There were some really poignant pieces in this, but they were vastly outnumbered by many other mediocre or meandering poems. 

I am probably an outlier here, but I preferred this book to the Hating Game. I really enjoyed the characterization of the male lead and the growth of the relationship here -- it felt more real and believable, and by extension more rewarding, than what we saw in her debut novel.

Ruthie:
At first, I thought I couldn't stand Ruthie, but she definitely grows on you as the story continues. Of all the characters in this novel, I feel as if she is the least fleshed out and that there are a few elements of her personality that were laid out but not fully explored, which is a little disappointing since there was so much potential for her.

Teddy:
As I said, I feel as if his characterization is a lot more vibrant and developed. Sometimes romances can suffer from "perfect man syndrome" and Teddy definitely straddles that line at points, but overall I can see him being a real person, even if I think he makes some questionable decisions near the end.

Plot:
The overall pacing and plot was pretty decent. There were some elements that were brought up and dropped, or otherwise mentioned sporadically that sometimes made the story feel a little bit disjointed but it was pretty consistent overall -- until about 75% through and then it kind of rushed to wrap everything up in a perfect bow. 

I enjoyed a lot of the plot elements in the ending, I just wish that more of the conclusion was a result of Ruthie's agency in lieu of others acting/speaking in her place. So much work was done behind the scenes to build up her overall impact and importance during the novel, but it didn't feel resolved in a satisfying way. I understand how the contrasting theme of Ruthie deserving people to look out for her impacted the story direction here, but I just wanted a little more of Ruthie realizing and embracing how much of a bad ass bitch she is.

In all, it was a fun read but probably not a story I would revisit. 

Normally I hate the "woe is me I think I'm ugly and unloveable" MC trope, but I think this is approached in a sensible way for this story. While the plot beats are predictable and the characters are a little dry, this is still a fun read and I am interested in seeing where this is going. 

What I would give to learn more about this world and how it works. This was a fun, well-written tale, but unfortunately lacked the relationship building and character depth to match the fascinating concept for it. I feel as if many of the fantastic plot elements relating to the Fae were cast aside in favour of the (very rushed and unsupported) romance, and I wish the author spent more time exploring them.

More chemistry between the leads!
More world building!
More clarity in the plot!

There was so much goodness in the concept for this book but ultimately the result was (well-written) wasted potential.

The main character is so mired down by her insecurities that it makes this romance feel more like one between a 14 y/o and a 28 y/o instead of one between two consenting adults. Ended with a bit of a whimper as well, which is disappointing since Mariana Zapata is my go-to for indulgent slow-burn reads.

We knew exactly where this was going but the journey was oh so sweet. 

I don't think this is exactly earth shattering in terms of writing or in how it approached the themes, but it's an incredibly lovely story that was executed perfectly. Perhaps too perfectly -- it felt very story book, and I was missing a bit of human rawness and flaws that elevate the emotional tones of a novel, hence only the 3.5. 

All in all, it's still definitely a recommended read!

The best Austen has to offer. Anne is an incredible character, and she is used as a fantastic exploration of how our relationship with those around us (or lack thereof) can define our sense of self. Watching her unfold herself as she moves through different societies is masterful on Austen's part -- as swoon-worthy as the romance elements are, the character work is the heart and soul of this piece. 

In my opinion, chapter 11 could (and should) be skimmed/skipped in its entirety, but the rest of the novel is absolute perfection.