sophieamreacher'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Outing
Minor: Sexism, Classism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Deportation, Sexual assault, Addiction, Grief, Death, and Biphobia
annahamburger'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
Graphic: Sexual content, Outing, Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Classism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Racism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, Cancer, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Ableism, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Sexism
kaitlinwarwick's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia
felicityvaughn'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
5.0
Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Biphobia, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content
jadencove'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
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, Biphobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
jasmineslibraryy's review
- 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
4.25
i thought it was adorable. alex & henry are adorable. i also adore the women of this book so much. june, nora, bea all truly deserve the world.
i do wish this book was faster in the beginning. it feels like it started off slow and then picked up a lot of speed towards the end instead of having one even pace. i also think rafael luna did not deserve forgiveness. i do not like him. i sympathize with his backstory but good lord i wish alex and his family didn't forgive him. it didn't make any sense to me.
overall, i would recommend this book mostly for the romance.
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Biphobia, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Abandonment, Toxic friendship, and Rape
recycled_personalities's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Spoiler
It definitely gets more serious and honestly a little scary near the end bc the mc’s are outed but the book is pretty fast-paced so it moves on quickly.Graphic: Alcohol, Outing, Addiction, Death of parent, Confinement, and Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Cursing, and Grief
hiddeninfantasy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual content, Grief, and Homophobia
another_dahlia's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Biphobia, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Moderate: Addiction and Colonisation
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
1.5/5 spice
OMG, whyyyyyy can't this be real 😭
Tropes:
Hate to friends to lovers
Prince/First Son
Forbidden romance
Secret relationship
Grumpy/sunshine
Political scandal
Close proximity
Bi-awakening
Sweet love emails
LGBTQIA rep
Single POV
I went in with no expectations simply because it's been hyped up so much and that now is also a movie, I didn't want to be disappointed. But OMG, was this the sweetest! Funny, swoon worthy, and overall a full-on fairytale. "Fairytale," meaning it's so unrealistic in these cursed times it hurts its not real 💔
I loved the whole "I hate you" vibes it started out with that quickly turned to, "you're my new bestie", and finally to "You're the one...I love you so much." 🥲🫶🏽 I did not expect so many sweet moments, especially the love emails they would send to each other with historical references. Uuuugh my heart.
I also loved that both MCs had a circle of friends and family that were supportive and loving. I know the reality is so different for a lot of LGBTQIA people, and it was heartwarming to read something positive... even though it's fiction.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of forbidden romance in a romcom setting.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Minor incidents of bigotry with a few mentions of forced heternormative familial obligations. Fade to black spice but lots of kissing and alluding to sexual acts. Invasion of privacy and public outing without permission.
Minor: Homophobia, Biphobia, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry