Scan barcode
samchase112's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, and Death
Minor: Medical content and Suicidal thoughts
kellyjcm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This defied my expectations, and I was initially quite reluctant to read it due to early marketing? discussion? I'm not sure. Whatever I heard made me think it featured a love triangle, then an unredeemable hero, etc. I even heard on a recent Fated Mates episode it featured a virgin hero, which further muddied my thoughts. And I LOVED all of Olivia Dade's books in the Spoiler Alert trilogy. So not exactly sure where my hangups originated, but I wasn't planning to read it until a book club pick made the decision for me.
I LOVED it. It's funny, it's spicy, it's sweet, it's emotionally mature. It has two MCs over the age of 35. No love triangle. The FMC's body size - not a plot point.The virgin hero thing - not a big deal. It comes up once during their first time. And it has PINING for days. I cannot wait for more in this Harlot's Bay series (absolutely phenomenal name).
I LOVED it. It's funny, it's spicy, it's sweet, it's emotionally mature. It has two MCs over the age of 35. No love triangle. The FMC's body size - not a plot point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death and Grief
hcgambrell's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, and Child death
mandaraffe's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Bullying and Emotional abuse
susanpevensie's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
lololovesthings's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 STARS!
I loved "At First Spite" by Olivia Dade so, so much. This book is an utter delight. It is sweet, smart, sexy, deep, intricate, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny. Dade balances serious mental health struggles with over-the-top sunshine-y-ness and zaniness as she introduces us to her new series that takes place in the fictional town of Harlot's Bay.
I adored the main characters, Athena and Matthew. Athena is pure plus-sized sunshine on the outside, but has a lot of doubt and self-questioning/self-loathing on the inside. She has struggled to find her place in the world and frequently gets bored with work and school, so she is really good at a lot of different things and possesses many varied skills. Dr. Matthew Vine the Third is an innocent, virgin, caregiver pediatrician who is ignorant when it comes to pop culture, internet slang, and memes. He is headstrong because he has always had to be. He doesn't show emotion, is as grumpy as can be, is severely judgmental, and just so happens to have fallen head-first for Athena in just a couple of minutes, only to realize that she is his brother Johnny's fiance, the one he has been trying to get him to dump since getting engaged. When Athena moves to Harlot's Bay to live in the "Spite House," the wonkily built home situated next door to her fiance's house and was purchased for him as a wedding present, she seems to run into Doctor Matthew Vine the Third quite a bit. Running into the guy who broke up your pending nuptials is a tough, tough thing to deal with. They both live in the same town but remain as lonely as ever. Dade treats depression, mental health, and loneliness with tenderness, care, and heartbreaking accuracy, never once chastising Athena or Matthew despite the wrongs they may have done in their lives. I clung to each and every word of this well-written, thoughtful, wonderful novel. Please read this unputdownable, lovely book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Dade, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I loved "At First Spite" by Olivia Dade so, so much. This book is an utter delight. It is sweet, smart, sexy, deep, intricate, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny. Dade balances serious mental health struggles with over-the-top sunshine-y-ness and zaniness as she introduces us to her new series that takes place in the fictional town of Harlot's Bay.
I adored the main characters, Athena and Matthew. Athena is pure plus-sized sunshine on the outside, but has a lot of doubt and self-questioning/self-loathing on the inside. She has struggled to find her place in the world and frequently gets bored with work and school, so she is really good at a lot of different things and possesses many varied skills. Dr. Matthew Vine the Third is an innocent, virgin, caregiver pediatrician who is ignorant when it comes to pop culture, internet slang, and memes. He is headstrong because he has always had to be. He doesn't show emotion, is as grumpy as can be, is severely judgmental, and just so happens to have fallen head-first for Athena in just a couple of minutes, only to realize that she is his brother Johnny's fiance, the one he has been trying to get him to dump since getting engaged. When Athena moves to Harlot's Bay to live in the "Spite House," the wonkily built home situated next door to her fiance's house and was purchased for him as a wedding present, she seems to run into Doctor Matthew Vine the Third quite a bit. Running into the guy who broke up your pending nuptials is a tough, tough thing to deal with. They both live in the same town but remain as lonely as ever. Dade treats depression, mental health, and loneliness with tenderness, care, and heartbreaking accuracy, never once chastising Athena or Matthew despite the wrongs they may have done in their lives. I clung to each and every word of this well-written, thoughtful, wonderful novel. Please read this unputdownable, lovely book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Dade, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death
emfong03's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
4.5
So witty and adorable! I was grinning from ear to ear after finishing this book. Although, it’s an easy lighthearted read, it tackled some mature themes like depression and dealing with grief after the death of a child. The character arcs were amazing. I wish there were more spicy scenes, I think there were two in the book, but I still loved it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
instalovewithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
I love everything Olivia Dade writes, and this one is as brilliant as the rest of hers. I will be purchasing a physical copy. 🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Death
giulia_acobac's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the book. I felt very connected to the characters. My only “issue” is that this is described as a sexy rom-com . Due to the heavy topics discussed in the book I feel like it’s a bit misleading. Please read the CW at the beginning of the book!
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Mental illness, Child death, and Death
jackie_recommends's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, and Grief