This book is so sweet and vulnerable, and the characters are imperfect and more lovable for it. It is rare for me to cry while reading a RoNo, but cry I did at many of the scenes in this book when Dev or Charlie was feeling especially seen and cared for.

I also felt very loved by this author. That’s maybe a weird thing to say, but I felt like Alison took such good care of me as a reader. She showed me a world where we can think beyond the way things are right now, and stand up for our mental health, and stand by our friends, and expect better of the world…and get it. She showed me how people can be broken and whole, imperfectly perfect, and that it’s not that far fetched to imagine it.

In many ways, The Charm Offensive reminded me of Red, White, and Royal Blue in the best ways possible. One of the characters is dealing with an awakening in his sexuality, the relationship is incredibly high stakes and must be hidden at all costs except for the fact that everyone important already secretly knows, and the banter! The banter in this is so wonderful and realistic. And the side characters are wonderful - multidimensional with a dose of found family and lots of diverse representation. Just…(sigh)…this book is everything.

CW: detailed depictions of depression and depressive episodes, on-page panic attack, physical violence, estranged parents, ableism (challenged on page), homophobia (challenged on page), sexism (challenged on page)