diana_raquel'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
3.75
Please tell me people who look like us can be desired.
Please tell me people who look like us can have happy endings.”
This book has been on my radar for quite some time, due to the fact that involves the world of fan fiction. As a fan girl myself I found myself attracted to it. And the plus size representation was a plus!
I really enjoyed this book. Is it the best goddam romance that I ever read? No. But it is a light, cute, heartwarming romance about a fan girl meeting her celebrity crush that its also her online best friend. Its a good summer reading!
Tully recommend it if you want a light, cute summer reading!
Graphic: Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Cursing, Sexual content, and Body shaming
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Eating disorder
just_klaudia's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Body shaming, and Bullying
notsobinaryart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Ableism
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Misogyny, Eating disorder, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Alcohol, and War
jucolo's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
I also loved that the story centered around important and nuanced conversations around fatphobia, neurodivergence, fanfiction/fandom culture and parental relationships.
I want to emphasize that there may be triggering content in this book (which I go into below), but those triggers don't preclude the story from being thoughtful and caring for its characters. Oftentimes, I feel that with romance-type books, the triggers we list are because the author is engaging with certain problematic tropes (which, I will still read; I'm not judge-y). With Spoiler Alert, however, this is not the case. The triggers here portend well-crafted, three-dimensional character building. These characters have complicated histories, but they are both striving to do better and work on themselves. The triggers don't arise from shoddy writing, but rather from in-depth conversations on crucial topics. Unbelievably refreshing.
Graphic: Ableism and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Child abuse
The MC is fat. Dade (the author) does a good job (IMO) in explaining why "fat" isn't a negative word without the story feeling like an infographic. She handles conversations around fat liberation well. It was refreshing to have an MC who looks like a real person. It was especially refreshing for the lead guy (noted for being stereotypically Hollywood handsome) to find the MC sexy/hot/beautiful. This is what SHOULD be happening in books. We see it happen in real life, for crying out loud! I tagged for fatphobia becauseSpoiler
although our MC loves her body and doesn't view "fat" as an insult, insulting behavior does happen to her. There are a few difficult scenes between her and her mom/family that could potentially be triggering.Spoiler
there are flashbacks to his parents being emotionally abusive due to their inability to accept his neurodivergence. That neglect strains the relationship he has with them during the story.cristinareading's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia and Ableism
valeroyeaux's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Fatphobia and Child abuse
kylieqrada'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
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Ableism
thelittlebookishcorner's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
~ spoiler free ~
I loved reading about a plus size main character who didn't want to alter or change her body for her partner. April was a strong woman who liked herself and her body and who enjoyed her sexuality. Marcus was a kind and sensitive partner, who had his own self worth issues and body image issues. I enjoyed the spice and how much Marcus appreciated April and made her feel loved. I thought the side characters (Alex, and the rest of Marcus' cast mates) were interesting and I will seek out the rest in the series. It was cute, funny, and had some good spice.
~ spoilers below ~
More things I liked:
- April setting boundaries with her parents and other people who made her question her self worth.
- Marcus setting boundaries with his parents too.
- I loved their love scenes
- Alex was a fun side character - he is a little shit and I cannot wait to read the next book which is about him.
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
ginadapooh's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Minor: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
stubbornlybookish's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse