emily_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Car accident and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Cursing
Minor: Misogyny, Alcohol, Racism, Ableism, Medical content, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, Fire/Fire injury, Excrement, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: faintingyaoipaddle'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? It's complicated
1.25
- knee high socks that say "ringmaster of the shitshow"
- tying together a 6ft long t-shirt cape and walking into class with it
This story is a 1 star because I had to force myself to finish it cause I spent money on the book.
What I like about the story:
- representation of Jewish characters as real full-fledged people. So often in fiction they are reduced to just comedic reliefs to contrast against non-Jewish characters.
- the main character's relationships with their family are sweet and well balanced
What I dislike:
- Barrett sucks. She is an annoying main character and I cannot stand how she acts and treats other people around her. The author tried so hard to get me to like her but sorry. She is not for me. She is obnoxious and "quirky".
- Cheesy. Cringe. Secondhand embarrassment galore. There were times I had to almost close the book and skim with one eye open.
- Unrealistic in all the wrong ways. Of course a time loop situation is unrealistic, but that's not what the problem was. So much poor characterization and worldbuilding took me out of the story.
- A lot of the writing felt juvenile and middle-school level creativity. It's YA but a lot of it feels like it's written for middle schoolers. (minus the obviously not kid-friendly content)
- The way the author writes about university feels like she has only ever seen it in movies and has no experience or research into it.
- Barrett sucks.
- Poor pacing. So many scenes feel like they could have been cut out entirely. Very sluggish to read.
- I felt the relationship between Barrett and everyone around her including the main guy interested and her "nemesis" from school was so poorly developed and surface level.
Spoiler
Also I hate the 'mean girl' is actually gay!' thing so many authors do to try to make their books seem diverse or their 'mean' characters be likeable.Graphic: Body shaming, Addiction, Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Car accident, Cursing, and Fatphobia
lonely_tardigrade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cursing, Body shaming, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Death, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
nicolesreadingbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Bullying