CW for transphobia, toxic relationship, bullying, suicide attempt (only mentioned) and panic attacks (slightly descriptive)
I had no expectations or whCW for transphobia, toxic relationship, bullying, suicide attempt (only mentioned) and panic attacks (slightly descriptive)
I had no expectations or whatsoever with this book and let me tell you that I enjoyed it. I'm so glad that I went through it with the audiobook because long chapters are not my thing at all and this way I just listened and let the time pass by. Because let me tell ya, I wouldn't have read this in physical format.
I loved the characters so freaking much!! Yes, Noah is a big time assh0l3 but it made him interesting in a twisted way. I'm sure the majority of us will agree that Devin was our fave even tho he was only a secondary character. I'd have loved to see in more depth is Devin's mental health and that kinda disappointed me...
The rep was spot on and I highly recommend it if you're looking for more trans representation in queer books. I honestly don't know how the book is categorized but for me it is a romance book. So something to def have in mind before you get into it.
A queer latinx author writing a queer book. Count me in!
I don't know how to even begin.
This book was everything to me. I need a thousand copies of it A queer latinx author writing a queer book. Count me in!
I don't know how to even begin.
This book was everything to me. I need a thousand copies of it because holy molly!
The amount of representation it has it's just amazing! It didn't feel over the top or like a filler. It was just there, normal people in a fictional story. I'm not even sure if I have a favorite character because I adored every single one of them.
The plot was perfect, I know that for times it got a bit dragged down but nothing out of the ordinary for a middle grade story.
I honestly don't know how to express my thoughts into words. I'm speechless. It will def become one of my all time favorites.
This was a cute story and very easy to follow through. The author's note softened and melted my heart. Still, the characters lack complexity, which I This was a cute story and very easy to follow through. The author's note softened and melted my heart. Still, the characters lack complexity, which I didn't like, and that's why it's not a four stars for me ✨...more
4.4 ⭐ This book almost made me tear up! It was so freaking close but that doesn't mean it didn't adore it.
I think iI'M FINALLY OUT OF MY READING SLUMP!
4.4 ⭐ This book almost made me tear up! It was so freaking close but that doesn't mean it didn't adore it.
I think it's the first book I've read with genderfluid representation and although I'm agender, and I can't say for a fact if it was well written or not, for me it was. At least the part about being trans and the whole concept of it.
It was really interesting to see the point of view of a middle grader and how tough it can be, specially being so young. The only problem that I had is that sometimes the dialogue felt more mature and older than the age of our MC which pulled me off at times.
Overall I thought it was a cute and important story and a fast read book. I highly recommend it ...more
This book had so much potential! I'm not mad about it tbh, but it still sucks that my expectations were not fulfilled. This is the story of Frankie anThis book had so much potential! I'm not mad about it tbh, but it still sucks that my expectations were not fulfilled. This is the story of Frankie and Jay, there isn't really a plot on the story, it's basically just sex. Maybe that's why I'm not mad with the book, the book wasn't bad at all, I just had a different idea of what it was going to be about but that's on me for not looking it up before diving in. There's no build up or slow burning tension, it gets to the point pretty quick which are not the things I like in any genre. An advantage of it was that the chapters were really short which made it easier to read and follow. Applause for the disability rep, but other than that, there isn't much to add. This review is messy, I know, but on the other hand the book is really short.
Okay, I was def not expecting to like this one as much as I did.
The story was cute as hell and I was hooked from the beginning**spoiler alert** 4.5 ⭐
Okay, I was def not expecting to like this one as much as I did.
The story was cute as hell and I was hooked from the beginning to the end! The writing style was consistent and clear, and there weren't any batches throughout the story. I kept thinking that it'd have worked a bit better if the MCs were a bit older but it didn't bother me that much in the end. The open ending was a good call, and I'd like to think that although they don't end up together, they keep on being good friends when they go to college ...more
Well... this book was clearly not for me. I find it way too over the place, and I got bored at many points of the story. But I've read some reviews whWell... this book was clearly not for me. I find it way too over the place, and I got bored at many points of the story. But I've read some reviews which say that Solitaire was Alice's first novel and it was written when Alice was 17 so that's really really impressive!! I'm anxious to see what comes next and to keep exploring this osemanverse chronologically ...more
**spoiler alert** So it's been around 10 hours since I finished the book, and I realize that I can't express my thoughts without spoilers. So if you c**spoiler alert** So it's been around 10 hours since I finished the book, and I realize that I can't express my thoughts without spoilers. So if you clicked in this review, thinking the spoilers would be at the end, that's not the case. I'll make sure to publish a spoiler free review on my bookstagram, but for now, let's just jump in.
Oh Aaron!! You sweet piece of ass, he drove me insane in the most spectacular way, if it was just up to him, this book would have 22 stars!
There were many issues with the book that I think could have been easily solved and had made a huge difference! First of all, this is not an enemies to lovers book. No. It's not. We never saw that hate, that tension, the female protagonist disliked him for reasons we did not see being executed in the book. Since the first line, Aaron was attentive and comprehensive, I'm not saying that he didn't do awful things, I'm saying we never got the chance to see how their working relationship was. So nope! This is not enemies to lovers.
One thing that bothered a lot of people is how the book was advertised with the premise of the sister's protagonist's wedding, which barely had a chapter of it in the book. I'm not mad about it, at all! But again, the book fails to deliver this concept from which it was advertised.
Shall I move on to Catalina? I'm positively sure that I read two separate books with two different Catalinas. The personality of this MC was chaotic and all over the place, we didn't see her "grow" or her emotions transition. Her personality completely changes from one moment to another, which I am not even sure if it bothers me or not because her childishness and immaturity at the beginning of the book was outrageous! I lost count of how many times I annoyingly screamed at her to shut her mouth. And again, she kept on talking about how Aaron was the worst, when we never saw that, we could not appeal to her or understand the reason for her behaviour, which made her even more annoying. And before I move on, I want you to think about this scene with me. It's the scene where Lina is waiting at the airport for Aaron to arrive. This could have had more depth and drama if she had her bags checked, then she was all ready to board the plane, and in that moment Aaron could have screamed her name or something, so she would have this "incident" to point him out, same as he did for that only time Lina got late at work, but in a funny and affable way. You see what I'm trying to do here? It's about those little details that make the scene more enjoyable. Because if she doesn't move from where she is, we know that Aaron is going to appear in that second, it doesn't make us worry or say something like "okay... very funny, Aaron now get in the scene please *nervous laughing*"
Another thing I didn't like was how the author kept mentioning Aaron as "a mystery" when we clearly knew it was him. I listened to the audiobook so I can't rewrite the exact words but it was something like "...and a hand touched my shoulder, I stared at those muscular arms and thick shoulders and blah blah blah". The author would go on for a couple of lines and then Lina would say Aaron's name as if us, the readers, didn't know he was with her all along. This happens all over the book, but there was once when it happened three different times in the SAME chapter. No. Just no. It's super unnecessary.
The last thing I didn't like was the party. The company's party that Lina had to plan. It was told at the beginning that it would take place a few days after her arrival from her sister's wedding, so one would think it would have an impact on the story, that something was going to happen in that event. But the event got lost in the book, and it was never mentioned again! So why would you create this unnecessary drama? I get that it was to show how degrading her male coworkers were with Lina, but you could have easily omitted the date of the event, and it would have worked much better without that information!!
But enough about bad things. I know it seems like a lot, but I truly enjoyed the book. I'm even buying it next month, because once Lina stopped acting weird, the book went on flawlessly! One of the things that I love most about the fake dating trope is when the MC tells others how they met and their first impressions on each other; how they remember those small details that make the other one smile or even say out loud "I can't believe you remember that". I'm sold, y'all!! I love when this happens, and when they say the things they like the most about each other... I can't help but smile!
The "Osito'' nickname was cute as hell, not gonna lie, and when Aaron introduces himself to Daniel (Catalina's ex) as his boyfriend, but says so in Spanish "Su novio." OMG! My heart stopped!! Maybe this needs a bit more explanation. As a foreigner, as a Latinx, I often see the term boyfriend or girlfriend casually used with Americans, even between friends, when someone refers to their female friend, Americans sometimes use the term girlfriend. This does not happen in Spanish, that word "Novio'' has a lot of weight in it. It means that you're fully committed to that person, that you're part of their life, their family. So hearing Aaron say it, despite the "deception", it made the scene perfect.
I also must say that when Lina found out her coworkers wanted legal procedures against this asshole whose name I don't remember, it made my eyes teary. I did not see it coming and it made the book go to a different level.
And last but not least, that epilogue!! It was perfect! No weddings, no proposals, just them making plans with their families, just seeing them how they act in their work environment as a couple was more than enough. Brilliant ending!
3,8 stars! I'm sure whenever I reread it, the rating will improve :)
Thoughts the minute after I finish the book:
Holy mother of God. Review to come tomorrow. I need to sink my thoughts for tonight cuz that was a long ride!!...more
I don't even think I can express what I'm feeling now. As someone who has a verbally abusive mother, I can tell youWhat a rollercoaster of emotions!!
I don't even think I can express what I'm feeling now. As someone who has a verbally abusive mother, I can tell you, it's hard. Latinx folks are taught that family is everything, and without it, you're meaningless. So I understood why was specially hard for Ruben and why Zack couldn't completely get it. But enough about sadness, let's talk about the romance between these two. The sexual tension between these guys was outstanding, and so well written!! I was their cheerleader all the way down. The intensity and seriousness increased in each chapter subtlety and constantly, I'm pretty sure this was the reason why I couldn't stop listening to it.
Highly recommended it! And believe me, the less you know about the story, the better you'll like it!
TW: homophobia, drug abuse, underage drinking, abusive mother....more
This was such a beautiful book. The writing style and the narration of the author were beyond amazing, such a raw and emotional memoir! Definitely watThis was such a beautiful book. The writing style and the narration of the author were beyond amazing, such a raw and emotional memoir! Definitely watch out for CW such as rape, emotional abuse, physical abuse, depression and anxiety....more
Am I upset it was an heterosexual relationship? Yes, I am. But that was my problem cuz I didn't read the synopsis of the book ✌️ The book wasn't bad aAm I upset it was an heterosexual relationship? Yes, I am. But that was my problem cuz I didn't read the synopsis of the book ✌️ The book wasn't bad at all! I def can see why bookstagram hyped the book so much ...more
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