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elderwoodreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I truly should have DNF'd this book but I was so far through I decided to power through. If you want a boss/assistant relationship this book is not for you. If you want fake dating or a secret relationship this book is not for you. If you want a slow burn this book is not for you, because in order for it to be a slow burn something needs to be burning!!! I enjoyed the first quarter of the book because the premise is interesting and it felt like something was building, and then the pacing totally fell apart. The story stuttered with so many different sub plots and unreasonable obstacles for the protagonists. As others have said the side characters were more compelling than the protagonists. The sex scene at the very end was SO out of place The writing wasn't overly awful and there was a good idea somewhere, thus the 2.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol and Outing
stacy837'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Medical content
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
So little spice! And soo slow burn! But still, a good book, if a bit sad for a romance. I did enjoy it overall. Tons of diversity! And yay for trying to take down the bad men in Hollywood. I just wish the lead-up to the romance had been shorter and the duration of the book with the romance part in it had been longer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Medical content, Cursing, Alcohol, and Racism
alexalily's review
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Outing, Racism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Cursing and Stalking
hannibanani29's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, Misogyny, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, and Racism
imaginingly's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
i enjoyed this book as an easy read! it was written very well and it would be a good sapphic book to get out of a reading slump with but it didn’t have a jaw dropping plot and it was very predictable.
a VERY slow burn romance
a VERY slow burn romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Minor: Lesbophobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Biphobia
kayladaila's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Stalking, Medical content, Biphobia, Cursing, Lesbophobia, and Xenophobia
storykath's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
When rumours begin to fly about the relationship between child-actress-turned-showrunner Jo and her assistant Emma, the two women begin to find it harder to navigate their professional and personal lives with each other.
First of all, it was super refreshing to read a queer romance where the queerness is (almost) never the focus. Taking away the queer aspect would change the story significantly, but there's next to no conflict regarding coming out, homophobia, etc. Wilsner did a great job balancing a distinctly WLW story with the necessary lightheartedness of a romance novel.
The alternating perspectives provided an effective insight into the protagonists' inner thoughts and feelings, while also amping up the frustration with every miscommunication and missed opportunity. Their inner monologues were realistic and relatable, if a bit repetitive. Then again, who doesn't mull over the same worries over and over in their mind? Jo and Emma were equal parts endearing, sympathetic, and agonizingly frustrating as they tried to understand themselves and each other - that is to say, they're typical romance novel characters and typical human beings.
The focus of the story was absolutely on the characters and their growth, which left the setting as more of an afterthought. Descriptions of the award shows, business trips, and day-to-day demands of the television industry fell flat, and it was hard to tell if they were unrealistic or just poorly fleshed out. While Jo and Emma's relationship is, of course, top priority, it would have been a nice touch to have more details about the characters' workplaces and homes to round out the story.
Altogether, as a general avoider of romance novels, I came for the queer representation, I stayed for the sympathetic characters, and I only sometimes wished for a more literary experience.
First of all, it was super refreshing to read a queer romance where the queerness is (almost) never the focus. Taking away the queer aspect would change the story significantly, but there's next to no conflict regarding coming out, homophobia, etc. Wilsner did a great job balancing a distinctly WLW story with the necessary lightheartedness of a romance novel.
The alternating perspectives provided an effective insight into the protagonists' inner thoughts and feelings, while also amping up the frustration with every miscommunication and missed opportunity. Their inner monologues were realistic and relatable, if a bit repetitive. Then again, who doesn't mull over the same worries over and over in their mind? Jo and Emma were equal parts endearing, sympathetic, and agonizingly frustrating as they tried to understand themselves and each other - that is to say, they're typical romance novel characters and typical human beings.
The focus of the story was absolutely on the characters and their growth, which left the setting as more of an afterthought. Descriptions of the award shows, business trips, and day-to-day demands of the television industry fell flat, and it was hard to tell if they were unrealistic or just poorly fleshed out. While Jo and Emma's relationship is, of course, top priority, it would have been a nice touch to have more details about the characters' workplaces and homes to round out the story.
Altogether, as a general avoider of romance novels, I came for the queer representation, I stayed for the sympathetic characters, and I only sometimes wished for a more literary experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Alcohol, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Outing, Cancer, Cursing, Lesbophobia, and Medical content
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
This was such a feel good romance.
Something to Talk About is an office romance about Jo Jones and her younger assistant, Emma Kaplan. When Jo invites and brings Emma with her to a red carpet appearance, the paparazzi get a photo of Jo making Emma laugh and rumors the two of them are romantically involved begin spreading around. This can't come as a worse time for the two as Jo is beginning to start a new movie and Emma is getting a promotion. But as the two continue to wrap up the current project they find themselves opening up to each other in ways they never expected.
I've been meaning to read this book for so long and I'm glad I finally did! One of my friends, Sam, talked a ton about this book on the podcast she cohosts and I knew I had to finally pick this up. So thank you Sam!
This story is a huge slow burn and oh my god did I enjoy it. Slow burn is one of my favorite tropes because it's basically fun emotional torture. HA. I would like to be clear though that Jo and Emma are not romantically involved while they are working together. The sexual harassment CW is for someone else on the set.
I loved seeing Jo and Emma grow closer together. I really enjoyed getting to know both of them more. I loved seeing them open up to each other and how Emma brought Jo into her family. Jo and Avery's slow friendship was one of my favorite things in this besides the romance. I also loved that this was a Hollywood type book, but it revolved around the production side of things. Ever since working various theatre crews in high school, I love learning the production side of things.
Overall, this was so fun. I really loved it and I can't wait for Meryl's next book.
Rep: white bisexual Jewish female MC, Asian American lesbian female MC, Black female side character.
CWs: Sexual harassment, sexism, sexual content (1 graphic scene near the end). Moderate: mentions of past sexual assault, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, biphobia/bimisia, misogyny, cursing, racism, slut shaming.
Something to Talk About is an office romance about Jo Jones and her younger assistant, Emma Kaplan. When Jo invites and brings Emma with her to a red carpet appearance, the paparazzi get a photo of Jo making Emma laugh and rumors the two of them are romantically involved begin spreading around. This can't come as a worse time for the two as Jo is beginning to start a new movie and Emma is getting a promotion. But as the two continue to wrap up the current project they find themselves opening up to each other in ways they never expected.
I've been meaning to read this book for so long and I'm glad I finally did! One of my friends, Sam, talked a ton about this book on the podcast she cohosts and I knew I had to finally pick this up. So thank you Sam!
This story is a huge slow burn and oh my god did I enjoy it. Slow burn is one of my favorite tropes because it's basically fun emotional torture. HA. I would like to be clear though that Jo and Emma are not romantically involved while they are working together. The sexual harassment CW is for someone else on the set.
I loved seeing Jo and Emma grow closer together. I really enjoyed getting to know both of them more. I loved seeing them open up to each other and how Emma brought Jo into her family. Jo and Avery's slow friendship was one of my favorite things in this besides the romance. I also loved that this was a Hollywood type book, but it revolved around the production side of things. Ever since working various theatre crews in high school, I love learning the production side of things.
Overall, this was so fun. I really loved it and I can't wait for Meryl's next book.
Rep: white bisexual Jewish female MC, Asian American lesbian female MC, Black female side character.
CWs: Sexual harassment, sexism, sexual content (1 graphic scene near the end). Moderate: mentions of past sexual assault, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, biphobia/bimisia, misogyny, cursing, racism, slut shaming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Biphobia, Racism, and Cursing
gabbadabbadoo's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment