A review by icarly
Perfect on Paper, by Sophie Gonzales
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
2.5
This book was fine. It read like drinking a glass of room temperature water. I didn’t absolutely hate it, but there were also parts that were not satisfying.
The story itself was super interesting, but I found that some of the parts fell flat.
The bi representation in this book was very good and I appreciated how Gonzales touched on biphobia in a way that happens a lot in the real world.
I also don’t think she faced enough of a consequence for the locker. Only four people asked for a refund? That just seems unbelievable to me.
Also… Broughham. I didn’t like him until maybe the last four or five chapters. The miscommunication between him and Darcy was driving me crazy. I also, somehow, felt like I still didn’t know the real him at the end of the story.
I wish Brooke had a bit more to her character, but I enjoyed her for when she was.
Oh, and this is nitpicking, but I hated all of the Disney references. Chad and Ryan ARE gay, but we don’t need Finn to bring it up at a Q&Q meeting. And the chapters with Disneyland were far too specific to be written by someone who wasn’t a Disney adult.
Ainsley was the best character in this story, and there were so many times where I was happy she was there to make me still want to read it.
Overall, I didn’t love it but I also didn’t loathe it. There were times I wanted to stop reading, but I’m not mad that I finished it. It was Okay.
The story itself was super interesting, but I found that some of the parts fell flat.
Spoiler
For example, I didn’t like that Darcy took so long to tell Brooke about what she had done. From a character perspective, I understand why she took so long, but from a storytelling perspective, it felt like it was too late in the story and I felt as though the conflict was resolved too quickly.The bi representation in this book was very good and I appreciated how Gonzales touched on biphobia in a way that happens a lot in the real world.
Spoiler
However, the one scene where they were all telling her that she was queer was a bit weird to me, and felt sort of like an “I’m Radio Rebel” moment. It could have been a really special moment, but personally fell kind of flat because it was cheesy. Also, at that point in the story, most people in the room hated Darcy.I also don’t think she faced enough of a consequence for the locker. Only four people asked for a refund? That just seems unbelievable to me.
Also… Broughham. I didn’t like him until maybe the last four or five chapters. The miscommunication between him and Darcy was driving me crazy. I also, somehow, felt like I still didn’t know the real him at the end of the story.
I wish Brooke had a bit more to her character, but I enjoyed her for when she was.
Spoiler
Oh, and this is nitpicking, but I hated all of the Disney references. Chad and Ryan ARE gay, but we don’t need Finn to bring it up at a Q&Q meeting. And the chapters with Disneyland were far too specific to be written by someone who wasn’t a Disney adult.
Ainsley was the best character in this story, and there were so many times where I was happy she was there to make me still want to read it.
Overall, I didn’t love it but I also didn’t loathe it. There were times I wanted to stop reading, but I’m not mad that I finished it. It was Okay.
Graphic: Alcoholism and Biphobia
Minor: Gaslighting