Reviews

Chaotic Good by Whitney Gardner

mhuang's review against another edition

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4.0

Aah, this was just so much fun!!

katnortonwriter's review against another edition

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adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

There was a lot to like about the D&D aspects of this story, and the commentary on doxxing and nerd culture. The end, though… the end really bothered me, in large part because a character who has been gross and toxic the whole book just… gets a pass? And Cam never really reckons with some of her own internalized misogyny. It was okay, but I wanted more from the ending. It felt very rushed.

roeckitcody's review against another edition

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5.0

I've decided that Whitney Gardner's novels are perfectly my style.

This book is wholesomely nerdy. Dungeons & Dragons and Cosplay. It's the most beautifully nerdy thing I've read in a long time.

the art reminded me of Noelle Stevenson's NIMONA, and the story inside matched the heart of it all. I absolutely loved Cam, her grit, her love for costume making.

Cam is one of those girls that is determined and committed to anything she does. and I loved that about her.

I loved loved loved her twin Cooper and really felt for him. My favorite little gay boy. <3

and I loved Why even more.

Lincoln was the purest boy who I also loved to death.

I loved everything about this book.

If I had to officially blurb it it would say this:

"A nerdy feminist tale perfect for fans of NIMONA. With queer side characters, CHAOTIC GOOD shines in more ways than one. Filled with heart, humor, and nerdy goodness- CHAOTIC GOOD will carefully open your heart and sew it back together with the characters inside. Unforgettable, lovable, and just so fun. You need this in your life."

captainsillypants's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted

4.25

cibani's review

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hopeful 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

4.0

bugprince's review against another edition

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5.0

I really liked reading about a cosplayer, because that's something I'm interested in but never see in published books. When I first started reading it I was scared that it would end up being like overdramatic about the patriarchy and feminism (a weird fear in the first place), but it turned out to be really accurate from my experience, and I thought that was a really nice issue to address as a person who has experienced sexism. I genuinely really liked this book, and it inspired me to read again this year.

akookieforyou's review against another edition

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3.0

*3.5*

“I can curl my hair and paint my nails and wear my hand-sewn summer dresses. I can roll dice and design costumes for heroes and flip through comic books. All as myself. Finally.”

There's a bunch of stuff about this book that made my little geeky heart sing, like for instance, all the awesome references, the dope sounding costumes, and how the author made me mesmerized by a game I've never played before in my life. I'm a sucker for gender bender plots, and this one definitely didn't fail me in that department. The only thing that kept this book from being higher rated was the last quarter. The conflict felt extremely forced, and for the most part, the ending was a bit of a let down. I wish that those aspects could've been done better, but overall still a really good read.

dembury's review against another edition

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5.0

I adored Gardner's other contemporary, "You're Welcome, Universe" and this book delivered another wonderful heap of girl-powered wit and charm in the form of cosplay-loving Cameron. I think this is very smartly written YA that brought up issues of sexism, girls in the "nerd" universe, and dealing with online harassment, all while balancing the heavier issues out with utterly delightful D&D scenes and cute romance (and family!) moments.
Sure, "Chaotic Good" is a little silly at times; the main plot revolves around Cameron dressing up as a boy in order to shop for comics in peace. But the book acknowledges that silliness with a couple "She's the Man" references and the whole story just becomes even more realistic. It's a great pairing of fluffy sweetness and teenage struggles, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys books like "Fangirl" or "Queens of Geek". I read the whole book in one setting and have officially added Whitney Gardner to my Favorite Authors list- can't wait to see what she does next! :)

thisboricuareader's review against another edition

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3.0

I had a couple of issues with this book, I do want to think its because of the time when it was written. Like I guess her wanting to get acceptance of men in the cosplay community or gammer community to some point bothers me because I don't need men to accept me. 

izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition

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2.0

2.5/5

I found the book to be ok, there wasn't anything really that stood out to me that could have been a fun surprise.