» overview «
stars: ★☆☆☆☆
plot: ★☆☆☆☆
readability: ★☆☆☆☆
characters: ★☆☆☆☆
writing: ★☆☆☆☆
recommend: ✗

» liked «
- flawed characters... i guess

» disliked «
- only one POV, in first person
- the nickname "Ace"
- Karina's best friends are so annoying. for teenagers, they act like children (especially with the way the audiobook narrator portrays them)
- every time "NCK group chat" is mentioned, i groan internally
- Ace being the stereotypical bad boy, ew
- the fact that Karina's grandmother's love story is very similar to what Karina is going through
- Karina is a pushover and people-pleaser, not only that, but it is one of the only reason obstacles arise in this book. she is the reason for all of her problems, not just her parents.
- writing style is very simplistic, in a bad way
- did not see any chemistry between the main characters
- did not root for the romance... in this romance book
- Karina's being stereotypical Asian parents, with all of the negative parts heightened
- that playlist Ace made for Karina
- author tries too hard to make the main characters quirky and fun
- turns out the bad boy

isn't a bad boy and that he really does care about school. everything he did in the past was due to other, genuinely good reasons. because you know, blaming it all on the brother makes total sense. he also changes his mind about going to college due to the main character.

what terrible writing and what a fucking cliche.
- the fact that Xander's reason for bullying Ace was due to mommy issues
- Karina's grandmother has to step in to change her parents' ideas, they didn't do anything themselves

» overall «
i expected so much more from the hype it got on tiktok