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nervousboulderer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
ashley_reya's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Overall, a sweet story of self-discovery, personal growth, grief, and found family.
Moderate: Ableism, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, and Vomit
elle_bright's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
binevolentbookworm's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Classism
annaonthepage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Brief mentions of mental ill health and cancer as things the characters have survived so has a hopeful angle. Disablism in the form of scathing dismissal by a family member of a late diagnosis of autism in the protagonist. Slight infantilisation of protagonist throughout, through the voice acting and through the dialogue and action.bettysbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
annadelreads's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
“Just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean we need to throw it away.”
Okay this book I definitely forgot was a part of an interconnected stand-alone series. I did read The Kiss Quotient, which I looooove so much and would definitely need a reread. So it was a shock for me and immediately thought - "Hmmmm. This guys sounds familiar."
This book is a quick read but definitely not for me. I don't really love insta-love and this book screams that. I would have loved to see a bit more falling in love or simply just liking one another. Especially for Quan, it was like he just fell so deeply without looking back. One moment they were textmates - then met up - then immediately can't stop thinking about her and would do everything for her.
I did love the story of Anna (lowkey I forgot we have the same name lol) and her family. It shows how people doubts your condition. It was so hard for her to tell them about her diagnosis so when she actually did tell them, they simply chose not to believe her. I can't relate to her but Helen Hoang wrote it in a way that I felt it with Anna. You really can't blame her for being her because nobody diagnosed you at a young age so you thought what you were doing was the right thing - but the right thing was for you to just be yourself. Helen really wrote this book just to show that and if you want to understand more, this would be a good read. I would read it for the additional knowledge but not for the romance.
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Grief
Minor: Bullying
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
nutmegandselkie's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Mental illness
sas_lk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
In this novel, Hoang discusses something that I very rarely see discussed in books and that is being diagnosed and coming to terms with it. Most books I read, the characters usually already have the diagnosis and most people around them know about it already. But in this novel, Anna has no idea in the beginning, and you follow her coming to terms with it and having to "come out" to her family and friends. Big trigger warning for the discreditation of one's own experience and diagnosis.
Hoang also touches on sexual insecurities and coming to terms with your own body and loving it as it is after sickness, as Quan is.
Helen Hoang is a very good writer and she's been a big part of my understanding of the autism spectrum - specifically autism with low support needs. Although I know that everyone on the autism spectrum is different, Hoang truly makes you feel like you are in their heads, and feeling their emotions.
These topics were so important and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a romance with heavier topics.
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Body shaming and Cancer