Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Застенчивость в квадрате by Sarah Hogle

12 reviews

sage_alexandra's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was really cute.

Maybell has a very vivid and whimsical imagination that she uses to escape her subpar, mundane, and sometimes sad life. When her great aunt Vivian dies and leaves Maybell her entire property, Maybell finally gets the fresh start she deserves. Pair that with a broody, grumpy dude (Wesley) who might have a hard exterior, but is actually squishy soft, and you get an adorable enemies to lovers romance.

I loved learning bits and pieces of Vivian and Victor's (her husband who passed about 2 decades prior) love story and experiencing Maybell's memories through rose-colored glasses (literally).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content

Minor: Confinement, Racism, Vomit, Car accident, and Abandonment

The only racism mentioned in the book is in regards to Vivian and Victor's romance. Victor was black, I'm not positive on the timeline, but they were together years before they were allowed to legally marry. The two faced a lot of discrimination, leading them to purchase their remote property to escape.

aurora4847's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Misogyny, Racism, Terminal illness, and Vomit

katievallin's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Racism, and Sexism

anielabooks's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-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

3.0

It was entertaining, but I wasn’t hooked. The narrating that Maybel does can sound a bit cringy at times. However, I really like Wesley’s character and the mental illness representation. As someone that experiences panic attacks, I felt it was handled very respectfully. While I wasn’t in love with this book, Hogle’s other work, “You Deserve Each Other” is one of my all time favorite contemporary romances. If you were disappointed with this one, I recommend to still give the other a chance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Racism, and Death of parent

rakizaka's review against another edition

characters were likeable and the premise was cute but it was moving too slow

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism

wilybooklover's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Reading this felt like drinking a mug of hot chocolate; comforting and sweet in a simple yet charming way. 

I found both main characters really relatable. As a daydreamer myself (albeit not to this extent), I enjoyed reading a main character who daydreams in such vivid detail and loses herself in an imaginary world. Contrary to some other readers, I didn’t find it difficult to tell when the daydreams began or that the daydreams took over the narrative compared to the plot. Also, like Maybell, I do appreciate a man in a nice cardigan. 

Wesley was just the most adorable cinnamon roll ever despite his grouchy exterior, especially after the 40% mark when he starts to open up. I appreciated that the ~power of love~ didn’t miraculously cure him of his social anxiety like it does so often in romances. His dislike of socialising definitely spoke to me. 

I did think the side characters were a bit too cruel to be real, although they didn’t take up much page time and the cruelty was tempered by the sweetness of the romance. The house renovations were also completed unrealistically quickly with remarkably few hiccups. That never happens. 

Overall, this was a really cute, fluffy read that still had a lot of depth and heart to it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Misogyny, and Racism

valeria_gzz's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

5.0

SO FREAKING ADORABLE!!! Once again I don’t know why I waited so long to read this!! 

Oh my gosh Wesley was so cute and I related to him AND Maybel almost equally I think. Both of these characters were adorable and then out together UGH. I can’t cope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Racism

nicolesreadingbooks's review against another edition

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I feel like Sarah Hogle just really enjoys putting her main characters in a secluded derelict house and I am HERE FOR IT HAHA!! Wesley is literally my dream man like the whole time I was just thinking he could not possibly get better BUT HE DOES?!? And seeing Maybell stand up for herself in her own way and fulfill her dreams by working hard with what she has, showing that bravery does not always have to come in loud actions but in taking steps towards a better future even when one is afraid. I also really appreciated the attention given to social anxiety and could really relate to some of Wesley's troubles with public settings and how its effects can trickle down in other areas such as with personal relationships. (also victor and violet's relationship was so heartwarming i can't- )

Overall, this is definitely a comfort read and I can foresee myself rereading this when life goes bad. In fact, I read this after a bad interview and omg some of the lines in this book had me cACKLING and laughing even as I fell asleep!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Racism

jonezzzing's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Racism

dashboardlights24601's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cancer, Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Grief