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brisingr's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me CRY!
First of all: Olivia Dade is a Braime fan? Hello, kin! Happy to have you in my goodreads list of authors hahha.
Second: This is an adult romance. As in, these characters are both in their late thirties and I didn't know how badly I needed this until I've seen it happening.
Third: I've been writing fanfiction for 15 years. I've been in online communities dedicated to writing for 10 years. It's a huge part of who I am and I cannot say enough how much I appreciate how this was handled in this book. It's hard to find this amount of care and love for us in canon works, so I'm appreciative and touched by the gallantry, good-humour, heart and emotion attached to my practice can be found in this book. Thank you.
Fourth: The representation in this book was so important! We have a confident fat female lead and very important conversations around the issue of fatphobia. Boundaries are being drawn as well, respectful mentions are made and April remains such an awesome character all throughout. It was such a joyous reminder that love can find us, despite what the world might want to make us believe.
The male lead also las dyslexia, which is also dealt with equally as respectfully. I loved that there are conversations being had about family as well, and many points were made in just one book.
I liked the setting as well, and while this isn't my favourite trope (secret identities), I had a lot of fun reading it and couldn't stop once I've started. I really enjoyed how fandom aspects are incorporated all throughout the book as well, in AO3 fic format, and this really felt like a love letter to that fandom, nerdy life. Adorable. The characters were really nice, though not sure they'll remain particularly memorable to me, but the jump from crying to laughing to smiling conspiratorially only helped in keeping me even more engaged.
So yes, Olivia Dade may have just become one of my new fav romance writers. I am SO !!! intrigued to read Alex's book bc I adored him in here and I'm sure his own story is going to be awesome. The covers in this series are to die for tho, for sure.
First of all: Olivia Dade is a Braime fan? Hello, kin! Happy to have you in my goodreads list of authors hahha.
Second: This is an adult romance. As in, these characters are both in their late thirties and I didn't know how badly I needed this until I've seen it happening.
Third: I've been writing fanfiction for 15 years. I've been in online communities dedicated to writing for 10 years. It's a huge part of who I am and I cannot say enough how much I appreciate how this was handled in this book. It's hard to find this amount of care and love for us in canon works, so I'm appreciative and touched by the gallantry, good-humour, heart and emotion attached to my practice can be found in this book. Thank you.
Fourth: The representation in this book was so important! We have a confident fat female lead and very important conversations around the issue of fatphobia. Boundaries are being drawn as well, respectful mentions are made and April remains such an awesome character all throughout. It was such a joyous reminder that love can find us, despite what the world might want to make us believe.
The male lead also las dyslexia, which is also dealt with equally as respectfully. I loved that there are conversations being had about family as well, and many points were made in just one book.
I liked the setting as well, and while this isn't my favourite trope (secret identities), I had a lot of fun reading it and couldn't stop once I've started. I really enjoyed how fandom aspects are incorporated all throughout the book as well, in AO3 fic format, and this really felt like a love letter to that fandom, nerdy life. Adorable. The characters were really nice, though not sure they'll remain particularly memorable to me, but the jump from crying to laughing to smiling conspiratorially only helped in keeping me even more engaged.
So yes, Olivia Dade may have just become one of my new fav romance writers. I am SO !!! intrigued to read Alex's book bc I adored him in here and I'm sure his own story is going to be awesome. The covers in this series are to die for tho, for sure.
ninamooner's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
callmeamelia's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
anjalisudarsan's review against another edition
4.0
A light-hearted novel with a theme that reminded me of a common trope you find on Wattled and fan-fiction websites, where the fan and the star fall in love. What really sets this book apart is the side-themes that you seldom find in such books, such as embracing your body and dealing with narcissistic parents. These are depicted in a very realistic light, unlike the constant romanticizing seen in the media today.
The love story portrayed in this book, too, seems realistic yet peppered with passion. Absolutely loved it.
The love story portrayed in this book, too, seems realistic yet peppered with passion. Absolutely loved it.
jennkei's review against another edition
5.0
Engaging, cute, sweet, and hot. I enjoyed all the fandom in-jokes, as well as snippets of fics in it.
frankie36's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
shelbymarie516's review against another edition
4.0
Did you like Game of Thrones BTS? Do you like romance? Do you like childhood trauma meets perfect significant order that helps their partner overcome it and set boundaries? Do you like comic-con and cosplaying? Well, this is a book for you.
sarsarsarsarsar's review against another edition
2.0
This should probably be one star but I like the fan fic twist enough to round up bc it was creative and cute
The good
- loved the fanfic excerpts
- loved the hating the parents and casting them away
- loved SOME of the banter
- loved the big girl perspective most of the time
- loved the ages of the main characters! Let’s go 30s!!
- such a good start! I was so excited in the beginning!
The bad
- this went on soooo long… I would have DNF except I did need to see the lie blow up and then that was such a let down
- the boy mc was too aware of a big girl perspective when he’s never been big or a girl… also like yes, love that he’s cool with periods but I don’t see how that is realistic when he’s allegedly super lonely and never close with his exes so that was annoying
- they both explained how they felt the other was feeling with way too much insight than believable
- the girl annoyed me bc she was low key less mature than the boy!!
- the paparazzi aspect was such a big fear/theme that went nowhere and didn’t matter
- I was so bored of the guy sharing his thoughts on a big girl perspective and fear and anxiety, I wanted to hear it from April
- I wish April wasn’t annoying.
- geology was such a cool twist up front and then disappeared. Like does she not work anymore?? Also how are they going to bring up the great British baking show several times but not reference key elements of the main characters?!
- I didn’t believe their love story, like for either of them…
- the epilogue kink reveal……
The good
- loved the fanfic excerpts
- loved the hating the parents and casting them away
- loved SOME of the banter
- loved the big girl perspective most of the time
- loved the ages of the main characters! Let’s go 30s!!
- such a good start! I was so excited in the beginning!
The bad
- this went on soooo long… I would have DNF except I did need to see the lie blow up and then that was such a let down
- the boy mc was too aware of a big girl perspective when he’s never been big or a girl… also like yes, love that he’s cool with periods but I don’t see how that is realistic when he’s allegedly super lonely and never close with his exes so that was annoying
- they both explained how they felt the other was feeling with way too much insight than believable
- the girl annoyed me bc she was low key less mature than the boy!!
- the paparazzi aspect was such a big fear/theme that went nowhere and didn’t matter
- I was so bored of the guy sharing his thoughts on a big girl perspective and fear and anxiety, I wanted to hear it from April
- I wish April wasn’t annoying.
- geology was such a cool twist up front and then disappeared. Like does she not work anymore?? Also how are they going to bring up the great British baking show several times but not reference key elements of the main characters?!
- I didn’t believe their love story, like for either of them…
- the epilogue kink reveal……