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ciuli's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
CW: cheating
Nate and Ollie were best friend when they were kids, but after a mix-up just before Ollie moved away, they haven't spoken or seen each other in five years. Now that Ollie has moved back to Seattle, they meet up again at school, and Nate is struggling to figure out his feelings for the boy, while still trying to move on from his ex-girlfriend now turned best friend.
There is so much diversity representation in this book and it's so great: Nate is poc and bisexual, Ollie is deaf and gay, Florence is poc and bisexual! And the best part is that this diversity is never addressed, it's just a part of who they are and they all take it as it comes without focusing on it or making big deals out of it. Ollie uses ASL to communicate with Nate most of the times, and it was really cool how the author explained the various hand gestures and how, by the end of book, sometimes it wasn't even necessary to put in the meaning of a certain movement, because we already knew what it meant!
What I didn't like was how everyone wanted Nate to be okay with what hit him. Like Florence, who wants him to hang out with her and Lydia, her current girlfriend, without even stopping to think whether that could hurt his feelings or not.
I mean, he's sixteen, he's allowed to not get everything right, he's allowed to ask for space if he needs to sort through his thoughts. But No! He has to confess his deepest secrets to everyone or they'll guilt trip him into thinking he's the one being an asshole. And the sex thing too! I thought it was nice that they showed that not everyone is not ready to have sex at the same time and that it's okay to take your time. But it still felt like everyone put so much pressure on Nate to have sex, like he was not normal for not wanting to do it, while instead he was just nervous and insecure.
Also,going back to Nate and Ollie, I felt like we got all this hype built around the moment they finally get together and that's just it. A moment. Like, they weren't together, and then they were, and then a week had already passed and we know nothing of their relationship. I don't know, I guess it felt rushed.
I enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a lgbtq+ romance with zero homophobia and just a lot of cuteness and pining, go for it!
CW: cheating
Nate and Ollie were best friend when they were kids, but after a mix-up just before Ollie moved away, they haven't spoken or seen each other in five years. Now that Ollie has moved back to Seattle, they meet up again at school, and Nate is struggling to figure out his feelings for the boy, while still trying to move on from his ex-girlfriend now turned best friend.
There is so much diversity representation in this book and it's so great: Nate is poc and bisexual, Ollie is deaf and gay, Florence is poc and bisexual! And the best part is that this diversity is never addressed, it's just a part of who they are and they all take it as it comes without focusing on it or making big deals out of it. Ollie uses ASL to communicate with Nate most of the times, and it was really cool how the author explained the various hand gestures and how, by the end of book, sometimes it wasn't even necessary to put in the meaning of a certain movement, because we already knew what it meant!
What I didn't like was how everyone wanted Nate to be okay with what hit him. Like Florence, who wants him to hang out with her and Lydia, her current girlfriend, without even stopping to think whether that could hurt his feelings or not.
I mean, he's sixteen, he's allowed to not get everything right, he's allowed to ask for space if he needs to sort through his thoughts. But No! He has to confess his deepest secrets to everyone or they'll guilt trip him into thinking he's the one being an asshole. And the sex thing too! I thought it was nice that they showed that not everyone is not ready to have sex at the same time and that it's okay to take your time. But it still felt like everyone put so much pressure on Nate to have sex, like he was not normal for not wanting to do it, while instead he was just nervous and insecure.
Also,going back to Nate and Ollie, I felt like we got all this hype built around the moment they finally get together and that's just it. A moment. Like, they weren't together, and then they were, and then a week had already passed and we know nothing of their relationship. I don't know, I guess it felt rushed.
I enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a lgbtq+ romance with zero homophobia and just a lot of cuteness and pining, go for it!
blurrypetals's review against another edition
3.0
I feel a teeny bit bad not giving this something higher than a 3. I can tell this is a book that many young people will identify with, but it just didn't resonate with me on a super meaningful level. The only thing I personally had in common with our main character was his taste in movies.
I will definitely applaud this book for its effortless diversity. Every character felt realistic and their situations were plausible. I was reminded of how, in Boy Meets Boy, David Levithan made things feel like a cardboard fairytale, whereas Callender made everything here feel grounded yet still beautifully diverse. I love that all the queer kids in this book didn't have crises dealing with their queerness; don't get me wrong, I don't mind a good coming out story, not at all, but it's refreshing to see people writing stories that involve queerness rather than being about queerness.
I just wish there was a little more...something to this book. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just felt a little undercooked in the emotion department. I'll certainly keep my eye on Callender and hope she can reach the same heights for me as Adam Silvera has. Fingers crossed.
I will definitely applaud this book for its effortless diversity. Every character felt realistic and their situations were plausible. I was reminded of how, in Boy Meets Boy, David Levithan made things feel like a cardboard fairytale, whereas Callender made everything here feel grounded yet still beautifully diverse. I love that all the queer kids in this book didn't have crises dealing with their queerness; don't get me wrong, I don't mind a good coming out story, not at all, but it's refreshing to see people writing stories that involve queerness rather than being about queerness.
I just wish there was a little more...something to this book. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just felt a little undercooked in the emotion department. I'll certainly keep my eye on Callender and hope she can reach the same heights for me as Adam Silvera has. Fingers crossed.
yellowswagger's review against another edition
3.0
It’s not an epic love story. I think this book excels at bi representation because most books like this have a bi character telling the reader again and again, but the fact that multiple characters in this story are bi and it’s not blatantly stated once, but rather shown is really great. Most of the time my fiction book ratings are based off of the book’s potential for a TV adaptation. I don’t see that for this book, however, I think it could be turned into a romcom/teen coming-of-age movie. A movie would force the story to go at a faster pace and build tension quicker than it was built in the book.
One of the things that I really loved about this book is that the love interest was deaf and I think the writer does an excellent job with their dialogue (which includes a significant amount of signing) without feeling disruptive or distracting from the conversation itself. Later on in the book, some signs are described and dialogue follows it, but the dialogue is a continuation of the ASL and not an interpretation. If you know ASL it feels like bonus content and ai think it builds the characters a little more.
My biggest gripe was that the title set high expectations that weren’t ultimately met.
One of the things that I really loved about this book is that the love interest was deaf and I think the writer does an excellent job with their dialogue (which includes a significant amount of signing) without feeling disruptive or distracting from the conversation itself. Later on in the book, some signs are described and dialogue follows it, but the dialogue is a continuation of the ASL and not an interpretation. If you know ASL it feels like bonus content and ai think it builds the characters a little more.
My biggest gripe was that the title set high expectations that weren’t ultimately met.
savethebeeskids's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A good, quick read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I really, really wanted to like this book, but frustration was the main feeling I got from reading it. I was always frustrated by Florence and Nate and I don’t even know why Ollie gave him so many chances, it’s only so much one can take. I’m giving an extra starts just because of the “Friends” references.
bwithwings's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
lizsly99's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
rkeighley's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book after loving Felix Ever After by the author. I was sorely disappointed. The book was problematic in many ways. Characters cheating and it being glossed over as acceptable, the protagonist was a complete asshole who didn’t really properly reflect on their behaviour. The premise of childhood friends to sweethearts was a good idea in principle, but the way it was executed in this book left a bitter taste in my mouth. Most of the main characters weren’t good friends or partners to each other.
I did appreciate the representation of black, queer and deaf communities though.
I did appreciate the representation of black, queer and deaf communities though.
joanna1905's review against another edition
1.0
TW: SO SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH CHEATING, Outing of MC.
Warning - This is not a love story at all, just a bunch of toxic relationships that are never explored or unpacked, toxic behaviour is never addressed and just depicted as totally okay.
Wow, talk about one of the biggest letdowns of my reading life. From the time it came out I was so hyped to read this book but held out for the release of the paperback (like 2 years after publication) but boy was it not worth it.
I hate being harsh on books but I want to warn other readers as unbeknownst to me this book has a lot of tropes I generally hate but their poor execution made it even worse.
Firstly, cheating SO MUCH CHEATING BASICALLY EVERYONE CHEATING ON EACH OTHER AT ALL TIMES WITH NO RAMIFICATIONS. Cheating is something I really hate in romances but I think there can be ways for it to be worked into a story in a good way (i.e. having a character be jaded by a past relationship that involved cheating).
But in this book, it's so much worse than that, Nate and his best friend/ex-girlfriend Flo have an incredibly toxic relationship. Flo cheated on Nate when they were together but then expects Nate to forgive her 100% so she can keep him on a leash and have the same touchy-feely friendship she had with him. She never once shows any genuine remorse for this or any of her other appalling behaviour.
She also gushes about her sex life with the girl she cheated on him with (off-page) to Nate and does everything possible to shove this new relationship in his face. Including repeatedly demanding he becomes friends with her girlfriend despite the fact that that would obviously incredibly hard for him to watch them be all in love.
But it doesn't stop there, oh no. When it starts to become clear Nate and Ollie are becoming close again (before it was even romantic) Flo cracks it at Nate for daring to make another friend and has the audacity to start a fight over it despite the fact she should just be grateful for any small crumb of friendship Nate gives her. Flo also knows full well that Nate still has feelings for her but she still kisses him and hints about wanting him back whenever she and her girlfriend get into a fight.
She continues to act even more possessive when he begins a relationship with Ollie (oh and she outs him), and oh my god she's such a horrible friend.
I was waiting and waiting for the moment Nate ended his friendship with Flo and called her out for being such a self-centred, selfish, horrible person that cares only about herself. But no he just forces himself to forgive her because he doesn't really have a choice since she weaponises his fear of losing people.
Also, the girl she leaves Nate for is also totally horrible to Nate and has the audacity to go off at him for participating in one of the weird hangouts Flo forced them to have as if she didn't know full well Flo forced him to be involved.
Next onto Nate, who isn't quite as bad as Flo but is still a real crap person when it comes to Ollie. Despite just lived through his girlfriend cheating on him he still kisses Ollie twice (without consent) knowing that Ollie has a boyfriend. Nice. He also plays with Ollie's feelings constantly, while I understand his fear of abandonment he's so cruel to Ollie multiple times to protect himself instead of just having a proper conversation with him. The relationship is toxic if too and I wish they didn't end up together.
Nate is also a complete doormat when it comes to Flo, she treats him so bad all the time but he always forgives her (even when most of the time she doesn't even ask for forgiveness she just expects it without making amends). Despite how much it clearly torments him to pretend he's okay with it he pretends it's fine, which is so damn unhealthy. But then at the end, he's miraculously fine once he and Ollie get back together for the 98th time.
Gidon? is a very minor character but he's also a giant asshole who's so self-centred (Flo's perfect man probably).
The ONLY good thing about this book is that pretty much the whole cast of characters are POC and the HOH rep which is fantastic in a (queer) ya book. But then all the characters are so insufferable with basically no redeeming qualities or character development for them to learn to be better people so I found it impossible to actually root for any of them.
Wouldn't recommend to anyone, especially if you hate cheating plotlines (with zero ramifications) as much as I do, would have DNF'd if I hadn't already paid for my copy.
Warning - This is not a love story at all, just a bunch of toxic relationships that are never explored or unpacked, toxic behaviour is never addressed and just depicted as totally okay.
Wow, talk about one of the biggest letdowns of my reading life. From the time it came out I was so hyped to read this book but held out for the release of the paperback (like 2 years after publication) but boy was it not worth it.
I hate being harsh on books but I want to warn other readers as unbeknownst to me this book has a lot of tropes I generally hate but their poor execution made it even worse.
Firstly, cheating SO MUCH CHEATING BASICALLY EVERYONE CHEATING ON EACH OTHER AT ALL TIMES WITH NO RAMIFICATIONS. Cheating is something I really hate in romances but I think there can be ways for it to be worked into a story in a good way (i.e. having a character be jaded by a past relationship that involved cheating).
But in this book, it's so much worse than that, Nate and his best friend/ex-girlfriend Flo have an incredibly toxic relationship. Flo cheated on Nate when they were together but then expects Nate to forgive her 100% so she can keep him on a leash and have the same touchy-feely friendship she had with him. She never once shows any genuine remorse for this or any of her other appalling behaviour.
She also gushes about her sex life with the girl she cheated on him with (off-page) to Nate and does everything possible to shove this new relationship in his face. Including repeatedly demanding he becomes friends with her girlfriend despite the fact that that would obviously incredibly hard for him to watch them be all in love.
But it doesn't stop there, oh no. When it starts to become clear Nate and Ollie are becoming close again (before it was even romantic) Flo cracks it at Nate for daring to make another friend and has the audacity to start a fight over it despite the fact she should just be grateful for any small crumb of friendship Nate gives her. Flo also knows full well that Nate still has feelings for her but she still kisses him and hints about wanting him back whenever she and her girlfriend get into a fight.
She continues to act even more possessive when he begins a relationship with Ollie (oh and she outs him), and oh my god she's such a horrible friend.
I was waiting and waiting for the moment Nate ended his friendship with Flo and called her out for being such a self-centred, selfish, horrible person that cares only about herself. But no he just forces himself to forgive her because he doesn't really have a choice since she weaponises his fear of losing people.
Also, the girl she leaves Nate for is also totally horrible to Nate and has the audacity to go off at him for participating in one of the weird hangouts Flo forced them to have as if she didn't know full well Flo forced him to be involved.
Next onto Nate, who isn't quite as bad as Flo but is still a real crap person when it comes to Ollie. Despite just lived through his girlfriend cheating on him he still kisses Ollie twice (without consent) knowing that Ollie has a boyfriend. Nice. He also plays with Ollie's feelings constantly, while I understand his fear of abandonment he's so cruel to Ollie multiple times to protect himself instead of just having a proper conversation with him. The relationship is toxic if too and I wish they didn't end up together.
Nate is also a complete doormat when it comes to Flo, she treats him so bad all the time but he always forgives her (even when most of the time she doesn't even ask for forgiveness she just expects it without making amends). Despite how much it clearly torments him to pretend he's okay with it he pretends it's fine, which is so damn unhealthy. But then at the end, he's miraculously fine once he and Ollie get back together for the 98th time.
Gidon? is a very minor character but he's also a giant asshole who's so self-centred (Flo's perfect man probably).
The ONLY good thing about this book is that pretty much the whole cast of characters are POC and the HOH rep which is fantastic in a (queer) ya book. But then all the characters are so insufferable with basically no redeeming qualities or character development for them to learn to be better people so I found it impossible to actually root for any of them.
Wouldn't recommend to anyone, especially if you hate cheating plotlines (with zero ramifications) as much as I do, would have DNF'd if I hadn't already paid for my copy.