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queermagicedit's review
3.5
I wanted to read this story since I read Stupid Prizes. The premise sounded fun, I love spending time with this weird car-crazy crew, and the covers are stunning!
I think there’s going to be a theme with me where I love the main characters/couple, but I hate other people there. I have hated both fathers in this series, and I’m not sure how to handle it, honestly. They don’t get consequences, and their daughters/sons in law just stay under their thumb and under control. I don’t appreciate that.
However, the characters are fun and complex. I like a character who isn’t perfect, someone who needs to work in order to build a partnership with someone. Nicola and Ada were this.
I would recommend this series for anyone to try, especially people who prefer to have weaknesses and bad character traits in the cast.
Rating: 3.5
daringreader13's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
molly_reads78's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
4.25/5 ⭐️
Uphill battle by Alice Duke was a very cute read. It was a enemies to lovers fast paced rom com. The pacing was really good and I loved the family storyline this book shows. I loved Ada character, she was independent and strong. Her initial introduction was amazing and really introduced her as the badass queen she is. Nicola on the other hand took more time to like. At the start I didn’t like his initial interaction with Ada where he assumed she was with a man who knew about cars and that she didn’t know about them. But as the story continued I began to warm up to him, sure Ada is still my favorite character but I did like him more than I thought at the start. I did like that the both knew si much about cars, sometimes I was confused but thats because I don’t know much about cars but that didn’t take from my enjoyment. Overall I really enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to continue this series in the future.
4.25/5 ⭐️
Uphill battle by Alice Duke was a very cute read. It was a enemies to lovers fast paced rom com. The pacing was really good and I loved the family storyline this book shows. I loved Ada character, she was independent and strong. Her initial introduction was amazing and really introduced her as the badass queen she is. Nicola on the other hand took more time to like. At the start I didn’t like his initial interaction with Ada where he assumed she was with a man who knew about cars and that she didn’t know about them. But as the story continued I began to warm up to him, sure Ada is still my favorite character but I did like him more than I thought at the start. I did like that the both knew si much about cars, sometimes I was confused but thats because I don’t know much about cars but that didn’t take from my enjoyment. Overall I really enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to continue this series in the future.
thereadedit's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice: 🌶️/5
Chemistry: 🧪🧪/5
Plot: 3/5
This was definitely a book that I expected to love a little more than I did. But I did enjoy the banter, the struggle of power between the two, and how they were willing to compromise enough for each other.
Compromising is such a hard thing to do when you have always had to fend for yourself, it can feel like losing everything. Ada and Nicola worked through some tension that had built up, learned to lean on each other more than they normally would. With a third act miscommunication rounding out everything I was so glad to see that things worked out the way it did.
I wish I could have seen more about their story than there was but isn't that the struggle with all good stories??
Thank you so much to Alice Duke for the complimentary ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Spice: 🌶️/5
Chemistry: 🧪🧪/5
Plot: 3/5
This was definitely a book that I expected to love a little more than I did. But I did enjoy the banter, the struggle of power between the two, and how they were willing to compromise enough for each other.
Compromising is such a hard thing to do when you have always had to fend for yourself, it can feel like losing everything. Ada and Nicola worked through some tension that had built up, learned to lean on each other more than they normally would. With a third act miscommunication rounding out everything I was so glad to see that things worked out the way it did.
I wish I could have seen more about their story than there was but isn't that the struggle with all good stories??
Thank you so much to Alice Duke for the complimentary ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
thesmutsister_emma's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
4.0
This book is an ARC I received in exchange for an honest review. This will not change my review
It's Me, Hi. I'm the Problem. It's Me
Song for the Book: "Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift
I genuinely liked this book! I feel like it is definitely one that will wind up being a comfort read at some point or another. I want to read the rest of this series desperately now!!!
The Characters
Ada: Ada's character is one that meant a lot to me. I could see a lot of what little relationship I have with my father in hers with her father (the stressful parts that is). I applaud her for being able to do what she did for her dad for so long because I would not have been able to do it at all. I loved our introduction to Ada and the vibes she gives off throughout the book. She is a badass FMC and Alice makes this clear to us from page one.
Nicola: Nikola. poor Nikola. See, buddy, you're the reason there's Taylor Swift here. You sweet, summer child. You try so hard and get so far but you literally are your own anti-hero. You assume too much and you know what they say about assuming... it's not good. so work on it bubs. You'll get there. Until then, let Ada take reigns
Things I Loved
I really enjoyed the pacing and how what I thought I saw coming was actually not that. I enjoyed the storyline about Ada and her father as well as Nikola and his parents. I felt like they were very important to who they were as characters.
Things I Didn't Love
I wanted more to go into the representation of Ada's character. A lot of times, I forgot she was Black and that bothers me. I loved how the mention at the beginning of Black mothers' mortality rates during childbirth was brought up. I wish in her descriptions that she had been described more about her skin color not so much in a fetishization way, but in representation. I also understand wanting to have that representation but not wanting to take over Black spaces or tell Black stories. There is a fine line to walk, I just feel the author could have gotten closer to it.
The Final Verdict
I really enjoyed this book, I just wish the representation had been more clear at times. Otherwise, it was a wonderful read!
It's Me, Hi. I'm the Problem. It's Me
Song for the Book: "Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift
I genuinely liked this book! I feel like it is definitely one that will wind up being a comfort read at some point or another. I want to read the rest of this series desperately now!!!
The Characters
Ada: Ada's character is one that meant a lot to me. I could see a lot of what little relationship I have with my father in hers with her father (the stressful parts that is). I applaud her for being able to do what she did for her dad for so long because I would not have been able to do it at all. I loved our introduction to Ada and the vibes she gives off throughout the book. She is a badass FMC and Alice makes this clear to us from page one.
Nicola: Nikola. poor Nikola. See, buddy, you're the reason there's Taylor Swift here. You sweet, summer child. You try so hard and get so far but you literally are your own anti-hero. You assume too much and you know what they say about assuming... it's not good. so work on it bubs. You'll get there. Until then, let Ada take reigns
Things I Loved
I really enjoyed the pacing and how what I thought I saw coming was actually not that. I enjoyed the storyline about Ada and her father as well as Nikola and his parents. I felt like they were very important to who they were as characters.
Things I Didn't Love
I wanted more to go into the representation of Ada's character. A lot of times, I forgot she was Black and that bothers me. I loved how the mention at the beginning of Black mothers' mortality rates during childbirth was brought up. I wish in her descriptions that she had been described more about her skin color not so much in a fetishization way, but in representation. I also understand wanting to have that representation but not wanting to take over Black spaces or tell Black stories. There is a fine line to walk, I just feel the author could have gotten closer to it.
The Final Verdict
I really enjoyed this book, I just wish the representation had been more clear at times. Otherwise, it was a wonderful read!
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