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2.01k reviews by:
ninetalevixen
3.5 stars.
This was painfully-cute in the best way, the kind of book that makes you miss having someone to cuddle and/or make out with if you're (un)lucky enough to know exactly what it feels like, or makes you wish you had someone if you haven't had that experience yourself. It also has great family moments (you had me at dizygotic triplets! Identical girls and a fraternal boy — genuinely fascinating, and their relationship is so well-explored) and lots of pure wholesome friendship (complete with prank wars!) and just general cheerful ensemble moments.
There were also a few moments that were a bit cringey in the tropey-teenage-drama way, and the whole last half of the book felt like a series of unfortunate cliches (which is where it lost half a star for me). But it was a fun, light read and I enjoyed it overall.
Recommended by Soph @ Bookwyrming Thoughts & Clo @ Cuppa Clo.
This was painfully-cute in the best way, the kind of book that makes you miss having someone to cuddle and/or make out with if you're (un)lucky enough to know exactly what it feels like, or makes you wish you had someone if you haven't had that experience yourself. It also has great family moments (you had me at dizygotic triplets! Identical girls and a fraternal boy — genuinely fascinating, and their relationship is so well-explored) and lots of pure wholesome friendship (complete with prank wars!) and just general cheerful ensemble moments.
There were also a few moments that were a bit cringey in the tropey-teenage-drama way, and the whole last half of the book felt like a series of unfortunate cliches (which is where it lost half a star for me). But it was a fun, light read and I enjoyed it overall.
Recommended by Soph @ Bookwyrming Thoughts & Clo @ Cuppa Clo.
Moth was okay, though I never related to her as a person. The Pear Tree was interesting; I would've liked to see it explored more throughout the story. Ending was okay too.
DNF.
I actually haven't read the first book (didn't realize this was a sequel when I picked it up, though it became pretty obvious once I started — a lot of things were casually skimmed by in that "you know what I'm talking about, we've covered this in the previous book" way), but I have a feeling that wouldn't improve the experience.
My first big complaint was the way Dom and her best friend (who, by the way, is the incarnation of the "I don't know why we're friends but I'm so lucky we are! She's prettier and boys like her more than me" trope) ditch each other for guys. No, having a boyfriend should not make your best friend your "second choice." That's not how healthy relationships work.
Totally minor detail, but I really disliked the part where Guy dismisses all the other premed students as "in it for money or prestige, or come from medical families" whereas Dom is the "real deal." As someone who comes from a kind of medical family myself, I resent the implication that such a background makes our pursuit of medicine somehow less valid. Sure, we may have an outside inclination, even an advantage, but that doesn't mean we don't have to work for it. (Whew, this was a lot to write for a throwaway compliment, but there you have it.)
I actually haven't read the first book (didn't realize this was a sequel when I picked it up, though it became pretty obvious once I started — a lot of things were casually skimmed by in that "you know what I'm talking about, we've covered this in the previous book" way), but I have a feeling that wouldn't improve the experience.
My first big complaint was the way Dom and her best friend (who, by the way, is the incarnation of the "I don't know why we're friends but I'm so lucky we are! She's prettier and boys like her more than me" trope) ditch each other for guys. No, having a boyfriend should not make your best friend your "second choice." That's not how healthy relationships work.
Totally minor detail, but I really disliked the part where Guy dismisses all the other premed students as "in it for money or prestige, or come from medical families" whereas Dom is the "real deal." As someone who comes from a kind of medical family myself, I resent the implication that such a background makes our pursuit of medicine somehow less valid. Sure, we may have an outside inclination, even an advantage, but that doesn't mean we don't have to work for it. (Whew, this was a lot to write for a throwaway compliment, but there you have it.)
DNF at 23%
It's not that it's the worst thing I've ever read, but I'm throwing in the towel at the phrase "hugged her hips and thighs in all the right places." Yikes.
Partial credit for a wlw relationship and some Chinese culture, but the former felt like it was happening in a bubble (none of the concerns that contemporary wlw face, e.g. wondering if your crush even likes girls) and the latter felt exoticised even in Jane's POV chapters. While I get that both girls are to varying extents "outsiders" to the beliefs and community, it's not just some mystical backdrop for your real life. So I'll be shelving this as LGBTQIA rep but not Asian rep.
ETA: Apparently the author's personal experience with Chinese culture is from her wife, which explains (but doesn't excuse) how it's incorporated into the story. Since there are so many better novels out there, for LGBT+ rep and/or for Asian(-American) rep, I wouldn't recommend this one.
It's not that it's the worst thing I've ever read, but I'm throwing in the towel at the phrase "hugged her hips and thighs in all the right places." Yikes.
Partial credit for a wlw relationship and some Chinese culture, but the former felt like it was happening in a bubble (none of the concerns that contemporary wlw face, e.g. wondering if your crush even likes girls) and the latter felt exoticised even in Jane's POV chapters. While I get that both girls are to varying extents "outsiders" to the beliefs and community, it's not just some mystical backdrop for your real life. So I'll be shelving this as LGBTQIA rep but not Asian rep.
ETA: Apparently the author's personal experience with Chinese culture is from her wife, which explains (but doesn't excuse) how it's incorporated into the story. Since there are so many better novels out there, for LGBT+ rep and/or for Asian(-American) rep, I wouldn't recommend this one.
DNF.
The portrayal of fandom, fanfic, teenagers, Internet friendship, and even diversity (race/sexuality/etc.) was lacking, imo. As an Asian teen girl pretty heavily involved in fandom, so many things about this narrative bother me, to the point where I didn't get much farther past the introduction of all the main characters. Maybe some people will enjoy this book, but I'm definitely not one of them.
The portrayal of fandom, fanfic, teenagers, Internet friendship, and even diversity (race/sexuality/etc.) was lacking, imo. As an Asian teen girl pretty heavily involved in fandom, so many things about this narrative bother me, to the point where I didn't get much farther past the introduction of all the main characters. Maybe some people will enjoy this book, but I'm definitely not one of them.
DNF at 15%.
I know I'm picky, but nothing I'm reading is convincing me that Rayne isn't just another manic pixie dream girl. The premise of a gap year appealed to me initially, but I just don't think this would be a very satisfying read for me to finish.
I know I'm picky, but nothing I'm reading is convincing me that Rayne isn't just another manic pixie dream girl. The premise of a gap year appealed to me initially, but I just don't think this would be a very satisfying read for me to finish.
DNF at 34%.
Not terrible or anything, it just didn't seem like the story was going anywhere. Which as a memoir is totally fine, but not really what I'm interested in reading currently.
Not terrible or anything, it just didn't seem like the story was going anywhere. Which as a memoir is totally fine, but not really what I'm interested in reading currently.
DNF at 28%
They're all assholes — albeit of different stereotypes — and I doubt the plot will turn into something I care enough about to see through to the end.
They're all assholes — albeit of different stereotypes — and I doubt the plot will turn into something I care enough about to see through to the end.
As a young adult interested in getting a (relative) head start on personal finance, I found this a really helpful place to start. The information is backed up by logic and resources you can check out on your own, and Sethi provides actionable advice so that you can easily get started now that you understand the how and why. (Literally, most chapters end with a list of “action steps” to take.)
My only complaint is that Sethi goes on a lot of tangents which I didn’t actually find interesting or funny; there are a lot of sexual analogies and venting about how much he wants to throw onions at people who make poor financial decisions. It doesn’t detract from the useful advice, but it was annoying.
My only complaint is that Sethi goes on a lot of tangents which I didn’t actually find interesting or funny; there are a lot of sexual analogies and venting about how much he wants to throw onions at people who make poor financial decisions. It doesn’t detract from the useful advice, but it was annoying.