance in the pacing, and that hinders readers' opportunities to understand and connect with the characters on a deeper level.
I wasn't totally a fan of the main character, Frey, either. They seemed very irritating and had a savior complex for the entire book. Additionally, I'm not part of the trans or nonbinary community, so I can't speak much about that aspect of their identity and self-discovery, but I do wish readers got to see the same journey for Greta's asexuality as we do for Frey's trans/nonbinary identity. I really wish we had gotten to dig deeper into Greta's character and I feel that a dual POV might've helped strengthen a lot of the issues with the main character being irritating, as well as give Greta more of a voice as well; being in only Frey's mind every chapter made the book fall flat.
I also felt kind of weird about the (many) scenes/lines where Frey is confronted by the idea of racism existing in their show, and still turns a blind eye to it. There is one time where they even say "I never noticed it," but there were a few other mentions of racism being present in the storylines and scripts previously, so it just seems like willful ignorance at that point.
But I still am very grateful for the opportunity to read an arc of this book!
violetdisposition's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Transphobia
misgendering of mc