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tyras_bookshelf's review
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
emtees's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
I had a lot of fun reading this book. It definitely falls into the category of what I’d call romance-as-fantasy, where the reader is meant to relate to the main character and be swept up in her experience without questioning how believable the story is. I tend to prefer my romances a bit more grounded but in this case I liked Ruth and Evan so much I was happy to go along with their story.
Ruth is the town pariah. After her last (and only) relationship blew up spectacularly in front of her entire town, Ruth has retreated into her small apartment, where she makes a living publishing a successful webcomic and spends the rest of her time immersed in comic books and online fan culture. Her only regular contact is with her mother and sister, who are about the only people Ruth leaves home to see. And she is content with that. Ruth is autistic, and has built a life that works for her needs. But then she meets Evan, the do-gooder who moves in next door. Evan is a nurturer by nature - he’s dealt with his own tragic past by becoming the guy who steps up for any friend, neighbor or prickly acquaintance who needs it. When he discovers that Ruth subsists on microwave dinners, he insists on cooking for her. The proud Ruth agrees only if Evan will let her lend him a comic book. Pretty soon they are meeting up regularly for home-cooked meals and extensive discussions about the MCU. It’s Ruth’s ideal relationship - but there is always the threat that her reputation will push Evan away eventually.
Like I said, this book leans in heavily to the fantasy element of romance. Ruth is a hermit who dresses only in pajamas, has a blunt (some might say rude) way of addressing strangers, is rarely interested in talking about subjects beyond her special interests - and the hunky, sweet, good cook next door falls for her pretty much instantly. Hibbert does a good job with depicting the attraction between them, physical and otherwise, but she doesn’t waste too much time before getting into it. Once the relationship gets going, there are only two barriers for the couple to overcome before their happily ever after. One is the question of Ruth’s reputation, but Evan was such an obviously good guy that I never really worried that he would take issue with the things said around town about Ruth’s supposed promiscuity. The mystery of what really happened between Ruth and her ex is spooled out slowly and has a few twists I wasn’t expecting, though they were set up well, and I was more interested in finding out what it was all about than worried that Evan would react badly to the revelations. The other barrier comes from the characters’ own inner hang ups. Ruth has a lot of trauma from her past, and like many autistic people has had the experience of being told that she’s too much for others to deal with. So it was very satisfying to see her end up with a guy who was very willing to take her exactly as she was. I loved that while Ruth grew throughout the book and ended up happier and more confident in the end, the narrative didn’t force her to give up anything that worked for her, whether it was her unique fashion sense or her refusal to let anyone in her real life read her webcomic. Hibbert made it very clear that Ruth didn’t need to be “fixed” to find love and that was so nice to see.
There were other elements of the story I liked a lot. The secondary characters, especially Ruth’s family, were all very specific and carefully drawn, which made sense when I realized this is a series and some of them will probably get their own books. The only one who I might say was a little underdeveloped was Evan himself, but that’s part of the fantasy - Evan was pretty much perfect. The depiction of online nerd culture was fun and felt realistic. And the diversity was very natural and wasn’t underplayed - Ruth’s Blackness shaped her as much as her autism.
Ruth is the town pariah. After her last (and only) relationship blew up spectacularly in front of her entire town, Ruth has retreated into her small apartment, where she makes a living publishing a successful webcomic and spends the rest of her time immersed in comic books and online fan culture. Her only regular contact is with her mother and sister, who are about the only people Ruth leaves home to see. And she is content with that. Ruth is autistic, and has built a life that works for her needs. But then she meets Evan, the do-gooder who moves in next door. Evan is a nurturer by nature - he’s dealt with his own tragic past by becoming the guy who steps up for any friend, neighbor or prickly acquaintance who needs it. When he discovers that Ruth subsists on microwave dinners, he insists on cooking for her. The proud Ruth agrees only if Evan will let her lend him a comic book. Pretty soon they are meeting up regularly for home-cooked meals and extensive discussions about the MCU. It’s Ruth’s ideal relationship - but there is always the threat that her reputation will push Evan away eventually.
Like I said, this book leans in heavily to the fantasy element of romance. Ruth is a hermit who dresses only in pajamas, has a blunt (some might say rude) way of addressing strangers, is rarely interested in talking about subjects beyond her special interests - and the hunky, sweet, good cook next door falls for her pretty much instantly. Hibbert does a good job with depicting the attraction between them, physical and otherwise, but she doesn’t waste too much time before getting into it. Once the relationship gets going, there are only two barriers for the couple to overcome before their happily ever after. One is the question of Ruth’s reputation, but Evan was such an obviously good guy that I never really worried that he would take issue with the things said around town about Ruth’s supposed promiscuity. The mystery of what really happened between Ruth and her ex is spooled out slowly and has a few twists I wasn’t expecting, though they were set up well, and I was more interested in finding out what it was all about than worried that Evan would react badly to the revelations. The other barrier comes from the characters’ own inner hang ups. Ruth has a lot of trauma from her past, and like many autistic people has had the experience of being told that she’s too much for others to deal with. So it was very satisfying to see her end up with a guy who was very willing to take her exactly as she was. I loved that while Ruth grew throughout the book and ended up happier and more confident in the end, the narrative didn’t force her to give up anything that worked for her, whether it was her unique fashion sense or her refusal to let anyone in her real life read her webcomic. Hibbert made it very clear that Ruth didn’t need to be “fixed” to find love and that was so nice to see.
There were other elements of the story I liked a lot. The secondary characters, especially Ruth’s family, were all very specific and carefully drawn, which made sense when I realized this is a series and some of them will probably get their own books. The only one who I might say was a little underdeveloped was Evan himself, but that’s part of the fantasy - Evan was pretty much perfect. The depiction of online nerd culture was fun and felt realistic. And the diversity was very natural and wasn’t underplayed - Ruth’s Blackness shaped her as much as her autism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
A main character is subject to some ableist bullying. There is an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship described in a character’s backstory.aromarrie's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
if there’s one thing talia hibbert’s steller at, it’s making her fmc steal every reader’s heart. first cherry from “the princess trap”, and now ruth??
she has evan wrapped around her finger and every scene between them was so charming because of it :’) they absolutely adore each other, bless them
she has evan wrapped around her finger and every scene between them was so charming because of it :’) they absolutely adore each other, bless them
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Emotional abuse
Minor: Violence and Death of parent
peachani's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Bullying
Minor: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Rape, Abandonment, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Violence, Ableism, and Cancer
val107's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Emotional abuse and Racism
aurslde's review against another edition
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? N/A
4.0
i really enjoyed a girl like her. it was so wholesome. i adored the fmc and mmc, separately and together. i really enjoyed the representation in this book. my main thing with this book was the plot execution. it personally felt a little clunky to me. however, did not take away from how great this book is!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Racism
annelihghh's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Grief, Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Racism
rickireadss's review against another edition
3.5
another small town series has my heart! in this case, it’s not really for the small town aspect because those people are a**holes BUT i do like that it was due to the small town that these two happened to be next door neighbors. i really liked ruth and evan and how they developed a friendship first, but i wish we could have gotten more of them somehow?? idk i just wanted more before they just *boom* were fucking.
disability rep: autism (fmc)
⚠️: emotional abuse, toxic relationship, ableism, cancer, death of parent, racism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Racism
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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
Talia Hibbert continues to be the only valid writer of cishet contemporary romance. I honestly have no idea how she does it. Her books are full of things that I would not normally enjoy. In this case, there's the massive, super muscular man and the tiny, delicate woman he's obsessed with. Usually I find the genre's obsession with that dynamic to be super weird, but it was actually okay here.
I would call Evan a himbo, but he's not dumb. He's just big and strong and really, really gentlemanly. Ruth is a lovely main character with heartbreaking trauma. Her autism is written with a lot of sensitivity. Her relationship with her sister was super compelling.
But why did Evan have to be ex-military? And so proud of it too. Oh well.
Anyway, fuck Daniel Burne, and I WILL be continuing with the series.
I would call Evan a himbo, but he's not dumb. He's just big and strong and really, really gentlemanly. Ruth is a lovely main character with heartbreaking trauma. Her autism is written with a lot of sensitivity. Her relationship with her sister was super compelling.
But why did Evan have to be ex-military? And so proud of it too. Oh well.
Anyway, fuck Daniel Burne, and I WILL be continuing with the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism and Violence
amayagirtman's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was nice. I like that autism representation was included in this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse and Cancer