Scan barcode
ciuli's review
3.0
3.5/5
CW: homophobia, homophobic slurs
This is officially the first book I managed to finish since the coronavirus bullshit started! I hadnt hit such a huge reading slump in YEARS and I'm really glad I was able to finish a book.
As you've probably already grasped from my blabbering, I was looking for something quick and funny to read to try and get over this ridiculous slump and for that matter, this book did not disappoint. I read it in 2 two days, so if that's what you're looking for as well, I totally recommend it.
Other than that though, it felt waaay too rushed. The story develops in the arc of a week, and the characters didn't even know each other before that time so yeah, there definitely was some rushing. It was overall cute, and the last part hit home with the feelings, but I still can't shake the feeling that everything was happening way too fast. I would have also liked for the side characters to be developed more instead of just thrown in there.
CW: homophobia, homophobic slurs
This is officially the first book I managed to finish since the coronavirus bullshit started! I hadnt hit such a huge reading slump in YEARS and I'm really glad I was able to finish a book.
As you've probably already grasped from my blabbering, I was looking for something quick and funny to read to try and get over this ridiculous slump and for that matter, this book did not disappoint. I read it in 2 two days, so if that's what you're looking for as well, I totally recommend it.
Other than that though, it felt waaay too rushed. The story develops in the arc of a week, and the characters didn't even know each other before that time so yeah, there definitely was some rushing. It was overall cute, and the last part hit home with the feelings, but I still can't shake the feeling that everything was happening way too fast. I would have also liked for the side characters to be developed more instead of just thrown in there.
yellowswagger's review against another edition
2.0
This is the perfect queer romance story for anyone who fetishizes POC that pass the paper bag test or for any white gay man with a superiority/hero complex. The rules of "show don't tell" don't apply in this story, so if you wanna learn more about what it feels like to be mixed race, rou can just turn to page 66:
"Being mixed race is tough-- it's like being caught between two races."
The protagonist's most notable trait is his fear of being labeled "gay." If it wasn't for the fact that the narrator reminds you that he's mixed, his aggressively clear privilege and lack of personality would fool you into thinking he was just another white male protagonist. There is a constant reminder of "how hard it is to be gay," which most queer readers don't need reminding of. It makes me believe that this story was written for straight folx.
If you liked Love Simon, you'll probably like this story for the same reasons.
"Being mixed race is tough-- it's like being caught between two races."
The protagonist's most notable trait is his fear of being labeled "gay." If it wasn't for the fact that the narrator reminds you that he's mixed, his aggressively clear privilege and lack of personality would fool you into thinking he was just another white male protagonist. There is a constant reminder of "how hard it is to be gay," which most queer readers don't need reminding of. It makes me believe that this story was written for straight folx.
If you liked Love Simon, you'll probably like this story for the same reasons.
willowmae's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Amazing book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Charmed
I absolutely adored this book, I couldn’t put it down, and lately I have been having issues with books, it is taking me a while to finish anything, but not this I sit down and I didn’t stop until I was done.
It remind me some to Simon vs, which is one of my favorite LGTBQ YA books.
I really liked the Bryson and Kai communicated, they were so cute together and by themselves, they were good people a Bryson specially maybe too good but sometimes that’s what we need in a character, to be throughly charmed.
The secondary characters too were well done and the banter very funny and at the same time it made me cry because of what Kai had to go through, it would be nice if homophobia didn’t exist but it does and O liked how it was portrayed.
I absolutely adored this book, I couldn’t put it down, and lately I have been having issues with books, it is taking me a while to finish anything, but not this I sit down and I didn’t stop until I was done.
It remind me some to Simon vs, which is one of my favorite LGTBQ YA books.
I really liked the Bryson and Kai communicated, they were so cute together and by themselves, they were good people a Bryson specially maybe too good but sometimes that’s what we need in a character, to be throughly charmed.
The secondary characters too were well done and the banter very funny and at the same time it made me cry because of what Kai had to go through, it would be nice if homophobia didn’t exist but it does and O liked how it was portrayed.
katie_byrne3043's review
5.0
No matter how many times I read this I will never stop loving this book, is it possible to hug fictional characters? Because I would like too ❤
arogers159's review
2.0
I was excited for this book because gay rom-com type books can sometimes be cathartic for me since I didn’t get any when I was a younger teenager. I also love fake dating. But this was not actually fake-dating and was barely a rom-com?
This book was basically written to point blank tell you many many times and with no subtly that homophobia is bad and still exists. The writing was weird and totally felt like it was trying way too hard to get that message in the most unnaturally written way ever. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind stories where coming out/homophobia are the main. I actually usually enjoy them a lot. But this book was very tell not show and just very cheesy and over the top in the way it got its message across.
The romance between the Kai and Bryson was weird and rushed and it felt a lot of times like there was literally no conflict in the story other than the vague threat of homophobia.
And Bryson was the most boring unrealistic character ever. Did he have any flaws?? Any moment where it looked like he might mess up or do something interesting he does the perfect and most boring thing. He felt even less like a real character than the rest of the characters.
This book was basically written to point blank tell you many many times and with no subtly that homophobia is bad and still exists. The writing was weird and totally felt like it was trying way too hard to get that message in the most unnaturally written way ever. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind stories where coming out/homophobia are the main. I actually usually enjoy them a lot. But this book was very tell not show and just very cheesy and over the top in the way it got its message across.
The romance between the Kai and Bryson was weird and rushed and it felt a lot of times like there was literally no conflict in the story other than the vague threat of homophobia.
And Bryson was the most boring unrealistic character ever. Did he have any flaws?? Any moment where it looked like he might mess up or do something interesting he does the perfect and most boring thing. He felt even less like a real character than the rest of the characters.
florienvdc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.0
amberdlewis's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0