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moonylovesstars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Deadnaming, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
sebradley29's review
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
yayokay's review
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia
amberinpieces'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
4.75
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
booktwinning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Sexual assault
sydflower's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Minor: Sexual assault
izzymannellasbookshelf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I always forget about how much I love the fake dating trope until I read another book with it. And the way the trope is done in this book? Amazing. Gold stars. Take my money.
The main character Doe is so blessedly different from your average protagonist. She's not obsessed with romance and boys while pretending not to be. She just takes romance as it is & when it comes but her focus is elsewhere. She loves the school that gave her a home when she needed one, and she will do anything to protect it from the boys' school across from it. She has a one-track mind and goes all in when she cares about something.
Doe's senior year is centered around a centuries' long "war" with the rival all-boys school Winfield, but heightens when they all find out that the schools might merge next year. Doe and her friends will do anything to keep the Weston school for girls and only girls, a refuge for those who need it as much as they have.
But Doe's focus on stopping the merger becomes more of a one-on-one game against her nemesis at the boy's school, one who goes by the nickname Three. Doe and Three are constantly at each other's throats, so it shouldn't be a surprise when she makes an interesting bargain and pretends to date the cousin he hates: Gabriel Wellborn. Aka Wells. Akaka, the pretty one.
And it shouldn't be a surprise when she catches not-so-pretend feelings...
Read if you like:
x the fake dating trope
x witty banter (a lot of it. in the best way)
x strong friend groups
x boy-girl rivalries
x betrayals?? hmmm
x and BOOK BOYFRIENDS that you can add to your list (I know you have one)
Thank you so much to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book early.
Minor: Cursing and Sexual assault
peachy_dreamy's review
- 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
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment