displacedcactus'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
I did have a couple of frustrations with the book. Erin, the MILF, felt a bit sketched-in at times. Throughout the book, she's working on trying to get a free clinic launched, but while this idea is mentioned several times, and we see her working on it, the details are so incredibly vague as to why she wants it and what her goal is for it.
And as someone who has never experienced campus life, I had some concerns about Cassie's drinking.
Spoiler
We find out pretty early on that Cassie's mother is an alcoholic and drug addict, so it feels weird that only one side character ever addresses Cassie getting sloppy drunk. I know that heavy drinking at parties is a normal college-age thing, but it was so emphasized in the early chapters that I thought this was going to be part of her character arc, when instead her problem drinking mostly resolves itself as her other problems resolve themselves.On the other hand, one thing I did really like (spoilers for MC's relationship with her own mother):
Spoiler
We learn right off the bat that Cassie is not really in touch with her mom, due to her addictions and generally being a bad mom. No one ever judges Cassie for this choice, and there's no forced reconciliation, nor does the mom show up to serve as a villain.If age-gap romances (between consenting adults), forbidden romances, temporary long-distance, MILFs, college romance, or messy awkwardness are your jam, this book is a pretty decent read, but I don't think it's good enough to recommend if you're neutral or negative towards the tropes.
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Biphobia and Drug use
charlie1995's review
- 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
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, and Addiction
infjkiki's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Child abuse
Minor: Biphobia
m_storky's review
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Sexism, and Addiction
noceur's review
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Cursing
Minor: Biphobia, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
readenpiper's review
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
mandaraffe's review
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Biphobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexual content, Biphobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity
lunahale's review
- 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
4.5
i knew i wanted to read this the second i saw the tagline and it definitely didn’t disappoint. the secret relationship trope was done perfectly, and the third act was perfection.
Spoiler
not to mention the fluffy engagement-centered epilogue.Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, and Abandonment
obiwankenina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Biphobia and Lesbophobia