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emilypendleton's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this soooo badly, but the characters were just so superficial and ignorant and honestly just very unlikable
sarahboudereads's review against another edition
2.0
It wasn't for me an that's okay. I read this because I adored Yolk but they are so different and that was my mistake!
I couldn't root for Pablo whatsoever and I think he got it too easy in the end - taking acountability only in the very last pages? Mmh.
I couldn't root for Pablo whatsoever and I think he got it too easy in the end - taking acountability only in the very last pages? Mmh.
blurrypetals's review against another edition
2.0
I am crushed. Choi's last book, Emergency Contact is one of my all time favorites. The characters and the arts they pursued cast a lovely color over the book and the love story between the two main characters was soft and sweet. It gave me a heart full of sunlight; if you want to hear more of my thoughts, I did write a full review on it last year.
So, imagine my excitement when I found out Choi was coming out with another book! Celebration! And then imagine my disappointment when I actually read the book and it was boring, annoying, and everything I never wanted from Mary H.K. Choi. Despair!
My biggest gripes about this book are the ones I loved the most in Emergency Contact: character and romance.
Pab was absolutely insufferable. Being in his head the entire book was torture. If it had perhaps been split between him and Leanna, it might have been better, but I quickly grew weary of his defeatist perspective, especially since it almost literally takes the whole book for him to realize he needs to change. And then Leanna...oof. She just came off as so empty, absolutely vapid and clichéd. She's the pop star who doesn't want to be famous. We have seen her character before and we have seen her character done better before.
This book was nothing short of painful and irritating. If it hadn't had Choi's name on it, I straight up would have dropped it after the L.A. excursion, which is where any semblance of this book maybe being okay disappears.
I expected better and all I got was this stupid book about superstars and snacks.
So, imagine my excitement when I found out Choi was coming out with another book! Celebration! And then imagine my disappointment when I actually read the book and it was boring, annoying, and everything I never wanted from Mary H.K. Choi. Despair!
My biggest gripes about this book are the ones I loved the most in Emergency Contact: character and romance.
Pab was absolutely insufferable. Being in his head the entire book was torture. If it had perhaps been split between him and Leanna, it might have been better, but I quickly grew weary of his defeatist perspective, especially since it almost literally takes the whole book for him to realize he needs to change. And then Leanna...oof. She just came off as so empty, absolutely vapid and clichéd. She's the pop star who doesn't want to be famous. We have seen her character before and we have seen her character done better before.
This book was nothing short of painful and irritating. If it hadn't had Choi's name on it, I straight up would have dropped it after the L.A. excursion, which is where any semblance of this book maybe being okay disappears.
I expected better and all I got was this stupid book about superstars and snacks.
candelibri's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
I….disliked literally everything about this. The plot, the characters (the CHARACTERS, jfc), the audiobook narrator…literally EVERYTHING about this was unpleasant but I stuck with it bc I thought it HAD to get better. Then it was over.
And I’m never going to get that time back. Ugh.
And I’m never going to get that time back. Ugh.
clowdywings's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - This was decent. I feel like the author’s debut book Emergency Contact was much better.
I’m not a huge fan of the cover. The art on it is solid, but it gives off a weird vibe.
The best part about this book would be how the resolution was carried out. It kind of put me to sleep though. It gave me a bit of an information overload.
The main character was annoying but realistic, so kudos for that. Most of the time I really didn't like him though.
***spoilers***
I’m so freaking glad that Pablo didn’t end up with Lee in the end! She wasn’t the greatest for him in the aspect that she was so busy and he was lonely. They were great together, but now that he’s taking better care of himself and letting others in, they’re better apart.
***end of spoilers***
I’m not a huge fan of the cover. The art on it is solid, but it gives off a weird vibe.
The best part about this book would be how the resolution was carried out. It kind of put me to sleep though. It gave me a bit of an information overload.
The main character was annoying but realistic, so kudos for that. Most of the time I really didn't like him though.
***spoilers***
I’m so freaking glad that Pablo didn’t end up with Lee in the end! She wasn’t the greatest for him in the aspect that she was so busy and he was lonely. They were great together, but now that he’s taking better care of himself and letting others in, they’re better apart.
***end of spoilers***
bookyintherain's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Strong voice and a fast and furious modern YA read. The climax felt incomplete but I liked this world anyhow
wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
2.5
Once I got it into my head that this came across as Taylor Swift fanfic as told from the perspective of a broke, anxious, funny, delusional, and really quirky male "love interest," I just could not shake that thought. Did I enjoy the characters? They were interesting and funny and very much Gen Z in their concerns and speech patterns. The MMC, Pablo Neruda Rind, had an interesting plot and character arc overall. But again, a large portion of this book is dedicated to Pablo's relationship with mega pop star/actress Leanna Smart. (And get this, her fanbase is called "Smarties," if that doesn't convince you IDK what will.) It's alternately trying to cultivate empathy for celebrities ("their lives are SO hard" / "You just don't understand what it's like" / "only *I* get to see this side of you") and condemning the behavior of fans, paparazzi, and the capitalist spectacle that surrounds it all. Pablo never really wanted a relationship with Leanna Smart though, he just wanted an escape from the drudgery of his overnight shift at a Brooklyn bodega and a means of avoidance for making decisions regarding his future and dodging reminders of his student loan and credit card debt.
I enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook. However I fear I would have shelved this as DNF had I attempted to read it with my eyeballs. Would recommend this book to all the Swifties out there who are looking for a read with a diverse and entertaining cast of charcters.
I enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook. However I fear I would have shelved this as DNF had I attempted to read it with my eyeballs. Would recommend this book to all the Swifties out there who are looking for a read with a diverse and entertaining cast of charcters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Adult/minor relationship