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tortacular's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5 stars. I found Harris to be extremely meh, but otherwise enjoyed the story.
enne's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this book since I picked it up not really knowing what it was supposed to be about, and, to be honest, I really loved getting to have that experience because this book does so much that I haven’t really seen in YA contemporary before.
At a first glance, it seems like a simple fake dating, love triangle story that’s bound to be predictable, but also a lot of fun. But right off the bat, it’s so much more than that. Milanes dives headfirst into exploration of family dynamics in this novel. The main character’s mother passed away a couple of years ago and throughout the story, Analee is grappling with that grief and also trying to come to terms with that fact that her father has fallen in love with someone else and that she has become part of a new family.
Analee’s relationship with her stepmother, Harlow, and her stepsister, Avery, was one of my favorite aspects of the story. It grew and changed so much over the course of the story, as Analee comes into her own a bit more and processes the grief that she has been dealing with. I honestly loved Analee’s growth throughout the entire story and the way it was accentuated by and tied into her relationship with her messy and complicated family.
Another thing I really enjoyed in this book was the friendship that formed between Analee and Seb as a result of their fake dating.
I feel like Analee’s friendship with Seb also provided a nice contrast to her friendship with Hunter, who is her internet friend. I love seeing internet friendship in books and I really appreciated the way this book didn’t look down on internet friendship and it did a really good job of portraying it.
The last thing that I want to talk about is the plot. I really loved the direction Milanes chose to take with the multiple storylines that she explores in this book. There were some points where I was a bit bored because it felt like a lot of the same was happening, but that didn’t impact my enjoyment too much. My favorite thing about the plot, though, was the open ending. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of open endings, but honestly, after this book I might be because this one was just *chef’s kiss* absolutely incredible. And it made so much sense for the characters and their stories. I loved every second of it.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this book since I picked it up not really knowing what it was supposed to be about, and, to be honest, I really loved getting to have that experience because this book does so much that I haven’t really seen in YA contemporary before.
At a first glance, it seems like a simple fake dating, love triangle story that’s bound to be predictable, but also a lot of fun. But right off the bat, it’s so much more than that. Milanes dives headfirst into exploration of family dynamics in this novel. The main character’s mother passed away a couple of years ago and throughout the story, Analee is grappling with that grief and also trying to come to terms with that fact that her father has fallen in love with someone else and that she has become part of a new family.
Analee’s relationship with her stepmother, Harlow, and her stepsister, Avery, was one of my favorite aspects of the story. It grew and changed so much over the course of the story, as Analee comes into her own a bit more and processes the grief that she has been dealing with. I honestly loved Analee’s growth throughout the entire story and the way it was accentuated by and tied into her relationship with her messy and complicated family.
Another thing I really enjoyed in this book was the friendship that formed between Analee and Seb as a result of their fake dating.
Spoiler
I love reading about friendship and I adored seeing that relationship develop over the course of the story. Listen,,, fake-dating storylines with romance are incredible, sure, but fake-dating storylines where the two people then end up as friends?? Top tier.I feel like Analee’s friendship with Seb also provided a nice contrast to her friendship with Hunter, who is her internet friend. I love seeing internet friendship in books and I really appreciated the way this book didn’t look down on internet friendship and it did a really good job of portraying it.
The last thing that I want to talk about is the plot. I really loved the direction Milanes chose to take with the multiple storylines that she explores in this book. There were some points where I was a bit bored because it felt like a lot of the same was happening, but that didn’t impact my enjoyment too much. My favorite thing about the plot, though, was the open ending. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of open endings, but honestly, after this book I might be because this one was just *chef’s kiss* absolutely incredible. And it made so much sense for the characters and their stories. I loved every second of it.
beccamazzini's review against another edition
2.0
this book was way longer than usual and it got me so invested...to end like this. i know it was a good decision and wise and what was best for all involved etc but i’m not here for this, i hate everything.
i’m so unbelievably pissed
i’m so unbelievably pissed
wordsaremyforte's review against another edition
3.0
I thought Analee, In Real Life would be in the vein of Eliza and Her Monsters or of the anime Recovery of an MMO Junkie, but the focus definitely weighed more on the relationship bordering on love triangle. From the synopsis, I had the impression that this book would explore the nuances of escaping reality through MMO games, but it didn't exactly deliver on that.
In part, my opinion is really being shaped by the fact that I'm probably growing up and out of YA books in general, but also that the main setup for the premise annoyed me. Both Analee and Seb had terrible intentions in using each other, as if what they were doing was complete normal.
One thing I appreciated was that the stepmother figure in this story wasn't evil in the stereotypical Lady Tremaine way and was actually a decent human being with flaws trying to fit in with her new family. Another thing I can applaud the author for is how she handled Analee's grief over her mother's death. Her thoughts seemed genuine, and you could see how Analee grew past the grief and built herself up from it.
In part, my opinion is really being shaped by the fact that I'm probably growing up and out of YA books in general, but also that the main setup for the premise annoyed me. Both Analee and Seb had terrible intentions in using each other, as if what they were doing was complete normal.
Spoiler
Seb is a jerk who doesn't deserve Analee. As terrible as it sounds, I'm so glad she ended up with no one.One thing I appreciated was that the stepmother figure in this story wasn't evil in the stereotypical Lady Tremaine way and was actually a decent human being with flaws trying to fit in with her new family. Another thing I can applaud the author for is how she handled Analee's grief over her mother's death. Her thoughts seemed genuine, and you could see how Analee grew past the grief and built herself up from it.
amino's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
softshinobukcho's review against another edition
3.0
“There are no rules for happiness. You’ll be happy, then you’ll be sad, then you’ll be happy again. Enjoy the happiness when you have it. When you don’t have it, remember: It will come again. You just have to be open to it.”
✰✰✰
Rep: cuban american mc dealing with social anxiety, latinx side characters.
TW: parental death.
In Analee, In Real Life, we follow Analee, ever since her mon died three years ago, she's having trouble to interact with other people. Plus, her best and only friend now apparently hates her for a mistake she did. If that wasn't enough, now her father is going to marry a woman with a daughter and Analee can't stand either of them. It seems that the only confort she has in her life is role-playing as Kiri in her favorite online game with his only friend Harris, and who Analee is in love with. Did you think it ends here? No, suddenly Seb aka the popular guy asks Analee to pose as his girlfriend in attempt to make his ex jealous and she agrees, maybe this is her opportunity to reconnect with people.
First of all, this book gave me to all the boys I've loved before vibes, let's see why:
— Popular guy asks our mc to pose as his girlfriend to make her ex jealous? ✓
— Our mc struggles with her mother's death? ✓
— We have a young kid who always say what it's in her mind? ✓
But nevertheless, in this book we follow a total different character from Lara Jean. Analee sometimes comes out as rude and close-minded, plus she's a very lonely soul, but deep inside she's a really loyal person and more stronger than she things she is. You will struggle with her at the beginning, but she had a lot of character development that makes you root for her. So if you're looking for something to read after the tatbilb movie, but different, I will highly recommend this!
Plot wise, something is this book made it hard for me to pick it up again. I feel like sometimes it was a bit longer that I felt necessary and repetitive, and nothing was happening. Plus, I kind of hate ended endings, and even this ends in a hopeful note, I was left feeling this book needed a more closed ending.
However, this book focus heavily family and friendship. Analee is adapting to her new peculiar family, and it's not easy for her because she stills miss her mom so much, but she wil find that her new stepmother and stepsister aren't as bad as she though. Plus, we have Analee and Seb friendship, Analee and Harris friendship, Analee and Elliott friendship, and most important, Analee and Lily friendship and how Analee's mother death affected both of them.
About the romantic story? Well, I didn't like neither of them, Seb was your typical popular boy who seems as a 'bad boy' but he's actually really good so we're going to forget when he hurt you in the past and that sometimes is a little jerk and pussy but just because he's getting you out of your confort zone. And I wish that Analee and Harry were more developed.
Overall, if you like fake dating (with a little love triangle), family and friendship bonds, harry potter references, a cuban american mc dealing with social anxiety getting out of her confort zone or if you simply are a contemporary lover looking for a funny read that deals with heavy topics, check this out!
oolongue's review against another edition
3.0
In the beginning the story reminded me a lot of To All The Boys I've Loved Before, because the setting, the characters and even the story was quite similar, but that's it. The feeling and the depth of the story was different. And the problems, the MC had to deal with were different. All in all it was a relatable and very heart-warming book.
marissarosee's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It has the fake dating to real feelings trope that I've come to love and it deals with death and grief really nicely. It also has an online RPG relationship that while can be creepy is really fun. Analee's character is self conscious and relatable and I connected with her thoughts most of the time. Her step family is great. I loved the atmosphere Harlow creates with all her whole foods and yoga. And her stepsister's sass really helps lighten the book. I wished we saw more growth from the dad. We see towards the end but I just wanted a little more. I also have mixed feelings for the ending.
Possible spoilers:
I think the reconnection between Analee and her best friend happened too easily. I wish the reconnection started a bit earlier or maybe there was a larger part focused to it. But I found it was like one conversation and then they were back to being friends.
I also wish Analee and Seb got together in the end. I think the ending worked well with Analee's character and showed she needed to figure herself out first before jumping into a real relationship. However I hated that Seb and his ex reconnect towards the end. It showed that yeah he might have feelings for Analee but instead of being single he chooses to go back to an old relationship which is so highschool but understandable. I just really wanted them to end up together.
On the other hand I do like that Analee and Harris don't get together in the end. I like that it stays just a friendship.
Possible spoilers:
I think the reconnection between Analee and her best friend happened too easily. I wish the reconnection started a bit earlier or maybe there was a larger part focused to it. But I found it was like one conversation and then they were back to being friends.
I also wish Analee and Seb got together in the end. I think the ending worked well with Analee's character and showed she needed to figure herself out first before jumping into a real relationship. However I hated that Seb and his ex reconnect towards the end. It showed that yeah he might have feelings for Analee but instead of being single he chooses to go back to an old relationship which is so highschool but understandable. I just really wanted them to end up together.
On the other hand I do like that Analee and Harris don't get together in the end. I like that it stays just a friendship.
valgus's review against another edition
4.0
The Harry Potter stuff didn't age super well, but I still really enjoyed this book and recognize what a zeitgeist Harry was in the moment the book was written. :)