Reviews with content warning for Bullying - From the Start

Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

From the Start by Katie Duggan

8 reviews

lauraelovesbooks's review

funny lighthearted 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

I really enjoyed this book!

It has great banter, great representation, and a large family full of siblings whose stories I will eagerly await!

Nic and Josh have great black cat/golden retriever energy and I loved them together

This is a very impressive debut and I look forward to reading more in this series (and from this author)!

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wildatheart1339's review

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4.75

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aromanticreadsromance's review

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.5

love that there's no redemption arc for a homophobic relative!!!

full rtc

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mcrosby11's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

This book had a slow start, but once it picked up, I couldn't put it down. The characters are endearing, lovable, and relatable, making it a delightful one-sitting read. I'm eagerly anticipating more from this author, as the emotional rollercoaster and the slow burn kept me hooked. The first kiss even gave me butterflies, and I couldn't help but audibly squeal. It's a heartfelt story that strikes the perfect balance between cheesy and genuinely touching.

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ravenk28's review

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

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turnthepages_nl's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was healing and kind. Sweet and spicy. I loveeee the communication but also the banter.

I was scared this would be a Bergman Brothers wannabe situation. But Katie really found their own voice and made her own story. Yes, it also surrounds a family with chaotic siblings and has lots of disability representation. But it really stands on it's own and that makes me so happy! I got to read an eARC early and absolutely fell in love with Nic & Josh.

This was the first book I read with spicy lessons. And I was scared it would be 'too spicy' for my taste. But honestly I loved it. Because it wasn't just physical sex. It was emotional vulnerability. And it was beautiful. And the conversations about consent, protection, preferences, wants and needs?!! Ughhhhhhh AMAZING!

Nic is Autistic, Josh has PTSD. And both were handled with such care. I may not have autism, but I recognized a lot in Nic, because ADHD has a lot of similarities. And the way Josh was there for her when she got overwhelmed or had a shutdown/meltdown. It made me cry. I wish more people acted like Josh. Absolute husband material tbh. Not just boyfriend, he is Husband material!!! (Give me someone to calm my nervous system the way Josh calmes Nic by laying on her like a big weighted blanket, PLEASE! as long as it is with consent ofcource)

And they were both queer. And there were other queer characters. My Bisexual heart was so so happy. Nic is Bi, Josh doesn't label himself. They had conversations about both aesthetically/physically feeling attraction to a person and truly my Bi heart burst with joy. These conversations are so healing and wholesome. Being able to talk about these things with no shame or fear and with someone who gets it, it's amazing. No biphobic comments, just joy about the other person being able to appreciate someones looks and sharing in that joy with them. No cheating remarks. Just joy and love.

I don't know if anything I just said made sense. But this book means so so much to me. It healed a piece of me I didn't know needed healing. It was so wholesome. Filled with love and respect and joy and communication. Ofcourse mixed in with some lovely tropes like grumpy (her)/sunshine (him), enemies to lovers, sex lessons, found family and a big chaotic loving family. It has amazing disability representation, Bisexual and Queer rep and both MCs are fat.
I fell in love with Katies writing, loved their characters even more and cannot wait to read her next book, coming summer 2024!!!

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rickireadss's review

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5.0

OMFG!!!! i had a really good feeling i was going to enjoy this, and baby, i was right!

i am, first and foremost, an absolute *slut* for sex and/or intimacy lessons in contemporary romances and katie executed it SO WELL in this. the way my boy josh made a syllabus for the lessons between him and nic?!?!?!? BONER ALERT, like that is just so hot (*cue my competency kink*).

i just loved everything about this book. nic and josh are just such real characters, that are relatable and loveable. i honestly could not pick who i love more [read: this book is bi panic in its finest form] because i LOVE a grumpy fmc as i can relate to them faaaaaar more than a sunshine fmc, but i also DEVOUR a sunshine, golden retreiver mmc - like they are my bread and butter, i love them so much.

outside of their character dynamic, i loved seeing the representation in this book!! it was handled with such care, and made me tear up more than once. not only do we get disability rep (nic's autistic and josh has PTSD) and queer rep (nic's bisexual and josh is queer) BUT WE ALSO GOT A FAT MMC!!!!!!!! fat rep is so important to me, and i am always actively searching for it in books - but the fact that the MMC is fat just made me so happy. we see a lot of fat FMCs in stories but i've only read 1 or 2 others with fat MMCs.

and the way that josh being fat is like the perfect balance for nic because he is able to regulate her after they f*ck is just so hot and cute and made me cry ngl

ANYWAYS.... i could talk about this book all day i think, but it is just so good and a new favorite of mine. one last thing, the side characters in this are amazing!!!!! i love the quinn family and their group chat and cannot wait for each of their books!! okay bye, go pick this book up pls & ty!

thank you katie for sending me an ARC!! <3

⚠️: cancer, death of family member, death of parents (drunk driving accident), PTSD symptoms (nightmares), autistic meltdowns, fatphobia, bullying, ableism, religious trauma

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alesiagalati's review

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inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

This book had everything I love in a book. Sex Lessons, queer and fat representation, and a family that is loud and proud.

Nic was such a curmudgeon (with good reason) and Josh was the sweetest most attentive guy.

I loved the growth of both characters and how they used that growth to improve not only their relationship but the ones with others as well.