Reviews

For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding

haleymicheled's review

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

2.75

I think this book really lacked a more thorough editing process. I was very excited for the premise and also thought it wrapped up well, but everything in between felt like a slog. I wasn't invested in this story and at times was even quite frustrated at the writing. Certain phrases were repeated over and over again, and the author continuously told me how a character was feeling or why someone was doing something instead of letting the story and description guide me to those same conclusions. It felt like a rough draft and too long - I think it could have been a lot better. No desire to read more from this author. 

ripavengers's review

3.5

I read the first half of this as an arc over a year ago and i do remember really enjoying it. I liked the plot, I liked the characters, I liked the main relationship, I liked the friendships. I mustve fallen into a reading slump or something because I cant remember why I stopped reading. 

I decided to pick it back up upon seeing the audiobook was available on spotify. lets just say i was underwhelmed. maybe the narrator just ruined the quality but I highly doubt that. the main character became so annoying and whiny and i really didnt care all that much about her problems. the main relationship broke up over silly reasons. the friends coddled the main character too much. i honestly could not have cared less about what the outcome of the book was going to be. 

maybe it was always like this and i was just blinded initially? maybe the book really did do a 180 half way through? maybe going from online arc to audiobook changed the vibes? maybe i am just a different person? but very meh overall. 

loved all the queer rep tho we love lesbians <3

e_lemon55's review

emotional 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

3.5

skan's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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

3.5

kathleenmcg's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ember_is_gay's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

this is the first amy spalding book i have read and now i am desperate to read everything else she has written. found family trope always makes me want to scream because i love it so much and its such an important part of this community. every single member of the family in this book (including sofia and ari when they are bought in) is wonderful and such a good person. the community that nina has around her is beautiful and so understanding. i felt so seen in her struggles, although never having gotten an email like taylor's, the way she feels about herself is so inline with the way i feel about myself. and her friends loving her anyway!!!! them accepting her back straight away. everything about this book was perfect.

nina and ari forever tbh they are literally perfect

also fun not in your face rep!!! nonbinary lesbians, little unlabelled moments, ace mention (and respected!!!)

marsueand's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

joanna1905's review

4.0

This is only the second book of Amy Spalding's that I've read and it didn't disappoint. While I think it would be almost impossible for Spalding to write a book I loved more than 'The Summer of Jordi Parez' - one of my all-time favourite queer books - this was still an absolute delight. It reminded me a lot of Jae's Hollywood series, not in a copycat way but just a similar vibe.

It started off a little slow but once I pushed through the beginning and once Ari became more involved the story picked up nicely. I liked Nina as a main character, she was certainly flawed but it never verged into unlikeable and she and Ari worked really well together. The surrounding cast of friends and Nina's aunt all served as entertaining and likeable side characters.

I desperately wish we got a big blow-up scene between Nina (or one of Nina's friends) and Taylor where Taylor was told to shove it where the sun don't shine. The absolute irony of Taylor calling Nina toxic while being the queen of toxic herself.

All in all this was a great read, it felt a lot like Jordi Perez but more mature and adult and would honestly make a great little queer rom com.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for making an arc available for me to review in exchange for an honest review.

lbarsk's review

4.0

A fast WLW romance read that was enjoyable and had a sweet message about what being in your early 30’s is like, plus lots of Found Family vibes. Not super steamy, which is totally fine by me, but good characterization and believable conflict. I really liked how, in the end, Nina was working toward her dream with real possibility and also enjoying the day-job she had; that felt realistic and fair for her character and honestly a happy ending for her.

The only thing I didn’t really understand is why the agent kept saying that Ari was extremely “difficult”? Like, we see that Ari likes being in charge and making decisions, and that’s what the major fight between her and Nina ends up being about, but… IDK, nothing that Ari was doing on the page of the book seemed so serious as to rate her “the most difficult client” that the agent (for whom Nina worked) had. So I was kind of waiting for that shoe to drop?

Also, it’s clear that Amy Spalding loves the Eastside of LA, and it would’ve been fun to have a whole list of all the restaurants, bars, and coffee shops visited in the book.

donnaratcliff's review against another edition

4.0

3.5⭐️ rounded up