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
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Biphobia
Moderate: Vomit, Infidelity, and Alcoholism
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
wynterwonderland's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
Moderate: Biphobia
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
torikate7's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Biphobia
Moderate: Vomit and Infidelity
Minor: Violence
mozimmerm's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
This is such a cute book! I found the characters all very different but charming in their own ways. The character development was great! I loved the progression of the relationships. It was cozy, heartwarming and silly but also dealt with some pretty heavy stuff. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Biphobia, Abandonment, Violence, and Vomit
dwoht's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
good bisexual representation!
i started reading this thinking it's the typical best friends to lovers story, turns out i was wrong but it's a good kind of wrong because i like the two main characters. they're cute and they complement each other well.
i know darcy will be revealed as the locker 89 but i still dreaded it and when it finally happened i felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed! i closed the book for a few minutes to recover.
darcy was held accountable for her actions of course and she's also self aware and tried to correct her mistakes as best as she can. darcy is relatable as all of the characters combined, but darcy is something. she's endearing. (maybe because i see a bit of myself in her lol)
it also reminds me of sex education's first season where they also do the relationship advice thingy which is cool.
i enjoyed this book despite the second hand embarassments that i felt. it's a great read, can't complain much.
i started reading this thinking it's the typical best friends to lovers story, turns out i was wrong but it's a good kind of wrong because i like the two main characters. they're cute and they complement each other well.
i know darcy will be revealed as the locker 89 but i still dreaded it and when it finally happened i felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed! i closed the book for a few minutes to recover.
darcy was held accountable for her actions of course and she's also self aware and tried to correct her mistakes as best as she can. darcy is relatable as all of the characters combined, but darcy is something. she's endearing. (maybe because i see a bit of myself in her lol)
it also reminds me of sex education's first season where they also do the relationship advice thingy which is cool.
i enjoyed this book despite the second hand embarassments that i felt. it's a great read, can't complain much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity