auudrey's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
annareadstoo's review against another edition
- 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
I found Elsie’s story relatable - difficult family dynamic, imposter syndrome, a woman in a male dominated field in which she’s constantly being underestimated, financial struggles, and not knowing her worth in romantic relationships so she overcompensates for too long and completely removes herself from any real connections. At first I thought it was somewhat illogical to have a grown woman not know herself at all in any way, but then I thought about it more and felt really sad for her for how long she had been erasing herself because that’s how she thought she wouldn’t be abandoned.
i enjoyed the characters she used to demonstrate the variety of different ways people can take advantage of you. The mom calls and guilt trips and how it started from very very young with her diabetes diagnosis, her students emailing constantly, and even with her roommate and best friend. Hazelwood did a good job of making us feel like how Elsie would feel - constantly bombarded with having to fulfill the needs of others throughout the book, except for moments when she’s with Jack.
Spoiler
And Greg being asexual and aromantic was definitely something I did not expect from this plot, in a good way. And it was nice to see him have such unwavering support from a family member when he came out.I do wish that we had a little more info on how they got the Smith family to just randomly accept that Elsie went from dating one brother to the other. The way that was written seemed a little bit like a cop out but the end.
Love her books, looking forward to the next one already.
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
lmy612's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Elsie and MMC, Jack, have a major height difference which is such a common trope I’m beyond tired of it. She needs to crane her neck to look up at him. She needs to stand on her tippy toes and pull his face towards her to kiss. His pen!s pokes her in the stomach. She’s a small-average height woman and he’s a giant. We get it.
Sorry. This storyline and the characters just really weren’t for me.
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Misogyny, Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Death of parent, Medical content, Outing, and Sexism
chainsiren's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Drug use, and Gaslighting
chasingpages1's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Moderate: Outing, Death of parent, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Classism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Drug use
aainym's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
beesin03's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Death of parent, and Outing
beckyremillard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
notmollie's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
tarnaflake's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexism, Chronic illness, and Death of parent