lackyducks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
A fun read with a lot of emotional depth despite its positive outlook.
The story centers around two first person perspectives, that of Maya and Skye. From the get go, the narrative is good at painting Jordy as the antagonist by giving the reader a perspective the girls don't have - what he's saying to them versus the other.
The humour of the book is spot on, playing well on the media industry. It's a story that feels very apt in the current climate. The reality television clichés are plentiful, yet provide a good basis for the story to take place.
The characters all felt surprisingly well fleshed out. Even side characters we meet less often have backgrounds and inner motivation that isn't obvious at first. They feel like a well developed group, instead of just people made to fill spaces. The story is good at making antagonists of them, yet resolving it with new perspectives and sides to situations.
The story is also an optimistic showing of girls sticking together and looking out for each other. Alongside the main romance you have lots of friendship throughout the cast of girls, as they bond during the show. This comes together brilliantly at the end, and had me smiling wide.
The story is also multi-layered. Underneath the story of revenge and the dating show, you have learning to open up and trust again, trying to figure out your future and what you want to do with it. Just like a TV show, there's a lot more happening behind the scenes than first appears.
And, the book is cleverly structured where things start to fall apart for Jordy once the girls begin sharing perspectives.
The story centers around two first person perspectives, that of Maya and Skye. From the get go, the narrative is good at painting Jordy as the antagonist by giving the reader a perspective the girls don't have - what he's saying to them versus the other.
The humour of the book is spot on, playing well on the media industry. It's a story that feels very apt in the current climate. The reality television clichés are plentiful, yet provide a good basis for the story to take place.
The characters all felt surprisingly well fleshed out. Even side characters we meet less often have backgrounds and inner motivation that isn't obvious at first. They feel like a well developed group, instead of just people made to fill spaces. The story is good at making antagonists of them, yet resolving it with new perspectives and sides to situations.
The story is also an optimistic showing of girls sticking together and looking out for each other. Alongside the main romance you have lots of friendship throughout the cast of girls, as they bond during the show. This comes together brilliantly at the end, and had me smiling wide.
The story is also multi-layered. Underneath the story of revenge and the dating show, you have learning to open up and trust again, trying to figure out your future and what you want to do with it. Just like a TV show, there's a lot more happening behind the scenes than first appears.
And, the book is cleverly structured where things start to fall apart for Jordy once the girls begin sharing perspectives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Biphobia and Body shaming
gellyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
I kinda feel petty not giving this 5 stars because even though I didn’t like the conflicts in the relationship, I thought they were valid and resolved beautifully. The middle just dragged a bit? I also didn’t really enjoy Although I also really enjoyed that both of these girls were out and comfortable with their sexualities from day 1! We love to see it! This was super cute!
Spoiler
the whole college subplot for Maya and then it being unresolved or that we didn’t get a chance for Skye to have like a moment to Jordy or ~something~ to help her go through her abandonment issues. That resolved itself way too quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, and Infidelity
liesthemoontells's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A formulaic but competently written queer romance novel.
The initial intrigue of the book's reality show premise was not sustained by the plot, which became pretty repetitive and dulled the interesting edges off what could have been a far more compelling look at the romance TV industry. However I found the romance between the main characters engaging enough that I read the book to the end.
The characters also seemed a little aged down for the scenario they found themselves in, which to me sat uncomfortably between YA and adult-romance fiction.
The initial intrigue of the book's reality show premise was not sustained by the plot, which became pretty repetitive and dulled the interesting edges off what could have been a far more compelling look at the romance TV industry. However I found the romance between the main characters engaging enough that I read the book to the end.
The characters also seemed a little aged down for the scenario they found themselves in, which to me sat uncomfortably between YA and adult-romance fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexism
rickireadss's review against another edition
4.0
once i found out the premise of this story, i KNEW i had to read it. i love reality tv show settings in romance books, especially when there is queer rep. i do wish the characters were a little older - it just felt weird that some where barely 18. i also kinda felt as if the relationship between our two mcs needed a little more on-page development. like i just wanted them to have more time together for me to be like FULLY invested in their love, if that makes sense. overall, i had a great time - it was funny and i wanted to PUNCH the living daylights out of jordy.
⚠️: gaslighting, toxic relationship, infidelity, misogyny, alcohol, biphobia, car accident
⚠️: gaslighting, toxic relationship, infidelity, misogyny, alcohol, biphobia, car accident
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcohol, Biphobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident
brynn_books's review
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
4.0
This book was so adorable. It was basically The Bachelor but with a sapphic twist. Love triangles are automatically superior if the two love interests get together instead. I liked how this critiqued reality tv shows by portraying it as a way to pit women against each other. But the women in this book definitely didn’t fall for it as they all became friends in the end. There was just something so satisfying about Jordy reaching his downfall at the end. I fucking hate that guy!
I wish we had gotten more of Maya and Skye throughout the story. I feel like some of their romance was rushed, or it was more of a physical relationship. I didn’t fully feel that emotional connection until the end. I just would have liked to see more heartfelt conversations between the two girls in the middle of the story.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the miscommunication trope that happened at the end of the story. It was relatively small compared to other books I’ve read but it was still frustrating. Overall, I really enjoyed this sapphic rom-com. I would highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Moderate: Emotional abuse
bookedbymadeline's review
Bi rep, a Taylor Swift related title, enemies to lovers revenge story ala John Tucker Must Die-I should’ve loved it. It was one of my most anticipated 2022 releases and I loved Gonzales’ Perfect on Paper 😭 but this one is not doing it for me. I’m hating it and this is by far the hardest DNF I’ve ever done, I just have zero desire to continue reading it.
I’m not a big fan of the ages of the characters. I expected them to be older especially given the story of second chance reality tv show romance. How can it be second chance from serious relationships when they’re all 18-20?! Also (Non spoiler) but when we meet Maya she’s sitting at a bar ordering an alcoholic drink so how is she not carded?!
And she dated Jordy when she was 16 and he was 18 - gross and illegal 🤢 I would’ve liked this so much more if the characters were in their mid 20s. The characters are also one dimensional- I can’t tell Maya and Skye apart, their inner voices sound the same.
You’re telling me Maya, knowing all the lies Jordy told and how manipulative he is, doesn’t think for ONE SECOND that he did the same to Skye?! And she automatically blames her for JORDY CHEATING. I do not like the catty behavior and the fact that Maya is so naive to not even question “hey I’d this jerk lied to me, maybe he lied to this other girl too?” BLAME THE GUY YOU ARE DATING NOT THE GIRL
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity and Adult/minor relationship
genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Bullying
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
sammymilfort's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Sexual content
cardanrry's review against another edition
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
cfrazee's review
3.0
REVIEW: Never Ever Getting Back Together
⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Something important to know about Jordy is that he has an accent. It’s supposed to be an English accent but I’m pretty sure it’s closer to how Americans think English people sound than an actual English accent. His dad is legit English and Jordy’s always insisted he picked up the accent naturally by being around his Dad and paternal cousins. Amazingly though his sister Samantha talks normally. What a strange and completely unexplainable mystery that one is. Oh, wait, nevermind, I can totally explain it. Jordy Miller is, as his English relatives would say, a fucking wanker.”
This YA LGBTQ+ romance is a spin on the Bachelor where six girls are brought in to date their mutual ex, Jordy Miller. The problem? Jordy is a total tool.
I requested this book on Libby three months ago and totally forgot about it until the hold finally came through. I’ll admit that I was less interested in reading it now than when I placed the hold but took the chance since it was ready.
It was an easy listen, nothing was particularly bad or great about it. As far as LGBTQ+ reality dating books go, I don’t think I would recommend this to many people because The Charm Offensive has a similar plot and I overall much preferred that. I could see you enjoying this more if you’re 1) a big fan of YA or 2) a fan of closed door romances. Otherwise, I would suggest skipping this one and going for The Charm Offensive. This book just felt very immature YA in a way I didn’t like and the plot was different than I expected.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity