scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
2.0
I should have just watched the movie instead, I can see that it would transition so much better in movie form. The book was just bizarrely written for one, you had random point of views-one written in one paragraph for pages and in one of the main characters chapters-there were these pictures in places of words which was annoying making out what they were saying as some of them weren't clear at all and it just took you out of the writing.
Like Dash and Lily, I didn't like the main girl but really liked the main boy. I just don't think I like Cohn's writing because Levithan while some of his books aren't perfect I enjoy them more when he is not writing with Cohn. Alone, I find him very unique and writing with Nina LaCour produced a book I adored so I hope them two write more books together but if I see Cohn's name on it, I probably won't pick up which is a shame as they are writing another one together and it sounded good but this is my second book written by them both and again, I coudn't enjoy it as much, it was just very meh and the girl characters so annoying.
What did I like-Ely and Bruce 2's romance-so cute and I really liked Gabriel too but he should have stayed away from Naomi who is not likeable in the slightest.
Like Dash and Lily, I didn't like the main girl but really liked the main boy. I just don't think I like Cohn's writing because Levithan while some of his books aren't perfect I enjoy them more when he is not writing with Cohn. Alone, I find him very unique and writing with Nina LaCour produced a book I adored so I hope them two write more books together but if I see Cohn's name on it, I probably won't pick up which is a shame as they are writing another one together and it sounded good but this is my second book written by them both and again, I coudn't enjoy it as much, it was just very meh and the girl characters so annoying.
What did I like-Ely and Bruce 2's romance-so cute and I really liked Gabriel too but he should have stayed away from Naomi who is not likeable in the slightest.
alonepeanut's review against another edition
3.0
this was an unusual reading experience for me because I found the story to be a wishy washy collection of events, Naomi and Eli to be very hollow characters and there was an unusual amounts of POV's most of which were completely unnecessary.
However, I found it an addicting read. I am definitely not the quickest reader but I somehow read this is one sitting.
When I think about it this feels like a first draft of a story that could be quite good. If Naomi and Eli were developed more as truly unlikable characters, if the relationships and dynamics were fleshed out, and the backgrounds of the characters were explored more it could have been something very interesting and thoughtful. Also cut out the 100 different POV's from irrelevant characters.
However, I found it an addicting read. I am definitely not the quickest reader but I somehow read this is one sitting.
When I think about it this feels like a first draft of a story that could be quite good. If Naomi and Eli were developed more as truly unlikable characters, if the relationships and dynamics were fleshed out, and the backgrounds of the characters were explored more it could have been something very interesting and thoughtful. Also cut out the 100 different POV's from irrelevant characters.
berodatheelf's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rachels1127's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
the way the pining, yearning, angst, and frustration hit me all at once i-😭. i think naomi had her realization and started growing out of it it awfully quick considering her and Ely had known each other their whole lives. i think part of her denial of him being gay was because she felt he couldn't really be "hers" unless she slept with him? or maybe that's me projecting? she said "How come Ely never waned me? At least once? What's wrong with me?" like miss girl you ALREADY have him. anyway they were definitely codependent and i'm a slut for that it's true
"Friendship is love as much as any romance"
"It's a total lie to say there's only one person you're going to be with for the rest of your life. If you're lucky-and if you try really hard-there will always be more than one."
"It's bs to think of friendship and romance as being different. They're not. They're just variations of the same love. Variations of the same desire to be close"
"i can't believe that i alone am a good enough reason"
-all quotes that made me feel ill 😍
Robin (guy) learning he can be friends with women amen 🙏🏼for a couple pages at least
"Friendship is love as much as any romance"
"It's a total lie to say there's only one person you're going to be with for the rest of your life. If you're lucky-and if you try really hard-there will always be more than one."
"It's bs to think of friendship and romance as being different. They're not. They're just variations of the same love. Variations of the same desire to be close"
"i can't believe that i alone am a good enough reason"
-all quotes that made me feel ill 😍
Robin (guy) learning he can be friends with women amen 🙏🏼
hetellama83's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. One thing I enjoy most about Levithan’s and Cohn’s writing styles is how magnificently they handle voice and character. This book is another fantastic example of that.
xdarkthunderx's review against another edition
1.0
SO MANY IMPORTANT PROBLEMS. For starters, I hated Naomi. Like, really hated her. She was in love with her GAY best friend. That's called a fantasy. As in, never going to happen. Sure, sometimes people dream about marrying people who they know that are, like, married or something, but still, that's boring to read about. Don't make it one of main plots of the book. Besides that, she's just overall really unlikable. The other plot revolves around how Ely "stole" Naomi's boyfriend from her who she numerously stated that she didn't even like that much. David Levithan Syndrome again. Love some, strongly dislike others. I'm sorry, David. So sorry.
sanmeow's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
a book about two friends, and both of them are equally irritating. naomi has a crush on ely, despite the fact that she knows ely is gay and therefore only likes men. ely isn't much better because he, for whatever reason, flirts with naomi as if he doesn't like guys. and of course, their friendship sort of blows up in flames when ely kisses naomi's boyfriend. again, no idea why that would happen. the writing style is absolutely horrible. two authors worked on this together, and apparently neither of them could make the novel sound less like it was written by a 12 year old. while it is true that teens do curse quite a lot, the way the authors wrote it made it sound very unnatural and misplaced. everything about this book felt pointless and it very much disappointed me.
jolaechen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
dontthink2x's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0