inkyinsanity's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was such a fun, sweet read! I had a blast reading it and actually stayed up late on a work night to finish it, which is rare for me.
It's exactly what the summary makes it sound like, and I absolutely loved it. Darcy is wonderful to read about and her voice is hilarious and casual—it really feels like she's actually talking to the reader.
The romance is done well and I was surprised by just how much I was rooting for them, and how early! No instalove here, trust me. Just two terrified, completely oblivious teens having a blast or offering a shoulder when one of them needs to cry.
The friendships and side relationships were also great, and everything complemented the other plotlines and kept the story balanced. It's been a while since I can remember reading an ending that wrapped every plotline up effectively while also keeping it tense or fun as needed!
It's exactly what the summary makes it sound like, and I absolutely loved it. Darcy is wonderful to read about and her voice is hilarious and casual—it really feels like she's actually talking to the reader.
The romance is done well and I was surprised by just how much I was rooting for them, and how early! No instalove here, trust me. Just two terrified, completely oblivious teens having a blast or offering a shoulder when one of them needs to cry.
The friendships and side relationships were also great, and everything complemented the other plotlines and kept the story balanced. It's been a while since I can remember reading an ending that wrapped every plotline up effectively while also keeping it tense or fun as needed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
Liberal use of the Q slur—for those in areas where it's still an active slurpsliz's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
lovveee all the platonic, familial, and romantic relationships! such a fun read with very important topics!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Violence
Moderate: Biphobia, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Kidnapping, Acephobia/Arophobia, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Lesbophobia, Drug use, and Vomit
genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Cursing
Minor: Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
lchambers394's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
This book was so charming. A perfect high school romance, its characters shone. Distinct, complicated, and likeable, all of the main characters were a joy to get to know. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship advice and I liked that the author wasn’t scared to raise the stakes. Characters messing up really messed up, and the pay off was so cathartic. Sadly, I feel like a conversation between Darcy and Brooke was missing at the end to truly tie everything together. It would have been useful if the final chapter was labelled as an epilogue. Overall, however, this book exceeded my expectations. It was an enjoyable read and I’ll keep an eye out for Gonzales’ other works.
(I also really liked the discussions of bisexuality! They were sensitive and powerful)
(I also really liked the discussions of bisexuality! They were sensitive and powerful)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Vomit
jpxsoleil's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, Biphobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit, Drug use, and Toxic friendship
this_momma_is_booked'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
4.0
This was such a cute and quick YA romance listen. I loved the premise of it because it felt very 90s, in a way. In a world that is so technologically driven, I appreciate the fact that people were handwriting letters and dropping them off in a mysterious locker. I also felt that the conflicts in this book were not only age appropriate but also entirely reasonable - unlike so many other YA books, the characters were average teens and reacted as such. I loved the secondary plot point of Darcy learning to express her fears (not having her sexuality taking seriously if she dates men) and realizing that, ultimately, others' opinions of her don't matter as much as her opinion of herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia
Moderate: Drug use
tuliptohru's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use and Vomit
dlrosebyh's review
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
3.75
For a charge, Darcy Phillips may provide you with the answer to any of your relationship problems. She uses her influence wisely (most of the time), passionately detests Alexander Brougham. Whenever it comes to her best friend Brooke, who is in love with someone else, may not have the finest judgment. And lastly, she does not appreciate being blackmailed.
But that's precisely what happens when Brougham discovers her in the act of retrieving letters from locker 89, where she's been operating her dubious legal, anonymous relationship advising service. At least at a generous hourly rate, Darcy reluctantly agrees to serve as his personal dating coach in exchange for keeping her identity a secret. Exactly what was the intention? assist him in getting his ex-girlfriend back.
Darcy has a valid reason for hiding her identity. Some things she's ashamed of will come to light if word gets out that she's hiding behind the locker, and there's a high chance Brooke won't ever talk to her again. So all she needs to do is assist a bratty, entitled, annoyingly, and attractive guy in winning over a woman who has already fallen for him? What might possibly fail?
To sum up this book in one word? Heartwarming. I believe this is one of the first novels I've read with a bisexual female character ending up with a man— and I guess that's due of the biphobia. it's so lovely to read about a bisexual female heroine adoring a man. When bisexuals like someone who is the opposite gender from them, society will accuse them of not being "bisexual enough," and this book extensively addresses that issue.
I suppose there was a period where I was annoyed with Darcy because, God, she can be toxic at times. I do, however, understand her viewpoint. Despite being predictable and cliche (it reads like a Netflix movie), this book is nevertheless beautiful if you can get beyond those.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Drug use, and Vomit
Minor: Violence
deadgirlwalking23's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug use, Vomit, and Infidelity
Minor: Violence
ylienna's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Biphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Drug use
Minor: Violence