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jennylarue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Easily the most unique styled book I’ve read. Loved how it was told and the turns it took through time and this relationship. Super cute read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, and Death of parent
lucyrudd's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
katherinek's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had trouble getting into this at first. I didn't really like the main characters and it fell pretty flat for the first 75 pages or so, but after that it picked up and I was able to get into it more. I loved the dog!! The timeline jumping confused me a couple times, but it was a good choice for how the story unraveled. There was a lot of fluff that could've been left out, especially a lot of the articles that were sprinkled in.
When it comes to the characters, I wanted to know more about Jacinda and Ollie. I think that was the intention with Jacinda because she was supposed to feel like a perfect, untouchable celebrity, but I wish the author had gone a different direction with her. Ollie was pretty interesting at first but he quickly turned into just a stereotypical gay man which disappointed me.
I felt the same way about Gabe, too; nothing about him really excited me at all. Chani, however, was very well developed, but I just couldn't see why she really liked Gabe, other than the fact that he was her celebrity crush. The chemistry between them was barely there for me.
The plot was still pretty interesting for the most part, though. I loved the theatre and movie references sprinkled in, and the inside jokes that resurfaced throughout the story were a nice touch. I especially loved how Chani's article about her "perfect day" foreshadowed her trip to the bookstore with Gabe.
When it comes to the characters, I wanted to know more about Jacinda and Ollie. I think that was the intention with Jacinda because she was supposed to feel like a perfect, untouchable celebrity, but I wish the author had gone a different direction with her. Ollie was pretty interesting at first but he quickly turned into just a stereotypical gay man which disappointed me.
I felt the same way about Gabe, too; nothing about him really excited me at all. Chani, however, was very well developed, but I just couldn't see why she really liked Gabe, other than the fact that he was her celebrity crush. The chemistry between them was barely there for me.
The plot was still pretty interesting for the most part, though. I loved the theatre and movie references sprinkled in, and the inside jokes that resurfaced throughout the story were a nice touch. I especially loved how Chani's article about her "perfect day" foreshadowed her trip to the bookstore with Gabe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Homophobia
Minor: Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Antisemitism, and Grief
leighannebfd3b's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, and Car accident
deluna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Grief
katiehasanxiety's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: alcohol addition, alcohol and drug mention, slut shaming, sexual harassment, infidelity, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, death of family member, car accident, sexual content
A mix of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and How To Fake It In Hollywood, this was a delightful novel about a missed connection and a second chance given ten years later.
Chani is a writer who got to profile the first American Bond which leads to the explosive success of both their careers. Ten years later she gets asked to do another profile on him as he attempts to resurrect his career after conflict and rehab.
Right from the get go, you experience the weight of their relationship. Despite Chani being the pov you see through most of the book, Gabe is a looming influence throughout the book, in the flashbacks and in their present timeline. The book really hammered in that their lives were intertwined. This gave you the incredible experience of being a spectator to their lives through the articles interspersed throughout and also get the insider scoop through Chani's timelines. You get to question their lives and speculate about their relationship while also getting a lot of insider information. It creates this really intriguing dramatic irony of knowing what the public doesn't know while also knowing what perhaps Chani and Gabe weren't privy to about outside opinions on them.
I loved how strategically the story was constructed. News excerpts and flashbacks were not tossed in willy nilly for funsies. Every piece of story provided fed into the next level of development in the story. You built sympathy for the characters before you even knew what pain they were going to experience, making the low points in the book personally painful for you as the reader.
I also really enjoyed how many full circle moments the book provided. Earlier throwaway lines that the characters and even the reader would overlook were given a moment of reprise with a significantly altered a deeper meaning than before. This punctuated the emotional moments in the book beautifully, providing depth to emotional moments without saying much.
This book is a masterclass in stating and withholding just the right amount of information to keep you pondering the story past its conclusion without feeling like you were cut short on a clean ending.
Incredible.
A mix of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and How To Fake It In Hollywood, this was a delightful novel about a missed connection and a second chance given ten years later.
Chani is a writer who got to profile the first American Bond which leads to the explosive success of both their careers. Ten years later she gets asked to do another profile on him as he attempts to resurrect his career after conflict and rehab.
Right from the get go, you experience the weight of their relationship. Despite Chani being the pov you see through most of the book, Gabe is a looming influence throughout the book, in the flashbacks and in their present timeline. The book really hammered in that their lives were intertwined. This gave you the incredible experience of being a spectator to their lives through the articles interspersed throughout and also get the insider scoop through Chani's timelines. You get to question their lives and speculate about their relationship while also getting a lot of insider information. It creates this really intriguing dramatic irony of knowing what the public doesn't know while also knowing what perhaps Chani and Gabe weren't privy to about outside opinions on them.
I loved how strategically the story was constructed. News excerpts and flashbacks were not tossed in willy nilly for funsies. Every piece of story provided fed into the next level of development in the story. You built sympathy for the characters before you even knew what pain they were going to experience, making the low points in the book personally painful for you as the reader.
I also really enjoyed how many full circle moments the book provided. Earlier throwaway lines that the characters and even the reader would overlook were given a moment of reprise with a significantly altered a deeper meaning than before. This punctuated the emotional moments in the book beautifully, providing depth to emotional moments without saying much.
This book is a masterclass in stating and withholding just the right amount of information to keep you pondering the story past its conclusion without feeling like you were cut short on a clean ending.
Incredible.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
kassielovestoread's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I seriously cannot believe I read this entire book in only a matter of hours. It was addicting! Before I knew it, I had already reached the halfway point of this book and decided, fuck it, just finish it in one go.
I was bummed that this book wasn't a dual POV as it is a must have in rom-coms for me, but I realized that the book probably wouldn't have worked if we got a Gabe pov on top of everything else. I thought the book was a little busy in the switching timelines and the articles/reviews/blog posts in between the chapters. It took some adjusting! Once I overcame that hurdle, I literally couldn't put this book down. Chani and Gabe remind me why I love reading contemporary romances- some moments were so deeply romantic that I had to put the book down to squeal of joy(Teddy. "I thought we'd established that I've read everything you've written." Gabe Parker-Horrowitz. AGHHHHH) It was just so darn good!
This book does pack an emotional punch however. It deals with some heavy themes: addiction, grief and sexism being the most prevalent. Gabe has done his fair share of fucked up things and at first, I was shaking my head at Chani to protect herself from his charm. But the way his trauma and addiction is explored is deeply impactful, you can't help but want to protect Gabe from just about everything.
I'd absolutely recommend this book to all. It's got a little something in it for everyone, I think!
I was bummed that this book wasn't a dual POV as it is a must have in rom-coms for me, but I realized that the book probably wouldn't have worked if we got a Gabe pov on top of everything else. I thought the book was a little busy in the switching timelines and the articles/reviews/blog posts in between the chapters. It took some adjusting! Once I overcame that hurdle, I literally couldn't put this book down. Chani and Gabe remind me why I love reading contemporary romances- some moments were so deeply romantic that I had to put the book down to squeal of joy
This book does pack an emotional punch however. It deals with some heavy themes: addiction, grief and sexism being the most prevalent. Gabe has done his fair share of fucked up things and at first, I was shaking my head at Chani to protect herself from his charm. But the way his trauma and addiction is explored is deeply impactful, you can't help but want to protect Gabe from just about everything.
I'd absolutely recommend this book to all. It's got a little something in it for everyone, I think!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexism
Moderate: Grief
writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Car accident, and Death of parent
gabbadabbadoo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
This book felt particularly refreshing and I can't exactly figure out why. maybe bc it was the first nonlinear timeline I've read in a minute, or maybe bc it felt pretty straightforward in a good way??? might've read it too fast but there definitely wasn't a lot of unnecessary fluff or dancing around the point and i like that. i also loved the bits of articles and blogs between chapters. i wanted to give this 4 stars but it just feel slike there's something missing like 70% in and the confession at the end sort of fell flat for me.
i also loved that gabe hyphenated his name lmao
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Antisemitism, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent