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sarahmreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I think I might have just found one of my new favorite comfort reads? Because OH MY GOD THIS BOOK FILLS MY NERD HEART!
Conrad has been living by the scrape of his teeth for the last few years. Dropping out of college, working multiple dead end jobs. The only highlight of his life is playing his favorite card game Odyssey with his buddies for an online show. However, he's given the opportunity of a lifetime to travel across the country to participate in a tournament that could change his life for the better. The only downside? He has to travel with his sworn rival Alden cross country. Will Conrad find his dreams? Or is there another answer waiting for him?
This story has everything you could love in a romance novel. Enemies (rivals?) to lovers? Check. One bed trope? Check. Forced proximity? Oh definitely. It definitely is a bit of a slow start, but once you get to the road trip, I felt like it flew by at just the right pace. Conrad and Alden stopping by the different shops and must hit spots, while also perfectly encompassing the true realities of a cross-country road trip.
I felt like this story handled everything at just the right pacing. However, I will say I was a little unsure about the two characters finally kissing at the halfway mark. Besides that, the way that Conrad and Alden grew because of each other's experiences made my heart melt. I related to Alden a lot because of his anxiety attacks and his crisis of not being sure where on the neurodivergent scale he lies. I was the exact same way. Yes I have anxiety, but I also had some speech issues growing up. Doctors thought I had Asperger's but never diagnosed me. Seeing him go through his own issues made me really connect with my own experiences with it, and I thought his anxiety was handled pretty well.
Conrad was also beautifully written. I will admit that at the beginning, it did seem like Conrad's trauma and horrible life was brought too much to the forefront, to the point where I was worried it would be the only thing defining him as a character. However, I did really appreciate that it grew more into his struggle to learn how to love properly and how to show that back to someone who cares about him. I also deal with similar issues with opening up, so being able to relate to both Conrad and Alden helped a lot.
This story also handled issues such as homophobia pretty well, especially from Conrad's past. There was one line that really stuck out to me, which was about how not everyone has a great home life with parents that accept you immediately. It hit me right at home, and is an important message to realize, more so when it includes people from the LGBTQ+ community. Other topics I thought were written and handled in a mature manner by the characters, and still left you gushing after every cute moment and devastated after every disagreement.
To top it all off, this story also tackles the struggle of knowing one's future as well as the love for gaming, which is one of my loves outside of reading and writing. Being able to see that enthusiasm written out onto pages really made my heart soar.
Conventionally Yours is a beautiful modern romance that will have you begging to finish it in one sitting. I cannot wait to pick up the sequel to this masterpiece.
Conrad has been living by the scrape of his teeth for the last few years. Dropping out of college, working multiple dead end jobs. The only highlight of his life is playing his favorite card game Odyssey with his buddies for an online show. However, he's given the opportunity of a lifetime to travel across the country to participate in a tournament that could change his life for the better. The only downside? He has to travel with his sworn rival Alden cross country. Will Conrad find his dreams? Or is there another answer waiting for him?
This story has everything you could love in a romance novel. Enemies (rivals?) to lovers? Check. One bed trope? Check. Forced proximity? Oh definitely. It definitely is a bit of a slow start, but once you get to the road trip, I felt like it flew by at just the right pace. Conrad and Alden stopping by the different shops and must hit spots, while also perfectly encompassing the true realities of a cross-country road trip.
I felt like this story handled everything at just the right pacing. However, I will say I was a little unsure about the two characters finally kissing at the halfway mark. Besides that, the way that Conrad and Alden grew because of each other's experiences made my heart melt. I related to Alden a lot because of his anxiety attacks and his crisis of not being sure where on the neurodivergent scale he lies. I was the exact same way. Yes I have anxiety, but I also had some speech issues growing up. Doctors thought I had Asperger's but never diagnosed me. Seeing him go through his own issues made me really connect with my own experiences with it, and I thought his anxiety was handled pretty well.
Conrad was also beautifully written. I will admit that at the beginning, it did seem like Conrad's trauma and horrible life was brought too much to the forefront, to the point where I was worried it would be the only thing defining him as a character. However, I did really appreciate that it grew more into his struggle to learn how to love properly and how to show that back to someone who cares about him. I also deal with similar issues with opening up, so being able to relate to both Conrad and Alden helped a lot.
This story also handled issues such as homophobia pretty well, especially from Conrad's past. There was one line that really stuck out to me, which was about how not everyone has a great home life with parents that accept you immediately. It hit me right at home, and is an important message to realize, more so when it includes people from the LGBTQ+ community. Other topics I thought were written and handled in a mature manner by the characters, and still left you gushing after every cute moment and devastated after every disagreement.
To top it all off, this story also tackles the struggle of knowing one's future as well as the love for gaming, which is one of my loves outside of reading and writing. Being able to see that enthusiasm written out onto pages really made my heart soar.
Conventionally Yours is a beautiful modern romance that will have you begging to finish it in one sitting. I cannot wait to pick up the sequel to this masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
tremoore24's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Loved the premise, loved the outcome. I did get a little annoyed/fed up with all of the sudden realizations that the characters would have during matches. Like they'd be on one train of thought and then suddenly realize how to defeat their opponent. I'm not involved with role-playing or turn-based card games like Odyssey, so perhaps I just don't ever experience that. To me, that aspect became repetitive and stale.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Panic attacks/disorders
phkodee's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Homophobia
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
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 actually ended up loving this book more than I expected to! It has some of my favorite tropes: rivals to lovers, forced proximity, there's only one bed!
I particularly enjoyed the neurodiverse rep, the variance in represented economic classes, and the nonbinary side character in addition to the many gay needs in this book!
I loved the relationships the characters all had with each other and how complicated some of those friendships could be.
I think the romance was sweet and realistic, and I enjoyed watching it blossom throughout the book!
A very lighthearted and enjoyable romance!
I particularly enjoyed the neurodiverse rep, the variance in represented economic classes, and the nonbinary side character in addition to the many gay needs in this book!
I loved the relationships the characters all had with each other and how complicated some of those friendships could be.
I think the romance was sweet and realistic, and I enjoyed watching it blossom throughout the book!
A very lighthearted and enjoyable romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Parents disowning their gay child
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