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pages0of0my0life's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Car accident, Death of parent, and Bullying
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
hmg's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
paulaks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Self harm
debookgeek's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Bullying and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident and Medical content
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
sonshinelibrarian's review against another edition
4.25
However, Brian's character is a little troubling on this reread. I'm not a fan of the way he treats basically any woman except Ella - there's this through-line that he's so heart-broken from losing her that he goes on this womanizing rampage and it's sort of just brushed aside as a boys-will-be-boys kind of thing. There's a sort of excuse that Ella is "different" and that's why he treats all other women as disposable playthings or catty witches. Now, the way he is with Ella is adorable and wonderful, and I think that's what I focused on in the past. Also, Ella's perception of everyone in California as heart-stoppingly beautiful is frustrating, but I will say that I think Ella is actually an unreliable narrator who can't see anyone else in her life objectively, and a big part of her growth is starting to realize that her vision is wildly skewed. So I'd give this complaint a bit of a pass because I do think that a lot of what Ella thinks is true isn't actually true.
So, on the one hand I still adore this book. I still plan to reread it again next February. But on the other hand, it has some flaws that don't hold up very well.
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Reread 2023: This is probably my favorite YA contemporary romance. I love the geekiness and the friendships and Ella and Brian and - it's just wonderful
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There are so, so many things I love about this book. I love the friendship - the honest to goodness actual real-feeling friendship between Cinder and Ella. I love the journey Ella takes. I love the tension and struggle between her and her dad and her dad's family. I love the homage to Cinderella while not feeling at all like an actual Cinderella retelling. I just love so many things about this book. Not the least of which is Brian *sigh*
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
sky_books's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Medical content and Car accident
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt