stacy837's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
Finally a book with that don't end up with the straight guy
Spoiler
bisexual/pansexual characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Classism, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Biphobia, Sexual content, and Grief
micaelacccc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexism, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am obsessed with this concept. Like. Oh my God. It’s YA/new adult romance in the corniest and sometimes best way, especially to have a silly sapphic romance where coming out isn’t a plot issue and the realities of messy queer dating vs. cishet expectations feel integrated. The third act conflict was a little much but I can really see Skye and Maya together as people. Also fuck Jordy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Infidelity
teaskate's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
A pretty cool concept, which I adored. I always wondered about the behind the scenes of a reality show so that book was a interesting read. Also the main couple was cute. I recommend this book if you are looking for a vacation sweet lighthearted romance read. Thank you :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
lackyducks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
A fun read with a lot of emotional depth despite its positive outlook.
The story centers around two first person perspectives, that of Maya and Skye. From the get go, the narrative is good at painting Jordy as the antagonist by giving the reader a perspective the girls don't have - what he's saying to them versus the other.
The humour of the book is spot on, playing well on the media industry. It's a story that feels very apt in the current climate. The reality television clichés are plentiful, yet provide a good basis for the story to take place.
The characters all felt surprisingly well fleshed out. Even side characters we meet less often have backgrounds and inner motivation that isn't obvious at first. They feel like a well developed group, instead of just people made to fill spaces. The story is good at making antagonists of them, yet resolving it with new perspectives and sides to situations.
The story is also an optimistic showing of girls sticking together and looking out for each other. Alongside the main romance you have lots of friendship throughout the cast of girls, as they bond during the show. This comes together brilliantly at the end, and had me smiling wide.
The story is also multi-layered. Underneath the story of revenge and the dating show, you have learning to open up and trust again, trying to figure out your future and what you want to do with it. Just like a TV show, there's a lot more happening behind the scenes than first appears.
And, the book is cleverly structured where things start to fall apart for Jordy once the girls begin sharing perspectives.
The story centers around two first person perspectives, that of Maya and Skye. From the get go, the narrative is good at painting Jordy as the antagonist by giving the reader a perspective the girls don't have - what he's saying to them versus the other.
The humour of the book is spot on, playing well on the media industry. It's a story that feels very apt in the current climate. The reality television clichés are plentiful, yet provide a good basis for the story to take place.
The characters all felt surprisingly well fleshed out. Even side characters we meet less often have backgrounds and inner motivation that isn't obvious at first. They feel like a well developed group, instead of just people made to fill spaces. The story is good at making antagonists of them, yet resolving it with new perspectives and sides to situations.
The story is also an optimistic showing of girls sticking together and looking out for each other. Alongside the main romance you have lots of friendship throughout the cast of girls, as they bond during the show. This comes together brilliantly at the end, and had me smiling wide.
The story is also multi-layered. Underneath the story of revenge and the dating show, you have learning to open up and trust again, trying to figure out your future and what you want to do with it. Just like a TV show, there's a lot more happening behind the scenes than first appears.
And, the book is cleverly structured where things start to fall apart for Jordy once the girls begin sharing perspectives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Biphobia and Body shaming
redphonebooth3's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
3.25
This includes all my favourite tropes: secret realtionship, enemies to lovers, shitty men getting what they deserve, sapphic happiness. And mix in a reality tv dating show (and the Taylor swift title of course) and I just had a great time reading this.
I was scared this would be too long when I first saw the page count, but I feel like the pacing was done really well and made sure every plot point and character got enough time to be present. I think the only thing I would have liked more was perhaps some more tension between the two women. Their first romantic moment together felt quite abrupt for my liking but I do see how it fits within the plot. Still I like to learn for my couples lmao. Once their story together got started though I was all in.
A fun read for anyone who thinks The Bachelor should just be gayer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
gellyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I kinda feel petty not giving this 5 stars because even though I didn’t like the conflicts in the relationship, I thought they were valid and resolved beautifully. The middle just dragged a bit? I also didn’t really enjoy Although I also really enjoyed that both of these girls were out and comfortable with their sexualities from day 1! We love to see it! This was super cute!
Spoiler
the whole college subplot for Maya and then it being unresolved or that we didn’t get a chance for Skye to have like a moment to Jordy or ~something~ to help her go through her abandonment issues. That resolved itself way too quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, and Infidelity
rickireadss's review against another edition
4.0
once i found out the premise of this story, i KNEW i had to read it. i love reality tv show settings in romance books, especially when there is queer rep. i do wish the characters were a little older - it just felt weird that some where barely 18. i also kinda felt as if the relationship between our two mcs needed a little more on-page development. like i just wanted them to have more time together for me to be like FULLY invested in their love, if that makes sense. overall, i had a great time - it was funny and i wanted to PUNCH the living daylights out of jordy.
⚠️: gaslighting, toxic relationship, infidelity, misogyny, alcohol, biphobia, car accident
⚠️: gaslighting, toxic relationship, infidelity, misogyny, alcohol, biphobia, car accident
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcohol, Biphobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident
brynn_books's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
This book was so adorable. It was basically The Bachelor but with a sapphic twist. Love triangles are automatically superior if the two love interests get together instead. I liked how this critiqued reality tv shows by portraying it as a way to pit women against each other. But the women in this book definitely didn’t fall for it as they all became friends in the end. There was just something so satisfying about Jordy reaching his downfall at the end. I fucking hate that guy!
I wish we had gotten more of Maya and Skye throughout the story. I feel like some of their romance was rushed, or it was more of a physical relationship. I didn’t fully feel that emotional connection until the end. I just would have liked to see more heartfelt conversations between the two girls in the middle of the story.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the miscommunication trope that happened at the end of the story. It was relatively small compared to other books I’ve read but it was still frustrating. Overall, I really enjoyed this sapphic rom-com. I would highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Moderate: Emotional abuse
caelysium's review against another edition
funny
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Toxic relationship