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emaretea's review against another edition
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
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content
theespressoedition's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This felt like such a letdown to me after reading Axie Oh's XOXO. I previously really enjoyed Kat Cho's Gumiho duology, so I had high hopes for this cute, kdrama-esque YA romance. However, rather than feeling all warm and bubbly inside, I just felt irritated with the characters 85% of the time. Oof.
It starts out with such promise: a bestie from the past who became a major idol coming back to his small town to fulfill his childhood promise of asking his friend to prom. However, that's where the cuteness ended. There is such a lack of communication that I can't even say it was miscommunication. It just literally wasn't any communication at all. If there had been just a few times that both characters opened up to each other from the get-go, every single frustrating moment from there on out could’ve been avoided.
The mom made me angry. The brother made me angry. The ex-best friend made me angry. Robbie and Elena both made me angry. Even his k-pop friends made me angry. No one was willing to just have a meaningful conversation to clear up confusion. It was a lot of frustration, honestly. And so much pining. Like too much pining. I love pining but this was too much pining even for me. Ick.
Not my cup of tea, sadly.
It starts out with such promise: a bestie from the past who became a major idol coming back to his small town to fulfill his childhood promise of asking his friend to prom. However, that's where the cuteness ended. There is such a lack of communication that I can't even say it was miscommunication. It just literally wasn't any communication at all. If there had been just a few times that both characters opened up to each other from the get-go, every single frustrating moment from there on out could’ve been avoided.
The mom made me angry. The brother made me angry. The ex-best friend made me angry. Robbie and Elena both made me angry. Even his k-pop friends made me angry. No one was willing to just have a meaningful conversation to clear up confusion. It was a lot of frustration, honestly. And so much pining. Like too much pining. I love pining but this was too much pining even for me. Ick.
Not my cup of tea, sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
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