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
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
pey333's review
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Car accident and Sexual content
nenaveenstra's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The romance in this book is quite slow, and not in the yearning-way: more in the, like, how-the-hell-are-these-two-falling-in-love kind of way, but it pays off. Maya and Skye go from haters to friends/co-conspirators to lovers and it's absolutely believable, given the ridiculous circumstances they've found themselves in. I was honestly rooting for them.
The main selling point for this book in my opinion, however, is the setting and the humour. This TV-concept is outrageous and this book is highly aware of that, making fun of reality TV and 'nice guys' along the way. I loved the girls in this book, I adored Isaac, and I loved to hate Jordy. I also highly appreciated the (un)intentional Taylor Swift-references (champagne problems, wildest dreams, maroon).
All in all this was exactly the kind of book I needed to get myself through a rough patch. Pick this up if you're in the mood for a funny story about queer girls and stupid boys, but not if you're looking for yearning and/or explicit scenes. The only sex you get in this book is a fade-to-black scene of Maya and Skye, as is appropriate for a YA romance.
The main selling point for this book in my opinion, however, is the setting and the humour. This TV-concept is outrageous and this book is highly aware of that, making fun of reality TV and 'nice guys' along the way. I loved the girls in this book, I adored Isaac, and I loved to hate Jordy. I also highly appreciated the (un)intentional Taylor Swift-references (champagne problems, wildest dreams, maroon).
All in all this was exactly the kind of book I needed to get myself through a rough patch. Pick this up if you're in the mood for a funny story about queer girls and stupid boys, but not if you're looking for yearning and/or explicit scenes. The only sex you get in this book is a fade-to-black scene of Maya and Skye, as is appropriate for a YA romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Car accident
hmatt's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a sweet, lighthearted, and super trope-y read. I love both narrators, and I have been wanting to give Sophie Gonzales another chance after not getting on with If this gets out (but loving Only mostly devastated).
I thought there were a few holes in the logic with some of the main characters' schemes, which started to bug me towards the end, but ultimately I'm happy with how things wrapped up. My main feedback-y comment would be that this felt like a "new adult" book, not YA. It seemed very forced that the characters were all so young, and I think it would have made more sense if they were all 2-3 years older (also, this would allow for fewer fade-to-black scenes). I totally get how this may not have been the author's choice, though.
I thought there were a few holes in the logic with some of the main characters' schemes, which started to bug me towards the end, but ultimately I'm happy with how things wrapped up. My main feedback-y comment would be that this felt like a "new adult" book, not YA. It seemed very forced that the characters were all so young, and I think it would have made more sense if they were all 2-3 years older (also, this would allow for fewer fade-to-black scenes). I totally get how this may not have been the author's choice, though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
merlesstorys's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the concept.
I loved the execution.
I love Maya and Skye.
Sophie Gonzales came up with a great concept, and I really want to see this reality show happen.
Also, big love on the hardcover design - the rose on the front underneath a gorgeous cover with a Taylor Swift reference as the title? Instant love.
I loved the execution.
I love Maya and Skye.
Sophie Gonzales came up with a great concept, and I really want to see this reality show happen.
Also, big love on the hardcover design - the rose on the front underneath a gorgeous cover with a Taylor Swift reference as the title? Instant love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Bullying
Minor: Car accident
ellelockley's review
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Maya's cheating ex, whom the world adores, is the lead in a reality show where his exes all try to win him back. Maya agrees to join to get revenge, but Skye, the girl Jordy cheated on her with is there too. Is there more than friendship between her and Skye? I thought this book was a fun read, albeit a bit dull at times and was probably a hundred pages too long. I adored the trope of guy cheats on two girls and they date each other, I loved it so much. Maya and Skye were amazing, and a very well-written couple. They let each other become the best version of themselves. This book is a good light read and I recommend it to people who just want something lighthearted.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Car accident
mandathebiblio's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
**I got this book from Netgalley for my honest review, though I did get it in ebook form and I ended up listening to the audiobook**
So, to start this review, I want to say that I didn't realize this book was a young adult book until AFTER I finished it. I feel that maybe going into it knowing it was YA, I would have had a bit of a different opinion, though I doubt it would have changed my rating very much. And despite this being listed as a young adult, the characters are graduated from high school and about to enter college age. Though, this book is very mild of the sexual content and definitely reads like a YA, thinking back.
One issue that I had is that, despite the characters being VERY different and the character names being listed at the beginning of each chapter to show who's POV we were reading from, I found myself being confused on who is who. I couldn't remember which character had which issue with the guy. I just could NOT remember who was who. Which could have entirely been on me, not the book itself so I didn't really take that into too much account when coming up with my rating.
Though I will say, I REALLY didn't like Maya (I think). She was so set on revenge that she was willing to sacrifice herself for it and that just didn't sit right with me. Now, she is fresh out of high school, so I'm sure that it works for what a young adult WOULD do. But it just bothered me so much that I found myself not enjoying the romance between her and Skye. Skye deserved better, imo.
This just wasn't my favorite. I would be willing to try another book from this author, but this one just didn't sit well with me. I would probably recommend this for a younger audience, though. Maybe late high school, fresh out of which is the same as the characters of the book. I just feel that it may hit better with the target audience than did with me.
So, to start this review, I want to say that I didn't realize this book was a young adult book until AFTER I finished it. I feel that maybe going into it knowing it was YA, I would have had a bit of a different opinion, though I doubt it would have changed my rating very much. And despite this being listed as a young adult, the characters are graduated from high school and about to enter college age. Though, this book is very mild of the sexual content and definitely reads like a YA, thinking back.
One issue that I had is that, despite the characters being VERY different and the character names being listed at the beginning of each chapter to show who's POV we were reading from, I found myself being confused on who is who. I couldn't remember which character had which issue with the guy. I just could NOT remember who was who. Which could have entirely been on me, not the book itself so I didn't really take that into too much account when coming up with my rating.
Though I will say, I REALLY didn't like Maya (I think). She was so set on revenge that she was willing to sacrifice herself for it and that just didn't sit right with me. Now, she is fresh out of high school, so I'm sure that it works for what a young adult WOULD do. But it just bothered me so much that I found myself not enjoying the romance between her and Skye. Skye deserved better, imo.
This just wasn't my favorite. I would be willing to try another book from this author, but this one just didn't sit well with me. I would probably recommend this for a younger audience, though. Maybe late high school, fresh out of which is the same as the characters of the book. I just feel that it may hit better with the target audience than did with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, and Infidelity
Minor: Car accident
ramunepocky's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I dont think it's possible for sophie gonzales to write a book that I dont enjoy because everything about her books, from the characters, to the story, to the writing style is always so captivating and well executed and addictive. I loved this book so much, and thoroughly enjoyed it and Maya and Skye are absolute queens who I adored, but I particularly loved Perrie and Isaac so fucking much
Also Jordy is an absolute prick who had it coming
Also Jordy is an absolute prick who had it coming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Car accident
amethystandherbooks'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment, Misogyny, and Bullying
Minor: Car accident