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adelle_bookworm's review
3.0
Téma neotřelý. Styl skvělý. Ale po většinu času jsem se musela nutit do čtení.
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I've chosen this book for one simple reason - I've never read anything with a flamboyant boy as a main character. So I definitely wanted to try it. The cover is beautiful and the book started really well. So what's the reason I give only 3 stars?
Chance César is fabulous character. Really. He's so awesome I loved him since the very start. I'm glad he was the way he was because I think I wouldn't be able to read another book with chicken-hearted LGBT character again. The book is kind of hard to read because you need to get used to the author's style, but then I loved it even more! Still, there were passages where I had to force myself to read. That's the main reason I don't rate this book by 5 stars.
The plot is going slowly, very slowly, but Chance is so funny it could be accepted. Although the reason for the book's name comes near the very end, you can easily guess what is going to happen next, but what I really liked was that Chance did mistakes. We all do them and I'm glad when authors don't forget it with their characters. Most of the things Chance did weren't as good as he wished, so I'm satisfied with that.
To be true, the romantic line was kinda quick for me, but Jazz is so cute I can't think about that really. They're the kind of couple you want them to be together from the start. So there's still something you're wanting for, even though I needed to force myself to read it, as I already said.
In conclusion, it's a good book. Really. Mainly because of the transgender theme and its importation to get read. It's fun and romantic, and it seems real. So I guess it's 3,5 stars at last.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and NineStar Press for providing me an arc ebook for an honest review.
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I've chosen this book for one simple reason - I've never read anything with a flamboyant boy as a main character. So I definitely wanted to try it. The cover is beautiful and the book started really well. So what's the reason I give only 3 stars?
Chance César is fabulous character. Really. He's so awesome I loved him since the very start. I'm glad he was the way he was because I think I wouldn't be able to read another book with chicken-hearted LGBT character again. The book is kind of hard to read because you need to get used to the author's style, but then I loved it even more! Still, there were passages where I had to force myself to read. That's the main reason I don't rate this book by 5 stars.
The plot is going slowly, very slowly, but Chance is so funny it could be accepted. Although the reason for the book's name comes near the very end, you can easily guess what is going to happen next, but what I really liked was that Chance did mistakes. We all do them and I'm glad when authors don't forget it with their characters. Most of the things Chance did weren't as good as he wished, so I'm satisfied with that.
To be true, the romantic line was kinda quick for me, but Jazz is so cute I can't think about that really. They're the kind of couple you want them to be together from the start. So there's still something you're wanting for, even though I needed to force myself to read it, as I already said.
In conclusion, it's a good book. Really. Mainly because of the transgender theme and its importation to get read. It's fun and romantic, and it seems real. So I guess it's 3,5 stars at last.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and NineStar Press for providing me an arc ebook for an honest review.
mxsallybend's review
4.0
QUILTBAG Content: Well, Love Spell offers us (first and foremost) a gender-fluid young gay man who thinks "Gender Labels Suck Donkey Balls." He’s out (other kids call him girly-boy), he’s proud (a self-professed queen), and he’s infatuated with a boy named Jazz. As for Jazz, he’s friendly and kind of shy, but Chance can’t figure out whether he’ll “desire a sexily feminine Chance, a boyishly charming Chance, or no Chance at all, because he isn't gay.”
Fetish Content: Actually, despite this being YA fiction, there is a bit of a cross-dressing fetish here. It’s not sexual or kinky, but I know some readers will enjoy Chance’s fashion sense, his love of lip gloss, and his experiments with eyeliner.
Literary Quality: This is a hard story to judge. Personally, I didn’t care for the narrative structure. To me, it was often a jumbled mix of styles, with a very teenaged narrator often talking directly to the reader, but it will probably work very well for its intended audience. The dialogue sounded realistic, if a bit exaggerated sometimes, but I’m really the wrong age to say whether the slang rings true (fortunately, there is a glossary at the back). There were some nice descriptive passages, however, and they do well to set the scene.
Overall: Love Spell was a story that has a lot of fun with the material, but which also has a strong heart and a wonderful message. Even if I got lost in some of the slang, the characters were well-developed and the mystery of the core romance was interesting enough to keep me reading right through to the end. He was exasperating at times, but I really did like Chance, and I sympathised with him as often as I emphasized. I hope it finds an audience because it’s a fun, uplifting, gender-affirming story that doesn’t come across as preachy or condescending, and that’s not easy.
As reviewed by Trevor at Bending the Bookshelf
Fetish Content: Actually, despite this being YA fiction, there is a bit of a cross-dressing fetish here. It’s not sexual or kinky, but I know some readers will enjoy Chance’s fashion sense, his love of lip gloss, and his experiments with eyeliner.
Literary Quality: This is a hard story to judge. Personally, I didn’t care for the narrative structure. To me, it was often a jumbled mix of styles, with a very teenaged narrator often talking directly to the reader, but it will probably work very well for its intended audience. The dialogue sounded realistic, if a bit exaggerated sometimes, but I’m really the wrong age to say whether the slang rings true (fortunately, there is a glossary at the back). There were some nice descriptive passages, however, and they do well to set the scene.
Overall: Love Spell was a story that has a lot of fun with the material, but which also has a strong heart and a wonderful message. Even if I got lost in some of the slang, the characters were well-developed and the mystery of the core romance was interesting enough to keep me reading right through to the end. He was exasperating at times, but I really did like Chance, and I sympathised with him as often as I emphasized. I hope it finds an audience because it’s a fun, uplifting, gender-affirming story that doesn’t come across as preachy or condescending, and that’s not easy.
As reviewed by Trevor at Bending the Bookshelf
shelvesofsecrets's review against another edition
4.0
A cute, heartwarming tale about finding love and finding yourself. Chance doesn't quite know where he fits in life. His larger-than-life personality doesn't mesh well with the town he lives in (it seems like a small town mentality, but it's large enough to have a frozen yogurt shop, so not that small by my standards). He has an almost non-existent relationship with his parents. Not to mention the overwhelming confusion when it comes to his gender identity.
I enjoyed the mix of more modern themes like gender identity with classical themes like the importance of being yourself. It allowed the author to explore Chance's sexuality, while still embracing the other themes of the human condition (because LGBTQ+ people are people and therefore deal with issues that effect everyone, not only gender/sexuality specific issues).
Chance was a bit over-the-top for me. He was a total drama queen and annoyed me a bit at times. He can lay it on a bit thick sometimes and I felt like he was a bit oblivious about Jasper's feelings, which were pretty obvious to the reader.
I really wish that Chance's parents had played a larger role in his life. It didn't seem realistic to me how little they were involved in his life.
Overall, I enjoyed Love Spell, although it lacked that special something to elevate it to favourite status. But it was a lot of fun and a good addition of some reading diversity.
I enjoyed the mix of more modern themes like gender identity with classical themes like the importance of being yourself. It allowed the author to explore Chance's sexuality, while still embracing the other themes of the human condition (because LGBTQ+ people are people and therefore deal with issues that effect everyone, not only gender/sexuality specific issues).
Chance was a bit over-the-top for me. He was a total drama queen and annoyed me a bit at times. He can lay it on a bit thick sometimes and I felt like he was a bit oblivious about Jasper's feelings, which were pretty obvious to the reader.
I really wish that Chance's parents had played a larger role in his life. It didn't seem realistic to me how little they were involved in his life.
Overall, I enjoyed Love Spell, although it lacked that special something to elevate it to favourite status. But it was a lot of fun and a good addition of some reading diversity.
myzanm's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes genuinely entertaining. Sometimes waaaaay over the top for me.
I felt that the part of gender fluidity drowned a bit in all the antics of Chance and Emma.
I felt that the part of gender fluidity drowned a bit in all the antics of Chance and Emma.
kaylakaotik's review against another edition
4.0
The world needs more diverse books and Love Spell is here to help! Love Spell addresses an issue that we don't see in books very often (in YA books especially). The main character, Chance, is gender queer or gender fluid (or one of the other several terms, he can't decide). Though not the biggest focus in the book, his confusion about his identity plays a huge role. While issues like these are being talked about more and more in society, it's still rather rare to see them in books and I commend Mia Kerick for writing a YA book that includes gender fluidity.
My biggest issue with the book is with the actual writing itself. While I understand that Chance was a self-proclaimed drama queen, it was just a bit too over the top for me. Everything bordered on unbelievable. It painted him as more of a stereotypical gay character than anything realistic. If everything was dialed back a notch or two (including the silly slang and hashtags), this book was have been a solid five star book.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
And finally I ask myself the only acceptance question that should really matter. Will I ever be able to accept that I don’t fit neatly into any gender box I’ve come across?
My biggest issue with the book is with the actual writing itself. While I understand that Chance was a self-proclaimed drama queen, it was just a bit too over the top for me. Everything bordered on unbelievable. It painted him as more of a stereotypical gay character than anything realistic. If everything was dialed back a notch or two (including the silly slang and hashtags), this book was have been a solid five star book.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
thelifeoflaura's review
1.0
Chance César is fabulously gay but is still working out his gender - “being stuck between the grey area between boy and girl”. Although he refuses to visually fade into the background of his rural New Hampshire town, Chance is socially invisible—except when being tormented by familiar bullies. But sparks fly when Chance, Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper (Jazz) Donahue, winner of the Pumpkin Carving King contest. And so at a sleepover, Chance and Emily conduct intense, late-night research, and find an online article: “Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You.” Along with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure, it becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart. But will this “no-fail” plan work? Can Chance win over Jazz’s heart?
I wanted to love this book. I love seeing more books about gender and sexuality coming out and the forum for these topics growing, however I honestly just could not get into this book. The narrator (Chance) is flamboyantly gay and in an over the top way and his style was not for me. I couldn’t get past the writing style in order to get into the story itself. While I know a lot of people loved the book, I couldn’t get past the talking style.
*Book was requested as an ARC via NetGallery*
I wanted to love this book. I love seeing more books about gender and sexuality coming out and the forum for these topics growing, however I honestly just could not get into this book. The narrator (Chance) is flamboyantly gay and in an over the top way and his style was not for me. I couldn’t get past the writing style in order to get into the story itself. While I know a lot of people loved the book, I couldn’t get past the talking style.
*Book was requested as an ARC via NetGallery*
kba76's review
4.0
My first impressions were less than keen. Chance is in-your-face, flamboyant and seemingly following every gay stereotype you could think of. But the first-person narrative means we also see Chance’s more vulnerable side.
We are privileged to see him battle with his feelings about gender and his confusion over labels and how others perceive him. We watch him interact with his best friend, and I got quite absorbed in his quest to make the object of his affections fall for him.
The story is simple. How do you know whether someone is attracted to you, and how can you be true to yourself? There’s plenty of hating from some of the characters around Chance, but it was good to see him face these events with gusto.
By the end I could overlook the exuberance of the writing and was totally under his spell. A character you can’t help but root for.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this prior to publication.
We are privileged to see him battle with his feelings about gender and his confusion over labels and how others perceive him. We watch him interact with his best friend, and I got quite absorbed in his quest to make the object of his affections fall for him.
The story is simple. How do you know whether someone is attracted to you, and how can you be true to yourself? There’s plenty of hating from some of the characters around Chance, but it was good to see him face these events with gusto.
By the end I could overlook the exuberance of the writing and was totally under his spell. A character you can’t help but root for.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this prior to publication.
readwithmoniqua's review
5.0
Identity crisis is something we all go through at one point or another in our lives. I'm going through it right now, trying to figure out who I am as a person, what's my purpose and where am I going. I'm not sure how much of a whirlwind the identity crisis of gay people go through, but I'm sure it's no picnic. Chance is trying to figure out who he is, all while trying to get Jasper to fall for him. It's difficult when you don't love yourself, but you want someone to love you. I know first hand. I really did like this novel and I envy Emily for having a friend like Chance. I need one of him on my life.
luciameetsbooks's review
3.0
3.5
*Thank you to Netgalley and NineStar Press for giving me this book in exchange of an honest review*
I was planning on writing this review using both pronouns she/he because this is a story of a teenager that doesn't know if he/she is a girl or a boy but I'm not sure if that's how you use it (If you know please tell me). And I've seen in the synopsis that the author only uses he/his/him so I'm going to do the same.
"Chance, you are by far the edgiest Miss Harvest Moon this ramshackle town has ever had the good fortune to gaze upon. I am a major fan of positive self-talk."
Firstly, there is Chance the main character. I soo loved his attitude. So confident and full of positive self-talk, I'd love to be more like him in that aspect. Moreover, I think he is such a good friend and person in general, always having good intentions with people.
However, for me he was too childish most of the time, I'm not sure if his age was mention but I do know that he said he only had 8 months to leave school so I'm guessing he's at least 17 years old but he didn't act that way. For instance, at the beginning of the book when he wins the crown and a little girl is looking at it, he starts thinking on fighting with the little girl because it's his crown and no one else has to touch or even look at it. I have to admit at the end it was pretty cute when the romance was involved because it felt very inocent but still… :/
"Werk it, girlfriend-werk hard!" Yes, it's Emily again. And like always, she's got my spectacular back."
Emily, his best friend, was also childish but such a good friend, the friendship between those two felt so real and lovely. However, as Chance had problems with his gender, she had problems with her physical appeareance, which wasn't really important to the story but I would like to read a book of her in the future to see how she coped with it.
Now, the love interest, Jazz, was pretty amazing. Although he didn't say much and was very reserved, I ended up really liking him because of the love he showed to his family. His story was tough but full of love at the same time which made me melt.
"There's cruelty in silence."
I think the aspect I loved the most was how the book deal with so many important topics such as gender, sexuality, society and bullies. And like I said before I'm not really informed about those things, that's mainly the reason I wanted to read this book, and although I can't be sure if that's how it feels, it was great to be able to see another point of view about those topics.
However, the end wasn't my favorite because everything felt like it was a rush. Like the book had to end so everything had to happen more quickly and it wasn't good after reading a slow romance story.
Talking about that, it was incredible to see that it wasn't love at first sight like I was thinking. Chance definitely felt attraction at first sight but his love started growing after they talked more and spent some time together.
Honestly, there are soo many aspects I want to talk about but I think it's better if you go and read the book and then we can discuss all of them. I would definitely recommend it even if it's just to read about the important topics I mentioned.
*Thank you to Netgalley and NineStar Press for giving me this book in exchange of an honest review*
I was planning on writing this review using both pronouns she/he because this is a story of a teenager that doesn't know if he/she is a girl or a boy but I'm not sure if that's how you use it (If you know please tell me). And I've seen in the synopsis that the author only uses he/his/him so I'm going to do the same.
"Chance, you are by far the edgiest Miss Harvest Moon this ramshackle town has ever had the good fortune to gaze upon. I am a major fan of positive self-talk."
Firstly, there is Chance the main character. I soo loved his attitude. So confident and full of positive self-talk, I'd love to be more like him in that aspect. Moreover, I think he is such a good friend and person in general, always having good intentions with people.
However, for me he was too childish most of the time, I'm not sure if his age was mention but I do know that he said he only had 8 months to leave school so I'm guessing he's at least 17 years old but he didn't act that way. For instance, at the beginning of the book when he wins the crown and a little girl is looking at it, he starts thinking on fighting with the little girl because it's his crown and no one else has to touch or even look at it. I have to admit at the end it was pretty cute when the romance was involved because it felt very inocent but still… :/
"Werk it, girlfriend-werk hard!" Yes, it's Emily again. And like always, she's got my spectacular back."
Emily, his best friend, was also childish but such a good friend, the friendship between those two felt so real and lovely. However, as Chance had problems with his gender, she had problems with her physical appeareance, which wasn't really important to the story but I would like to read a book of her in the future to see how she coped with it.
Now, the love interest, Jazz, was pretty amazing. Although he didn't say much and was very reserved, I ended up really liking him because of the love he showed to his family. His story was tough but full of love at the same time which made me melt.
Spoiler
I think Chance and Jazz make such a sweet and cute couple <3"There's cruelty in silence."
I think the aspect I loved the most was how the book deal with so many important topics such as gender, sexuality, society and bullies. And like I said before I'm not really informed about those things, that's mainly the reason I wanted to read this book, and although I can't be sure if that's how it feels, it was great to be able to see another point of view about those topics.
However, the end wasn't my favorite because everything felt like it was a rush. Like the book had to end so everything had to happen more quickly and it wasn't good after reading a slow romance story.
Spoiler
When Jazz's little sister started hurrying Chance to accept being his boyfriend was a little bit weird for me, I think I would have liked it more if it was a moment shared only by Jazz and Chance.Talking about that, it was incredible to see that it wasn't love at first sight like I was thinking. Chance definitely felt attraction at first sight but his love started growing after they talked more and spent some time together.
Honestly, there are soo many aspects I want to talk about but I think it's better if you go and read the book and then we can discuss all of them. I would definitely recommend it even if it's just to read about the important topics I mentioned.