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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
I listened to the audiobook on Libby and loved it - I highly recommend this format. :)
I deeply related to Rowan, because I have a tendency to hyperfixate on things, like reading, writing reviews, or making bookish content, that I essentially have tunnel vision, and lose sight of everything else. Graduating senior, Salutatorian Rowan Roth has this issue during her senior year, in being so laser-focused on competing with her longtime academic rival Neil McNair, that she doesn't make time to meaningfully interact with her best friends and inevitably feels left behind and isolated. She is navigating wistful feelings about the costs to the opportunities that she sought out, and agrees to work alongside Neil for Howl, a senior game which takes place after the last day of school! Forced proximity with a splash of "it's-always-been-you" will have you swooning by the very end!
I love how RLS weaves in such fantastic Jewish representation in her books, and this one is no different. Rowan discusses the microaggressions and overt antisemitism she has experienced, and it's again an example of people claiming they are allies but still missing the mark and fumbling. I loved the magic in Rowan realizing she found a new friend who could relate to her experiences, because there's truly no better feeling than being validated and affirmed that the comments and behaviors others have displayed were egregious.
I also enjoyed the commentary on the internalized misogyny that young women have too! Rowan is so scared of telling her best friends that romance is her favorite genre, and that she wants to go meet her favorite author. This is so wholesome, because I can only imagine being 17 or 18 and loving romance. When I was 17 and 18, I was absolutely & embarrassingly inoculated with "pick me"/"cool girl" syndrome, so I didn't think her friends were villains either -it's a product of being raised in a patriarchy that belittles everything femmes love. Rowan also is weary of telling love interests about this, because she hates dealing with the aftermath of either having to justify/explain herself, and/or realizing this is just another boy who is not worth it. It's disheartening, and I think all romance readers can relate!
One last thing that I appreciated was Rowan highlighting how romance novels helped her to be sex positive, and to be able to communicate about sex and birth control with her parents and her friends. Romance is so powerful yall.
Anyway, the entire premise of the Howl game being the force that allows Rowan and Neil to let their guards down and actually get to know the other was pure genius. I ate it up!!! It sounded like so much fun, and I'd love to join a scavenger hunt like this! RLS has another hit with this one, and I will continue to read anything she writes!
cw: antisemitism, car accident, drug use, mention of incarcerated parent, mention of physical violence, sexual content (fade-to-black/closed door)
Graphic: Misogyny, Antisemitism, Drug use, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
nabecker13's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Antisemitism and Violence
yumaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Moderate: Bullying, Antisemitism, Body shaming, and Violence
Minor: Car accident
m4rtt4's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Antisemitism and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Violence, and Drug use
torimc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Violence
abbeyroad1410's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Neil is a fantastically complex character who quickly becomes likeable. The story with his dad is heartbreaking and makes his strive for greatness easier to understand.
It was also nice to see Rowan's Jewish and Mexican upbringing explored, especially focusing on how Rowan's life was influenced by others' perceptions of Judaism.
If you have issues with an overused miscommunication trope, I would suggest avoiding this book because the lack of communication between characters is shocking and frustrating. Additionally, I at times struggled keeping track of whose name Rowan had in the game of Howl which drove me nuts towards the end.
Overall, this is an enjoyable novel and is great if you want a lot of playful banner and a lowkey version of an enemies to lovers romance.
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Violence
martapsalvado's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Books that take place in a single day, for me, are a double edged sword, because they are usually very fast paced and keep me interested, but at the same time they don't leave much room for character development and the plot can seem rushed and a little hard to believe.
Nevertheless, I loved the main characters in this book, their chemistry and the discussions about romance (and children's!!) books being real and important like any other genres. The book snobs are shaking.
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Misogyny and Violence
phoebees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Violence, Car accident, and Child abuse
thatswhatmegread's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Violence, and Bullying
plumpaperbacks'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? No
4.5
Representation
- Mexican-Russian Jewish protagonist
- Jewish love interest and side characters
- lesbian side character
- bisexual side character
- sapphic side couple
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Antisemitism comes from side characters but is always challenged. Violence and injury details are in reference to past events, only mentioned once. As for sexual content, there’s discussion of some characters’ past experiences, but only one mild, on-page sex scene.