A review by cassie7e
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Like reading a choose-your-own-adventure book where the MC is choosing instead of you! Equally heartwarming and aggravating. Excellect autistic MC representation, with synesthesia surrounding emotions and color (turning alexithymia into a "spectrum" metaphor, haha!) and a distressingly vivid memory recall that makes it hard to move on from past hurts (possibly hyperthymesia + autistic rigidity) on top. This story may also resonate with aromantic people whether or not Cassandra is meant to be aro.

The aggravating part is watching her make social mistakes that I *do* understand, or constantly rewrite mistakes instead of learn to handle aftermaths (but hey, this *is* a time travel story), or ignore or misunderstand her own feelings. The heartwarming part is watching her sort through which relationships are worth fixing/pursuing, grow emotionally, and start accepting herself beyond necessary accommodations. 

So much was relatable (besides sharing my name) - earplugs, the schedules, the delayed emotions craving to be right or correct people - and presented so authentically and respectfully. I certainly felt a lot of things reading this.
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