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chlobobass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Classism, and Deportation
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal cruelty and Drug use
fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A far better version of Cinderella than the original!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
betsybear4's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Abandonment
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Overall I think the book was just okay. I thought it had a strong start and introduced a lot of interesting concepts and ideas. I was looking forward to something with political intrigue and seeing how this character from my childhood handled it all, but in the end it just fell flat.
I think there were a lot of interesting and likeable characters. Especially the women in the book, each one felt unique and stood out in her own way. I also liked the take on Charles (Prince Charming). I enjoyed him being more forward thinking and open to new ideas, something that helped him and Cinderella bond.
While I liked the characters I felt their conflicts were stated too openly and the story could have been more improved without such on the nose statements. This also was a detriment to the plot/subplots. Having such on the nose statements of intent and character weakened these and the attached plot twist. The book pitched political intrigue and just didn’t deliver.
I also didn’t find myself particularly invested in the romance, though I did find Cinderella and Charles’ interactions endearing. I wish the book had spent more time building up their relationship and dynamic.
Overall it was a fine book. Nothing to write home about, but I enjoyed it and Elizabeth Lim’s writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
barry_benson's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
olivialandryxo's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’ve read nearly all of the Twisted Tales books, and this one is one of the best, up there with Reflection and Part of Your World. So This is Love is a brilliant reimagining of the classic Cinderella story, only with much better-developed characters and an unexpected amount of political intrigue. I quite enjoyed the whole story, but especially Cinderella and Charles’ sweet romance (even if it reeks of insta-love), Charles’ aunt Genevieve, and the focus on the fairy godmother. Overall, this was a fun read that I sped through, and would definitely recommend to anyone interested in fairytale retellings.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
All are tagged due to brief mentions of them throughout the story—the abuse due to Cinderella’s life with Lady Tremaine, and the death and grief due to her losing both parents and Charles losing his mother.