thebookpaiges's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Biphobia
Moderate: Cursing and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content
bookcaptivated's review
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
midnightverde's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
This book was a fun, sweet look into cosplay creation and culture. I enjoyed the chapters alternating between past and present because it added an element of mystery to the cause of the breakup. I liked the gay and bisexual representation, especially the bisexual representation because I tend to see it less often. I loved the ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Biphobia, Eating disorder, and Homophobia
streebela's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Homophobia
amandas_bookshelf's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, and Emotional abuse
anxiousrainbows's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Such a great book to pull me out of a reading slump. This book is fun, a little dorky in a lovable way; the best way I can describe it is camp, very camp. I loved reading Raffy and Luca fall in love, both at first and then again, and I think this book really reminds you that teenagers are constantly changing as they figure themselves out, in a way that I think YA romance tends to forget in favor of the story.
The only thing I didn't really like about the book is the placement of the flashbacks. They're an important piece of the story and I think the book really would've suffered without them, but as you get farther into the "now" timeline, they start to feel like commercial breaks and totally kill the pacing. Putting them all in the front and splitting the book into two parts I think would've served each story better by allowing them to have room to breathe and tell their part.
All in all, this is a great story, one that I will absolutely be recommending to friends who are cosplayers (I myself am not, I misread the summary and thought that "cosplay" was "costume", and coming from a theatre background, my interest was piqued, but the book does a great job of being accessible to readers who don't really know a whole lot about cosplay).
The only thing I didn't really like about the book is the placement of the flashbacks. They're an important piece of the story and I think the book really would've suffered without them, but as you get farther into the "now" timeline, they start to feel like commercial breaks and totally kill the pacing. Putting them all in the front and splitting the book into two parts I think would've served each story better by allowing them to have room to breathe and tell their part.
All in all, this is a great story, one that I will absolutely be recommending to friends who are cosplayers (I myself am not, I misread the summary and thought that "cosplay" was "costume", and coming from a theatre background, my interest was piqued, but the book does a great job of being accessible to readers who don't really know a whole lot about cosplay).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Biphobia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Blood
kwims's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia
sunsetcity's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gaslighting, Gore, Outing, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, and Bullying
caitlin_doggos's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Cursing
erin_mh362's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m not someone who cosplays but I enjoyed this anyway. I listened to it on the eight hour bus ride we took for a band trip and was glad it was somewhat short because I finished it before we got there. It was really cute and funny, but the angst was there too and I loved it. The competition aspect was cool and the whole cosplay thing was too, and I liked all the references (even though I only understood a couple of them haha). The ending was nice and I liked the closure but I would love to see what happens with these guys next :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content