What can I say about this book other than it blew my expectations completely out of the water. I put this book on my Libby request list and then forgot about it for a while, mostly because of the cover and the general premise (who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers trope?) and I don’t think I processed everything that this book was going to give me. This book delivered so much more than I was expecting and I was so happy with it. If Sophie Gonzales’s other books are like this one, I will devour them immediately.
Pros: LGBTQIA+ representation ALL DAY EVERY DAY! – and done VERY WELL! I see you internalized biphobia being called out, and asexual rep in a healthy manner, plus having a transgender character who is NOT a cartoonish representation of a human. Amazing. And that is not even touching on the ethnic diversity of this book. This book handles so many of the more sensitive issues that surround us in a manner that many people need to confront, and have a hard time doing, so so well, and I just….no words at how well it is done. Plus I actively wanted to root for the main guy, he was such a fun, well developed, non-toxic male character and I appreciated him so much. Plus it was the female lead who needed more growth and I appreciated that we had a first-hand view of her growth rather than of her love interests, which is not necessarily what I would have expected from this book description.
Cons: The main character was kind of grating at times (but I think that is part of the importance of this book). Mildly concerned about some of the ramifications of the pop-psychology presented in this, but I don’t think there is any true harm that can come from it. I think overall everything was really done tastefully and well.
Look at the description of this book, and if there is ANY aspect of it that appeals to you, pick it up. I am so glad I did.