lbenton415's review against another edition
I usually love Kennedy Ryan books, but this one really upset me. Spoiler Warning! I really didn't like this book the main character is judgemental, but then acts like a hypocritic. It seems like all Banner's relationship are toxic af.
Spoiler
The main character, Banner gets upset when one of the clients partner's cheats on them and call them a wh*re, but then Banner cheats on her partner just cause she's not fulfilled in the relationship. Like talk to your partner (I forgot his name). There are constant flashbacks from college and that whole situation which I understand and Banner's insecurities with Jared. However, in the present you're still letting people get in your head instead of talking to Jared about what you're insecure about. (i.e when Banner's talking to her manager in the bar and he says Jared is going to hire her. Then she spirals talking about is he only doing this so she will become Jared's agent. Banner also presents like she accepts her body, but then has internalized fatphobia and counting calories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
jennaxbakos's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Cancer, and Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent
sarahholt's review against another edition
The nicest thing I can say about this book is that I'm glad it was the last book of Kennedy Ryan's that I have read, if this was the first book I tried of hers, I would not have continued reading her work.
I loved the glimpses of Jared that we got to see in Long Shot and was excited for his story with Banner but this was a let down from the beginning.
I love that Kennedy Ryan isn't afraid to write messy truths, it was what drew me to her in the first place. Life is heartbreaking and horrible and uncomfortable sometimes and that isn't often displayed in books. I read Long Shot and Hook Shot first and fell in love with the care and reverence in her writing for Iris and Lotus and interpersonal violence/assault situations.
I naively thought she would have the same care for fat characters but that couldn't be further from the truth.
I had hoped that during the time jump, Banner would have gained confidence in her body and knowing there is nothing wrong with it. Instead, the first thing we learn about her is that she is on a weight loss journey to be the "right kind of curvy."
That is where I stopped reading. If I wanted to read about a fat girl who didn't need to lose weight on weight watchers, I would have just read my journal from high school.
I'm so disappointed in this book and I don't know if I will keep reading her work.
I loved the glimpses of Jared that we got to see in Long Shot and was excited for his story with Banner but this was a let down from the beginning.
I love that Kennedy Ryan isn't afraid to write messy truths, it was what drew me to her in the first place. Life is heartbreaking and horrible and uncomfortable sometimes and that isn't often displayed in books. I read Long Shot and Hook Shot first and fell in love with the care and reverence in her writing for Iris and Lotus and interpersonal violence/assault situations.
I naively thought she would have the same care for fat characters but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Spoiler
fucking the fat girl as a hazing prank is overdone and not funny or good plot. It doesn't matter that he walked away from them when his entry to the society was based on that because in the end he did it anyway. It felt like he fucked her to prove that he wasn't fucking her for the society which, in the end, is doing it for them anyway. Based on Banner's POV, there had not been enough build up in their relationship for it to be believable that he wanted to sleep with her. The "fat girl can't tell when someone is attracted to her" trope is also over done and dehumanizing. Jared is the only MMC in any of Kennedy Ryan's books who does not make is absolutely clear before they have sex that he is obsessed with her all of her body.I had hoped that during the time jump, Banner would have gained confidence in her body and knowing there is nothing wrong with it. Instead, the first thing we learn about her is that she is on a weight loss journey to be the "right kind of curvy."
That is where I stopped reading. If I wanted to read about a fat girl who didn't need to lose weight on weight watchers, I would have just read my journal from high school.
I'm so disappointed in this book and I don't know if I will keep reading her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
shania_siobhan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Chronic illness and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent
asruy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Spoiler
imagine I started speaking and the Spanish keyboard was on so it wrote Soy instead of so and that killed me also banner speaks Spanish so I guess that it was on brand. Banner really is that bitch she is so cool and literally is helping me not eat my cravings and eat my feelings away. With Stevie, she kind of just ate whatever she wants but she still had a bangin bod like I know she did but with Ban she works so hard for her body that is what I’m going to do. Also, it made me realize that the perfect guy for you will love you regardless and the fact that he loved her back in college when she felt like she was fat and he still loves her, and he did his freaking vows in Spanish. The only sad thing was that he made her cheat on Zo, and even though he didn’t make her do it. She did Sleep with him so that was kind of sad but in the end it all worked out and I can’t wait for them to have plenty of bebes and be a big fat family with Iris and Gus and Sarai (also I love that name) it’s just so cute. I love him. And her🤭.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity
just_klaudia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, Cancer, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
amichelle515's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Fatphobia
Moderate: Terminal illness
bronxgirlreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Honestly it was really hard for me to push through this book because of the actions of the characters. Always love KR’s writing but damn I’ve never wanted to punch so many characters in the face.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
teachreadrepeat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was not what I expected and not in a good way... I wanted to DNF at 70%, but at that point, I was too close to the end. The only reason it's not a 1-star review is because I do enjoy Kennedy Ryan's writing style and Banner is (mostly) a badass character. I'm not quite sure how to review my low rating without spoiling the book, so continue reading at your own risk.
First thing's first, I do not like love triangles, and I especially don't like love triangles between grown adults in their 30s... like, what?? Second, I HATE infidelity in romance books. It wasn't just a kiss, either. It was full-on sexual activity MULTIPLE times between Jared and Banner while she was still with Zo. Banner seemed like a character full of integrity and with the ability to play the long game, at least career-wise. So can someone explain to me why Ryan thought making her cheat on Zo was the /best/ possible way to depict the fact that she didn't ever truly love him like he did her and they weren't meant to be?? I get that was the point being made, and I also agree that Jared and Banner should've been end game, but the path they took to get there was not necessary. Nothing can justify the cheating for me, point blank, the end, not sorry.
I MIGHT have been able to forgive some of that if it hadn't been for the fact that Zo was such a genuinely good guy who was madly in love with Banner. Then, the author nailed the coffin firmly shut when, out of NOWHERE, she gave Zo a rare disease that's basically cancer and he used that to manipulate Banner into taking care of him EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW SHE CHEATED AND THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH HIM ANYMORE.
Can you tell how I feel about this book?? I swear to God, Kenan's story /better/ redeem the series. I liked book 1 so much and this was such a letdown. I said what I said. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk!
First thing's first, I do not like love triangles, and I especially don't like love triangles between grown adults in their 30s... like, what?? Second, I HATE infidelity in romance books. It wasn't just a kiss, either. It was full-on sexual activity MULTIPLE times between Jared and Banner while she was still with Zo. Banner seemed like a character full of integrity and with the ability to play the long game, at least career-wise. So can someone explain to me why Ryan thought making her cheat on Zo was the /best/ possible way to depict the fact that she didn't ever truly love him like he did her and they weren't meant to be?? I get that was the point being made, and I also agree that Jared and Banner should've been end game, but the path they took to get there was not necessary. Nothing can justify the cheating for me, point blank, the end, not sorry.
I MIGHT have been able to forgive some of that if it hadn't been for the fact that Zo was such a genuinely good guy who was madly in love with Banner. Then, the author nailed the coffin firmly shut when, out of NOWHERE, she gave Zo a rare disease that's basically cancer and he used that to manipulate Banner into taking care of him EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW SHE CHEATED AND THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH HIM ANYMORE.
Can you tell how I feel about this book?? I swear to God, Kenan's story /better/ redeem the series. I liked book 1 so much and this was such a letdown. I said what I said. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, Medical content, Cancer, and Fatphobia
veektorya's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Excrement, Fatphobia, and Cancer