myhandmadehell's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Youth is wasted on the young.
I really really liked the representation of ADHD (in a woman, no less!) as well as the overarching messages of not judging a book by its cover. Jocks can also be nerds, hot fashion-loving girls can also be smart, etc etc. All very good stuff.
But this book was lowkey painful to read. The slow burn aspect of it felt interminable - and not in a good way. The two leads hardly spend any time together in the first half of the book, partly because there are like five hundred other characters who all need page-time for some reason, and partly because they’re both being very stupid. And not in a fun way, but in a “oh no I can’t say what I feel” way that just kind of grates after a while. Their eventual decision to get together feels anticlimactic (despite there being one whole climax between the two of them in their first sexy scene together) and after that it kind of seems like both of their “flaws” just sort of…vanish. The book then carries on with the task of wrapping up about 1/4 of the plot points it opened - I assume there are more novels after this where we’ll see some of that move forward.
Anyway this felt like kind of a mess: the pacing was weird, the book felt too full of multiple other characters who took time away from the main romantic plot, and honestly some of the bad things that happened to female lead Summer felt really distressing and unfair (not to mention, trigger warning, an attempted sexual assault against another character towards the end of the book).
Also are there really so many adults in this world who not only still have deep grudges from high school but also have genuinely never encountered young people who challenge that narrative for them? One of them was literally an adviser at an IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL who later admits “oh I was poor growing up and I have an issue with rich kids getting what they want in universities and that’s why I was such a dick to you in particular) and like…really?? Was she the only student who you ever treated that way? And was she really the first one to ever make you think that maybe you shouldn’t do that?
Anyway, didn’t love this one, but the character voice was very good between the two POVs, and the leads felt like real people. It was just sort of the plot and pacing that was weird.
I really really liked the representation of ADHD (in a woman, no less!) as well as the overarching messages of not judging a book by its cover. Jocks can also be nerds, hot fashion-loving girls can also be smart, etc etc. All very good stuff.
But this book was lowkey painful to read. The slow burn aspect of it felt interminable - and not in a good way. The two leads hardly spend any time together in the first half of the book, partly because there are like five hundred other characters who all need page-time for some reason, and partly because they’re both being very stupid. And not in a fun way, but in a “oh no I can’t say what I feel” way that just kind of grates after a while. Their eventual decision to get together feels anticlimactic (despite there being one whole climax between the two of them in their first sexy scene together) and after that it kind of seems like both of their “flaws” just sort of…vanish. The book then carries on with the task of wrapping up about 1/4 of the plot points it opened - I assume there are more novels after this where we’ll see some of that move forward.
Anyway this felt like kind of a mess: the pacing was weird, the book felt too full of multiple other characters who took time away from the main romantic plot, and honestly some of the bad things that happened to female lead Summer felt really distressing and unfair (not to mention, trigger warning, an attempted sexual assault against another character towards the end of the book).
Also are there really so many adults in this world who not only still have deep grudges from high school but also have genuinely never encountered young people who challenge that narrative for them? One of them was literally an adviser at an IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL who later admits “oh I was poor growing up and I have an issue with rich kids getting what they want in universities and that’s why I was such a dick to you in particular) and like…really?? Was she the only student who you ever treated that way? And was she really the first one to ever make you think that maybe you shouldn’t do that?
Anyway, didn’t love this one, but the character voice was very good between the two POVs, and the leads felt like real people. It was just sort of the plot and pacing that was weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
kirareadssometimes's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Has that class is off campus feeling that is just so comfortable to read. All the characters were so fun! A little too much time spent on stuff that felt irrelevant or just entirely separate from the couple. Like too much writing about her class when I’d rather them doing something together. <I was also bummed how things ended with hunter. I know he has his own book in the series but it felt neglectful.> summer was way less stressful than I thought she would be. Sexy and lighthearted but with a touch of real world issues near the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
sebradley29's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Violence
itsmeyseniab's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a very fast-paced read, but I will say that it took me a little while longer to get into it than it usually does when I pick up a book by this author. My feelings towards this story are nearly the same as they were towards The Deal - while it was a fun sports romance, and steamy at times, I ultimately didn't feel drawn toward Summer and Fitz as a couple - I just didn't really see the chemistry. I loved Summer as a heroine (and appreciated that she held a lot of feminist beliefs!) but I found Fitz to be pretty forgettable, albeit his character was meant to assume the role of a wallflower who hates being the center of attention (unlike the majority of his teammates). Their "conflict" within the first half of the novel was TIRESOME I did appreciate how Elle Kennedy highlighted how big of a problem sexual harassment is, and especially between individuals in asymmetrical power dynamics. That being said, I didn't particularly enjoy how Summer's ADHD and learning disability was portrayed - it came off as ableist in my opinion, and that having any type of cognitive disability is something to be ashamed of which of course is not true. Summer became more gentle with herself at the end of the novel and acknowledged that her learning disability is nothing to be ashamed of, but I do have to highlight this particular quote from page 154 (and Summer's internal dialogue):
Spoiler
I mean come on, him saying that he found her "surface-level" should not have caused her to be pissed off for 150 pages I'm SORRY. It was ridiculous, and was reaching in my opinion.In high school, my special-ed teacher - oh gosh, it makes me want to throw up saying that. It's frigging mortifying.
It definitely wasn't great, but it was good to see Summer's growth by the end. All that being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how the series progresses!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Ableism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Infidelity
meggybee's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence
kb33's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
There’s a little to much chase in The Chase. For most of the book, Fitz earnestly acts like a guy who doesn’t want to be caught. But a little nudity totally solves that and all his other relationship issues, right?
There was such a great tone of feminism throughout the book, but then there’s some weird shit like admiring a Nazi collaborator, and casual cocaine use.
There was such a great tone of feminism throughout the book, but then there’s some weird shit like admiring a Nazi collaborator, and casual cocaine use.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual assault, and Drug use
Minor: Blood and Sexual harassment
pinklilypad's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Violence, and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual assault
megcarrick's review
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual harassment, Classism, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
vanessa1982's review
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
cluckieduck's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
At first, I was being a total Fitz and taking Summer at surface level - so much so that I considered stoping at about 10%. Then I realized that was unfair, so I gave it a few more chapters and ended up really enjoying Summer as the MFC. Her struggles with ADHD were handled really well and I appreciated the attempt to show her adaptation to alternate learning methods.
However, while I ended up enjoying probably the first 80%, the last 20% just tanked - everything moved at light speed and it all got wrapped up with a pretty bow much too quickly.
However, while I ended up enjoying probably the first 80%, the last 20% just tanked - everything moved at light speed and it all got wrapped up with a pretty bow much too quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Sexual content, Cursing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Violence, Bullying, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse