lalalindlein's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lolasreviews's review against another edition
I DNF'd this one at 47%
I was so sure I was going to love this one, but for some reason I couldn't get through it. I might pick it up again at a later time, but now setting it aside.
My main issue was the writing style I think, the way we skipped over a day and there was no mention of that so I thought it was the next day until suddenly in a conversation the previous day was mentioned and I realized there was a day between that. Then later the same happened with a 4 day skip suddenly. I get that it's good to keep the focus on the main story instead of parts that don't matter, but it was jarring a little line here and there would've helped. Or a scene where I thought the characters were still standing, but apparently they already moved to sitting, but there was no mention of it, so in my mind they were still standing and it was just jarring and confusing.
Then there were other events that were just all skipped over. I still have no clue what the main characters work is like or why he likes the side characters. There were a few mentions of the work, but it's mostly skipped over so I didn't get a feel for it. I liked the unique setting of Ethiopia, but I felt like we didn't really get a feel for the country except for a few foreign words and that they had amazing coffee. I couldn't feel the romance and didn't really get why they liked each other beyond mutual attraction. There were a few interesting conversations between them, but I just wasn't fully feeling it.
I was so sure I was going to love this one, but for some reason I couldn't get through it. I might pick it up again at a later time, but now setting it aside.
My main issue was the writing style I think, the way we skipped over a day and there was no mention of that so I thought it was the next day until suddenly in a conversation the previous day was mentioned and I realized there was a day between that. Then later the same happened with a 4 day skip suddenly. I get that it's good to keep the focus on the main story instead of parts that don't matter, but it was jarring a little line here and there would've helped. Or a scene where I thought the characters were still standing, but apparently they already moved to sitting, but there was no mention of it, so in my mind they were still standing and it was just jarring and confusing.
Then there were other events that were just all skipped over. I still have no clue what the main characters work is like or why he likes the side characters. There were a few mentions of the work, but it's mostly skipped over so I didn't get a feel for it. I liked the unique setting of Ethiopia, but I felt like we didn't really get a feel for the country except for a few foreign words and that they had amazing coffee. I couldn't feel the romance and didn't really get why they liked each other beyond mutual attraction. There were a few interesting conversations between them, but I just wasn't fully feeling it.
emilybordelovewrites's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
kc_mellow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
3.5
katiemonty's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
4.0
- the pyschological effects of colonialism is his study, so cool
- THEM LISTENING TO THE ARISTOLE AND DANTE AUDIOBOOK IN THE CAR TOGETHER and that’s so funny bc what if he was homophobic
- him calling raybans hot, STAND UP!
- lolllll lin manuel miranda mention because he narrates the audiobook. hilarious because i have also listened to that same audiobook
- putting on a gay audiobook with someone u are wondering is gay is so smart
- not the columbia x nyu grad school duo
- the conflict seemed v forced
- precious little ending, need that so bad!!!!!! little social worker psychologist bfs in nyc
- ate this up in one day
- THEM LISTENING TO THE ARISTOLE AND DANTE AUDIOBOOK IN THE CAR TOGETHER and that’s so funny bc what if he was homophobic
- him calling raybans hot, STAND UP!
- lolllll lin manuel miranda mention because he narrates the audiobook. hilarious because i have also listened to that same audiobook
- putting on a gay audiobook with someone u are wondering is gay is so smart
- not the columbia x nyu grad school duo
- the conflict seemed v forced
- precious little ending, need that so bad!!!!!! little social worker psychologist bfs in nyc
- ate this up in one day
lazyprojector's review
4.0
Cute, quick romance, more sensitive/less gross about international aid work than I would expect, and less angsty than I was afraid it would be.
transportedlfl's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lucifer_morningstar13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish, and finished the audio in less than 24 hours! I really enjoyed the onslaught of Ethiopian words and culture in the beginning and the steady influx of it throughout the book. I enjoyed the steady -- and then spicy! -- romance between Desta and Elias, the story of both of their work with America Aide (I think that was the name of the organization but honestly I kept forgetting it as soon as someone said it) in Addis Ababa and surrounding cities, the diverse cast and their stories, and I even liked the ending! What a great addition to my 5-star reads!
The only things that give me pause is that Adriana Herrera is both a woman writing a gay romance btetween two men, and from quick searches yesterday, does not seem to be Ethiopian. She has apparently spent 15 years traveling the world, so perhaps she has spent significant enough time in Ethiopia to write well about the country as a setting and about the cultural practices, though I do wonder as I couldn't find anywhere that said she had specifically lived there. I really wonder about how she could write a romance between two men as well. The book was quite well written and I absolutely loved it! These things just give me pause and are something to think about...
Spoiler
very happy!The only things that give me pause is that Adriana Herrera is both a woman writing a gay romance btetween two men, and from quick searches yesterday, does not seem to be Ethiopian. She has apparently spent 15 years traveling the world, so perhaps she has spent significant enough time in Ethiopia to write well about the country as a setting and about the cultural practices, though I do wonder as I couldn't find anywhere that said she had specifically lived there. I really wonder about how she could write a romance between two men as well. The book was quite well written and I absolutely loved it! These things just give me pause and are something to think about...