This was a quick, fluffy little ya contemporary romance. I liked it, but I didn't like it as much as her other book that I've read, P.S. I Like You. It didn't feel quite as fleshed out as it could've been, especially as far as some of the side characters go. I did like the romance, and Hayden's sister Bec was a pretty good character. Although even with Bec, it felt like we only scratched the surface of her motivations...
Even though it didn't wow me, there is something about Kasie West's books that just put a big goofy grin on my face. They are just fun little stories that I seem to zip right through.

4.5 stars I really enjoyed this book and totally flew through it. I loved the premise and the characters. The romance was also good, even though it had a love triangle...kind of.

One thing that slightly hampered my enjoyment was a thought that kept entering my mind each time Jessa traveled to another reality to perform a 'correction'...if she is swapping places with another Jessa in order to perform the 'correction', why can't the other Jessa just do it in the first place?? I came up with the reason in my mind that just because all the Jessas are Jessa, it doesn't mean they are identical with identical skill sets...like one of the Jessas is a dancer...maybe their differences make them more or less qualified to handle certain assignments? I dunno, feels like reaching a little. I just wish they'd addressed it. If they did, I didn't notice...

However, for the most part, I loved this book. It's definitely the most fun I've had with a book in awhile.

Mild Spoilers ahead. Consider yourself warned.

Wow. This book.
First of all, there is a trigger warning for this book sexual assault. I've seen many one and two-star reviews on this book citing this scene as a contributing factor.

Things I loved:
1. The writing
I know that this can be a subjective thing. A style that works for some readers may not work for others. And to be honest, there are many books that attempt this type of whimsical, lyrical writing and just don't succeed. They either get way too flowery and overly descriptive, or they become steeped in nonsensical metaphor and become confusing. This book manages to strike just the right tone. It's whimsical and flowery, but it manages to be grounded in reality at the same time. It really feels like a modern-day fairy tale.
2. The characters
I read several low-star reviews bashing the characters in this book. I just don't get it. I loved them. Were they perfect? Hell no. That's what makes them so interesting. I love that this story is about more than just Ava. We learn about her grandmother, then her mother, and then Ava. It's important, because knowing about the lives of the women who came before Ava help us to understand her journey as well. I read other reviews talking about how these women were all weak and had no agency. I completely disagree with that, especially when it comes to Emilienne. She watched her entire family die around her, and then her husband. When everyone in the town was calling her a witch, she was able to find a way to rise above that and provide a life for herself and her daughter all on her own. In the 1940s. She was incredibly strong. Ava was also a very strong character, IMO. To have experienced what Ava did and come out the other end of it? That is far from weak.
3. The setting
As someone who lives in the Seattle area it was fun to read a story that takes place here. It felt familiar, especially all the talk about rain. :)
4. THE COVER!!! 10/10 So beautiful.

Things I didn't like:
No story is perfect. Even though I rated it five stars, I understand that it cannot be without fault. Unfortunately, I think I'm just a little too close to it right now to come up with anything that didn't work for me. Of course, there are decisions that were made by certain characters that I wish would've been different perhaps, but then it wouldn't be the same story. Wouldn't it be boring if all the characters always made all the 'right' decisions anyway?

All in all, I adored this book. I cannot wait to read her next book.

I've always had a little bit of a soft spot for Mary Bennet, even though in most adaptations of Pride and Prejudice that I've read and seen she is portrayed as thoroughly cross and unlikable. This book puts the focus on Mary, and I really enjoyed it. I thought the romance was sweet, and the growth that Mary shows throughout the course of the book was very enjoyable for me.
One small complaint was that, especially in the beginning of the book, the author would refer to events in P&P in relatively large detail. I would hope that anyone reading this book has already read the source material, which would make these passages relatively unnecessary.
Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book.

This book is difficult for me to rate, and difficult for me to review. There are so many things going on in this book: online gaming, LGBTQIA+ relationships, discussions of class/socio-economic differences, neglectful and abusive parents...plus the main character is a cancer survivor. And it's a road trip book. It was a lot, and at times it was pretty intense. This is not a light and fluffy read. However, there was something compelling about this book that kept me hooked.

I can't speak to the LBGTQIA+ representation, but it did seem to be handled in a respectful and not exploitative or patronizing way. I've read reviews from people who identify as LBGTQIA+ and they seem to be mostly positive about the way the author wrote these diverse characters. Also, I believe this is an own voices novel, so I would hope that the representation would be good.

One aspect I thought was really interesting and something that many can relate to is the difference between being friends with someone strictly in an online fashion as opposed to actually knowing a person in the context of the real world. Arden and Dylan have 'known' each other for years, through their mutual love for World of Warcraft. They've spent countless hours playing and talking with only the other person. But then they meet in real life and it's awkward. There are long, drawn-out silences that wouldn't happen online. It's very interesting, and it rings authentic to me.

One minor annoyance for me was the visual structure of this book. Instead of being written in a traditional format with indented paragraphs flowing from one thought/comment to the next in the course of a scene, every paragraph is followed by a kind of line break. Now, these are common at the end of scenes within the same chapter, but this was every single paragraph, which took some getting used to, as I'm accustomed to a break in text signifying the end of a scene. I guess it just messed with the pacing a bit for me. Again, this is minor, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

I'm curious to check out more from this author. This book was unlike any YA I've ever read. It was sarcastic, funny, sad, uncomfortable, and bittersweet.

I really disliked this book. I did try to differentiate my feelings on the characters from my feelings on other aspects of the book, but found it quite difficult. Every character is this book is a reprehensible human being. And while it can be difficult to connect to a book where no character has a single redeeming quality, I can still respect a book for its other merits, especially when it's unlikable characters are kind of the point.

However, I had many others issues with this book that had little to do with the unforgivable characters within.

What I liked:
1. This story takes place in Amsterdam. I'm going to Amsterdam later this year...which has almost nothing to do with the actual story.

What I didn't like:
1. The entire premise was completely unbelievable. That two couples would gather together in such a public spot to discuss something so vile just doesn't seem authentic. I guess when we finally learn the extent of Paul's mania (or whatever his issue was...I'm annoyed that we are never given a clear diagnosis) it makes a little sense that Serge would want other people around, assuming that he would be relatively safe. But still...it's a pretty silly idea.
Also, the thought that Paul could go and violently beat a principal and there would be no repercussion was a head scratcher.

2. The pacing was awful. There is a big chunk in the middle of this book that is all flashback. Now, these flashbacks do end up serving a purpose, demonstrating just how twisted all of these people really are. But it essentially brings the current action to a screeching halt. The couples at dinner literally don't even begin talking about the 'incident' until chapter 37...about 70 pages from the end of the book. I'm sure this is done in order to build tension, but I found myself completely bored. I also thought there were parts that were confusing because in the middle of a passage we would get thrown into a flashback and I got a little confused about the timeline.

3. The writing style/translation. I'm honestly not sure if this is a problem with Koch's writing or the translation, but the writing in this is clunky and stilted. The dialogue is really bad. And there is way too much repetition in a lot of the prose. I would be interested to read a review from someone who has read both the American and Dutch versions and see what they thought.
Also, I get that the author was trying to use this dinner as a metaphor and blah blah blah. But you know what? It was boring and pretentious.

I truly hope that Koch just has a way of writing despicable characters because if he is anything remotely like any of his characters, that's disturbing.

4.5 stars...possibly 4.75

I really loved this book. I've read quite a few contemporary YA books recently that were simply not good books. The writing, the characters, the plots...all lackluster. I am so happy I picked this book up today. I actually purchased this book some months back when I saw it at a used book store, but didn't want to pick it up until summer. Now I wish I'd read it then.

Things I liked:

1. The characters. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book. Emily was relatable in the way she wants to be a part of the world around her, but is shy and somewhat socially awkward. I liked her arc. It felt organic and not forced as she grew in confidence. Frank was great as well. Fun and friendly and supportive. Dawn and Collins were well-written also, though I wish we'd seen a bit more of their interactions. I even liked Sloane, for the most part. I see a lot of reviews saying that she's a shitty friend for not telling Emily that she's leaving town, and I agree that the reasoning behind it is stretching believability a bit, but I don't necessarily believe that one poor decision (or even a couple) makes her a shitty friend. It seems obvious throughout the book that Sloane really cares about Emily.
I even thought Gideon was interesting and wouldn't mind reading more about that character. It doesn't seem like he's a bad guy...he just has poor taste in best friends.

2. The romance. I love how low-key the relationship between Emily and Frank begins. I have read so many freaking stupid insta-love garbage stories recently where you never see them have any real conversations. This book started out with them actually talking about their interests and getting know each other. They become friends, and stay friends for 98% of the book. True, their affection grows throughout, but it's actually based on them getting to know each other...imagine that!

3. The list. I love reading books with lists. Kind of random, but there it is.

4.The writing. I haven't read any other Morgan Matson books, although I do have a couple more on my TBR shelf. I really like the way she crafted this story. There were some flashbacks that inform the audience of how different items make their way to the checklist, but it doesn't feel expositional. Actually, as I was reading this book I was picturing what it would look like as a movie.

5. The music talks!! I loved all of their discussions about music and mixes, especially the Beatles!! I also liked all of the mix lists...I have several new songs in my library thanks to this book.

Things I didn't like:
1. Ummm...I wish there had been resolution to Dawn and Emily's argument. But really...that's getting nitpicky. In my mind, Emily goes back to Dawn and they hug it out.