apriljbeckler's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
3.0
alvenpalven's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
cluckieduck's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Profoundly irked by the lack of pegging!
Overall enjoyable…more good than bad, I’d say.
Definitely some problematic elements, especially surrounding the intense focus on Lauren’s appearance that didn’t let up from page 1 right through to the end of the epilogue. I also found Alex a bit infantile for a 39-year old and I don’t know if that was the best way to show his ADHD. Being a “delightful asshole” came across more grating than endearing at times.
But otherwise, I enjoyed the crossover timeline from Spoiler Alert and how they interconnected. I really liked the slow burn of Alex & Lauren’s relationship, plus the extra tidbits of the fanfics and playing up the romantic tropes on their road trip.
Overall enjoyable…more good than bad, I’d say.
Definitely some problematic elements, especially surrounding the intense focus on Lauren’s appearance that didn’t let up from page 1 right through to the end of the epilogue. I also found Alex a bit infantile for a 39-year old and I don’t know if that was the best way to show his ADHD. Being a “delightful asshole” came across more grating than endearing at times.
But otherwise, I enjoyed the crossover timeline from Spoiler Alert and how they interconnected. I really liked the slow burn of Alex & Lauren’s relationship, plus the extra tidbits of the fanfics and playing up the romantic tropes on their road trip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Mental illness
wrenlee's review against another edition
3.0
Another really cute romance from the author of Spoiler Alert. While I prefer Spoiler Alert because of all of its fan/nerd goodness, I really appreciate this book’s message. It tackles these ideas about how to deal with society’s view of you. It tackles domestic abuse. It tackles ADHD and impulsivity. I appreciate the breadth of topics it handled, and I think it handles them quite well (although I don’t have the qualifications to judge). And Alex is such a darling. I absolutely love his snark and sass. I say as if I wouldn’t be exasperated with it in real life haha.
But the thing that frustrated me was the writing style. While I ADORED the text messages and fan fic snippets, the language got weirdly convoluted. Using big terms that felt unnecessary when a shorter, simpler word would have been perfectly fine. It pulled me out of the plot, and it happened so often, I was really disconnected from the story on the mid-point onward. If only the book stuck with sass and snark!
But the thing that frustrated me was the writing style. While I ADORED the text messages and fan fic snippets, the language got weirdly convoluted. Using big terms that felt unnecessary when a shorter, simpler word would have been perfectly fine. It pulled me out of the plot, and it happened so often, I was really disconnected from the story on the mid-point onward. If only the book stuck with sass and snark!
naomireadsworld's review against another edition
3.0
I went into this one with high hopes. While I have not read Spoiler Alert, I had only heard positive reviews about the romance and the representation that Olivia Dade writes. However, All the Feels just didn't quite hit it for me.
Alex, Lauren, and the rest of the world seem to constantly remind the reader that Lauren is short, round and certainly not attractive. While Alex does a fine job of defending Lauren from the rest of the world, it doesn't seem to cross his mind that he should be checking his own comments and actions. Lots of negging on all sides, and it's tiring to read another story where the male finds himself attracted to the heroine despite her many physical "flaws." In general the chemistry didn't work for me as a result.
The fandom references were fun, and I loved the ADHD rep. Overall, just an okay romance, as negging and pegging just aren't for me. Maybe I'll borrow Spoiler Alert from the library in the future to see what the fuss is about, but today is not that day for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.
Alex, Lauren, and the rest of the world seem to constantly remind the reader that Lauren is short, round and certainly not attractive. While Alex does a fine job of defending Lauren from the rest of the world, it doesn't seem to cross his mind that he should be checking his own comments and actions. Lots of negging on all sides, and it's tiring to read another story where the male finds himself attracted to the heroine despite her many physical "flaws." In general the chemistry didn't work for me as a result.
The fandom references were fun, and I loved the ADHD rep. Overall, just an okay romance, as negging and pegging just aren't for me. Maybe I'll borrow Spoiler Alert from the library in the future to see what the fuss is about, but today is not that day for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.
thisisabooktracker's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, just like the first book in the series, I fail to believe these characters are almost 40. I was also enjoying it for the most part until the conflict. I don’t think a real (not toxic) relationship would function like that *especially* – say it with me – for people almost 40.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
(free review copy) I adored the first book in this series (Spoiler Alert) and was very excited to be back in that world with Lauren and Alex since we met them in book 1. I do wish there had been a bit less of an overlap between the two books, but it wasn’t too much for me to be annoyed with redundancies. Overall I appreciated the message about cultural beauty and body size norms, but it was definitely hard to see what Lauren had to live with throughout her life ~ it made it difficult for me to read at times. However, if you loved Spoiler Alert ~ you will love this one too! Oh, and it gets STEAMY
thatsoneforthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
In book 2 of this Spoiler Alert series, Alex, Cupid from God of the Gates, gets assigned a minder after he gets in a bar fight. Lauren, burned out after a decade off working in the ER as a therapist, willingly takes on this job to keep Alex out of trouble. She needs to accompany him everywhere, while living in his guesthouse, and living her best "shrew" life. They quickly develop a rapport, teasing each other MERCILESSLY, and eventually Alex gets in trouble for defending Lauren when others insult her weight and her looks. This starts about at the same time as Spoiler Alert, although it extends on after SA ends. It integrates fanfic and AO3 as part of the plot, though much less extensively than SA did.
CW: discussion of domestic violence in God of the Gates and in Alex's past; bullying / teasing re: weight
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25/5)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Location: Spain, Hollywood, California more broadly
Oh man, was this a sloooowwww burn. But the ride was well worth it. I really enjoyed where this book ended up. Just as the first book tackled complex issues of dyslexia and self identity, this book took on Alex's ADHD and Lauren's ideas of self-worth which has long been eroded by how she's been bullied for her weight and not supported by loved ones. I really loved how she lets us love them for who they are, seeing behind the shields they've put up between themselves and the world.
I loved how this intertwined with the timeline and story of Spoiler Alert, and the way it weaves Marcus and the God of the Gates cast in was really lovely. The pacing of the book was so much different than Spoiler Alert, and the narrative is really well aligned to how Alex and Lauren are. I appreciated their incessant teasing of each other, because it was clear it was rooted in love, but I could see where this might irritate other readers.
Read this if:
*you appreciate ALL THE TEASING between characters
*you like the meta-ness of tropes being called in the narrative (including some very niche fanfic tropes)
*you love a good road trip up the CA coast
*one bed girlllll
Thanks to @avonbooks for sending me an advance copy of this book.
CW: discussion of domestic violence in God of the Gates and in Alex's past; bullying / teasing re: weight
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25/5)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Location: Spain, Hollywood, California more broadly
Oh man, was this a sloooowwww burn. But the ride was well worth it. I really enjoyed where this book ended up. Just as the first book tackled complex issues of dyslexia and self identity, this book took on Alex's ADHD and Lauren's ideas of self-worth which has long been eroded by how she's been bullied for her weight and not supported by loved ones. I really loved how she lets us love them for who they are, seeing behind the shields they've put up between themselves and the world.
I loved how this intertwined with the timeline and story of Spoiler Alert, and the way it weaves Marcus and the God of the Gates cast in was really lovely. The pacing of the book was so much different than Spoiler Alert, and the narrative is really well aligned to how Alex and Lauren are. I appreciated their incessant teasing of each other, because it was clear it was rooted in love, but I could see where this might irritate other readers.
Read this if:
*you appreciate ALL THE TEASING between characters
*you like the meta-ness of tropes being called in the narrative (including some very niche fanfic tropes)
*you love a good road trip up the CA coast
*one bed girlllll
Thanks to @avonbooks for sending me an advance copy of this book.
meghan_rasnake's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5