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cebales's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
3.0
April is a plus-sized, nerdy geologist who enjoys writing fan fiction and cosplaying her favorite TV show. Marcus is a popular actor who enjoys writing fan fiction to correct what he doesn't like about the TV show in which he stars. In a You've Got Mail-related twist, April and Marcus are best friends online but don't know the other's identity when they meet in person.
The good: I enjoyed the plus-sized representation in this book and loved April's confidence! I enjoyed that April and Marcus were older than your standard romance book protagonists. Overall, they had great chemistry, and I loved seeing Marcus support April. I also loved the dual POV storytelling - I felt like that helped me understand both characters a lot more!
The good: I enjoyed the plus-sized representation in this book and loved April's confidence! I enjoyed that April and Marcus were older than your standard romance book protagonists. Overall, they had great chemistry, and I loved seeing Marcus support April. I also loved the dual POV storytelling - I felt like that helped me understand both characters a lot more!
The bad: As someone who isn’t into fan fiction, I found the heavy emphasis on it a bit overwhelming. The book sometimes read like it was fan fiction for Game of Thrones or some similar show. If you are in the fan fiction or cosplay world, you might connect with the book more than I did. I was frustrated with the "I can't tell you my big secret" bit. JUST TELL HER AND MOVE ON!! Additionally, April and Marcus exhibited a strong lack of communication with each other and their families. They were acting far too young and emotionally immature for their ages.
It wasn't my favorite book, and I wouldn't read it again, but if you are into fan fiction or cosplay, you might enjoy this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Minor: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse
mothmania's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
kickitupanotch7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
sharonclare's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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
4.25
April grew but not by much. Marcus and Alex are my favorite part! I like having the author added little script moments from the bad movies that Marcus says he was in. Some of them were hysterically awful. The “liar- revealed” trope is done often and usually not well, unfortunately the latter applies to this book. However, I really enjoyed the book overall! Being a plus sized woman myself, I found it a breath of fresh air when it comes to representation. I’m excited to read the sequel with Alex and Lauren.
7/10 📖 would recommend to a friend
7/10 📖 would recommend to a friend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
circe813's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
This book is so sweet! Any writer aiming to create stories where secrets are held for understandable (even if they are infuriating) reasons could take notes from this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
ahsokasbookshelf's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall I really liked this book. It was a fluffy romcom that was cute and entertaining and had the right amount of steam. I found the characters likable, the romantic tension was top notch, and I loved seeing a plus size lead! Was the premise of a Hollywood celebrity dating a super fan from the fandom a bit far fetched? You bet. But that personally does not bother me as it added to the fun of the story. I got major Notting Hill vibes from this book, which was super fun!
The cons: I think ultimately this book couldn’t decide how to incorporate some of its heavier emotional themes like the parental relationship issues and the fatphobia. I LOVE seeing a confident plus size lead, but I feel that some of April’s confidence was undercut by how severely and frequently she seemed to react to triggers (some of which were just basic miscommunications that could have been cleared up with a conversation). While April made it clear that she wanted to be loved not despite her body, or because of it, but rather for who she is, the narration often focused on her body size as a complication to their love story. As a plus size person myself, I can absolutely see how for some it could feel incomplete to tell this story without addressing the character’s body type differences and the fatphobia that would come with dating someone in the public eye. But for me it was a little too much. I already know that many people are unkind to those in larger bodies, and so I just don’t want to read about it in my escapism-feel-good-romcoms.
The cons: I think ultimately this book couldn’t decide how to incorporate some of its heavier emotional themes like the parental relationship issues and the fatphobia. I LOVE seeing a confident plus size lead, but I feel that some of April’s confidence was undercut by how severely and frequently she seemed to react to triggers (some of which were just basic miscommunications that could have been cleared up with a conversation). While April made it clear that she wanted to be loved not despite her body, or because of it, but rather for who she is, the narration often focused on her body size as a complication to their love story. As a plus size person myself, I can absolutely see how for some it could feel incomplete to tell this story without addressing the character’s body type differences and the fatphobia that would come with dating someone in the public eye. But for me it was a little too much. I already know that many people are unkind to those in larger bodies, and so I just don’t want to read about it in my escapism-feel-good-romcoms.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Emotional abuse
rlpdean's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
knunderb's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
Great read! I loved the chemistry between Marcus and April. And loved the fat representation and an example of a woman who sets firm boundaries and doesn't let others violate them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse
amanda_reads89's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
Marcus Caster-Rupp is a star in the popular TV show "Gods of the Gates", where he plays the demigod Aeneas. To get rid of his frustration over his character he secretly writes fanfiction anonymously. If someone finds out he’ll get fired.
April Whittier is a geologist and has always hid her fanfiction writing to everyone. But she's decided that hiding is over, and when she posts on Twitter her photo goes viral. Both supporters and trolls comment her plus size and when Marcus sees her picture he asks her on a date to spite her bullies.
I've already read "All the Feels", the second book in the series, but they play out at the same time, so it doesn't really matter in what order you read them.
I really like both characters, and the chemistry between them feels real, although they seem like an ill-matched couple. Marcus isn't only hiding his fanfic writing. He plays a role in public, to make everyone see him as a very handsome, but shallow and not too bright, actor. April is plus size, but proud of her body. I like the positive body attitude, but the author also shows what prejudice and snarky comments they often have to face. Marcus makes sure April knows that he loves her body just the way it is (the sex scenes are VERY explicit - it almost had me blushing in my solitude!).
I've never read fanfiction and don't know much about that world, so those parts I found quite uninteresting. Since this is a romantic comedy it was mostly predictable, but that's no real disadvantage in these kind of books. I'm being entertained for the most part, and Isabelle Ruther does an excellent job narrating. I definitely want to read "Ship Wrecked", the next book in the series!
April Whittier is a geologist and has always hid her fanfiction writing to everyone. But she's decided that hiding is over, and when she posts on Twitter her photo goes viral. Both supporters and trolls comment her plus size and when Marcus sees her picture he asks her on a date to spite her bullies.
I've already read "All the Feels", the second book in the series, but they play out at the same time, so it doesn't really matter in what order you read them.
I really like both characters, and the chemistry between them feels real, although they seem like an ill-matched couple. Marcus isn't only hiding his fanfic writing. He plays a role in public, to make everyone see him as a very handsome, but shallow and not too bright, actor. April is plus size, but proud of her body. I like the positive body attitude, but the author also shows what prejudice and snarky comments they often have to face. Marcus makes sure April knows that he loves her body just the way it is (the sex scenes are VERY explicit - it almost had me blushing in my solitude!).
I've never read fanfiction and don't know much about that world, so those parts I found quite uninteresting. Since this is a romantic comedy it was mostly predictable, but that's no real disadvantage in these kind of books. I'm being entertained for the most part, and Isabelle Ruther does an excellent job narrating. I definitely want to read "Ship Wrecked", the next book in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexual content