Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

I've wanted to read this for ages; ever since my eyes drifted over the gorgeous cover and pretty font. I have a somewhat weird thing about typography. However, when the book finally came from halfway across the world, guess what? Did they mess my order up? Did the book come irrevocably damaged in the mail? Well, yes and no.

A lush, raw, thrilling novel of the senses about a year in the life of a uniquely beguiling young woman, set in the wild, alluring world of a famous downtown New York restaurant.
"Let's say I was born when I came over the George Washington Bridge..."
This is how we meet unforgettable Tess, the twenty-two-year-old at the heart of this stunning first novel. Shot from a mundane, provincial past, she's come to New York to look for a life she can't define, except as a burning drive to become someone, to belong somewhere. After she stumbles into a coveted job at a renowned Union Square restaurant, we spend the year with her as she learns the chaotic, punishing, privileged life of a "backwaiter," on duty and off. Her appetites—for food, wine, knowledge, and every kind of experience—are awakened. And she's pulled into the magnetic thrall of two other servers—a handsome bartender she falls hard for, and an older woman she latches onto with an orphan's ardor.
These two and their enigmatic connection to each other will prove to be Tess's hardest lesson of all. Sweetbitter is a story of discovery, enchantment, and the power of what remains after disillusionment.

The book was a little scuffed up, but nothing serious. The big talking point was the fact that it was an ARC. Yep, an ARC. Not only are you technically not allowed to sell them, but I also didn't order it. In fact, I ordered a hardcover. I would have complained, but I was worried that they would make me ship the book all the way back to them and I really didn't want the hassle. It had already taken a month to get to me. *sigh*

I have never liked the idea of clams. Heck, I don’t even eat seafood most of the time because I’m worried that all of the seawater fish are soon going to become extinct but the way that this book describes food kind of makes me want to try muscles. The fishy kind, not the human kind. Anyways, yuck right? The idea repulses me but when Danler writes about the different types of food, you can actually feel the desire.

The way that Tess grows as a character is quite interesting to read about. She goes from a disillusioned child, to a broken adult and, in that sense, it’s a little bit tragic. I know that quite a few people say that she’s very whiny, but hey – she’s only 22 and she’s basically run away from home. Give her some slack.

As a book, it doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable things but nor does it glamourise it. I suppose that's where the whole disillusionment with New York comes in. Admittedly, the abusive relationships that are highlighted in the book do seem like it's going to be something good when we first encountered it. You actually start off liking the abusers a little bit, which just makes it all the more uncomfortable when you realise what crappy people they are. In that aspect, we are with Tess on her journey.

Loved it. Although I do think that I loved it a little more when I was reading it hence the four stars. When I was reading it, scenes didn't seem like fillers but looking back at it, there were quite a few scenes where nothing all that interesting happened. Still, it seemed brilliant when I was reading it which I guess is what counts.

So I recently saw a meme going around Twitter that urges people to like their post in exchange for unpopular bookish opinions. I thought it was a pretty good idea! So written down in this post are 10 controversial opinions that I currently hold on books and the bookish community. If anything pisses you off (which it 100% might) feel free to politely message me on my Twitter @itsfleurbooks or email me.

1 Just so you know, I am 100% for diversity but ethnic diversity in a singular book is having people of all different colours, and yes, that includes white people. Having said that, overall diversity in the literature industry is having authors and characters of different ethnicities in different books.

2 People should be allowed to write about other people’s experiences as long as they’ve done their research. Policing what people can and can’t write about isn’t cool.

3 While I respect the topic of Rupi Kaur's books, the style of poetry books like hers and Lang Leav's are
really
not that
great.

4 Secondhand books are just as good, if not better than new ones. Obviously support the author monetarily if you can but I’m so done with people looking down on those who buy things second hand.

5 J.K. Rowling is overrated but her books are legendary.

6 The Hunger Games are important books and not just wishy-washy YA. If you actually give the book a chance, it’s a scary and likely dystopia. We can all learn something from the Hunger Games.

7 90% of all contemporary books have the same exact plot and love interest.

8 Bookmarks are not needed most of the time.

9 I don’t understand why people won't read the classics based on discriminatory reasons. Oh, and I say this as a POC. Yes, classics can be racist but they’re also important sources for understanding our history and literary history. As long as you understand the context and how wrong many of these things were, then it should be okay-ish right?

10 Rating problematic books, such as Carve the Mark, based on a couple of people’s opinion aka not your own, can be more problematic than the book itself.

Before we get started, just let me let you know that I am not a fan of vampires. At all. We can thank Twilight for that. However, this wasn't half bad but because I know we all like to spill tea every now and then, I’m going to start this book review with the negatives and work my way up to the positives. Oh, I would also just like to let everyone know that I received an eARC of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Pulse by Danielle Koste
My rating: 4 of 5 stars it's actually 3.75 but you can't do that on GR

Humans are the worst kind of monsters.

🔬Negatives

First things first, the prologue definitely needs some work. It’s a good concept and would entrance me into reading it, if only it was written a little bit better. Which is odd because the rest of Koste’s action scenes are brilliant. The prologue, however, was a little bit all over the place and it made me hesitant going into the book. This hesitance lasted for about 5 chapters into the book, which sucks because the first 5 chapters weren’t all that bad. I wasn’t given a chance to enjoy it.

Furthermore, there were a few grammar mistakes. In Chapter 1, Koste frequently writes Phelps instead of Phelps’. It looks okay when I write it like that, but it’s supposed to be possessive. “Phelps words were not as casual as the expression he was attempting.” See? That’s not right. We know that she isn’t that bad at grammar though because she does use the correct Phelps’ in subsequent chapters.

Finally, there are a lot of evident run-on sentences in the first half of the book. As there isn’t that much action, these are especially noticeable and distract a little from the plot. It hinders the flow of the book and makes some of the writing seem slightly juvenile. There were commas in places that didn’t need commas. There were missing commas in places that did need commas. Ultimately, if slightly off grammar ruins a book for you then this might be a little much.

🔬Positives

Now on to the positives. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the main character, I did respect the whole ‘human decency’ thing that she has going. She’s actually a morally good person which is pretty dope. I’m also in love with some of the side characters – mainly Cameron with “his dark brown eyes so naive and honest” and Phelps. They’re beautiful human beings as well!

Koste also writes excellent action scenes. I was engrossed every time something dramatic was happening, and the way she writes it just makes you want to read more . The first time I realised this was with this line; “Rowan predicted his next move just before everyone else, twisting her body away as he lifted the whole bed frame off the floor.” Having said that, Koste ends each chapter with a bang. It’s like those season finales that end on a cliffhanger, but actually good. You don’t need to wait a whole year to find out what happens!

Thirdly, the dialogue isn’t half bad! I don’t want to use any examples for the fear of spoiling something, but trust me, it’s deliciously creepy at some points. Sometimes it even jumps up into the realm of fear.



🔬Conclusion

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book to those who like to mix science with the supernatural. Even though the science part wasn’t as strong as I would like, it was still there. Overall, it’s a fun and quick read that should have your heart racing as you dive into the covers.

🔬Extras

• Despite the author neglecting to mention gender prior to this chapter, I assumed Dr Miller was a man! Shame on me. I guess this just shows my ingrained sexism.
• Hopefully, everyone knows this already but the relationship in this book is not healthy. It’s a good fantasy, but if you have a person like the love interest in your life ... then please seek help. Or leave.
• Sometimes the characters can be a little dumb or over the top. This happens in most books, but it’s still a little frustrating.
• I actually rooted for the romance in this. Normally I wouldn't because it's obviously super unhealthy, all relationships between predators and prey is, but it’s still pretty sweet.
• trigger warning for anorexia. This happens nearer the end of the book. It isn't about anorexia specifically, but it sure sounds like someone suffering from the disorder. "The more I was able to control it, the less consuming the hunger felt."

I was honestly so close to rating this 4 stars. So goddamn close.

You might not be able to tell from my Goodreads reviews, but R.H. Sin is not a new author to me. I used to have a physical copy of Whiskey Words & a Shovel II. However, I never got around to reviewing it because it was a very quick DNF and I sold it off as soon as I realised it wasn’t for me. I had hopes that this one was going to be different.

At the beginning, it was. Most of the poems were heartfelt and they had enough depth to differentiate them from mere sentences. Some of them were empowering. Others evoked deep consideration about the meaning of love. Y’know, things that poems are supposed to do. That all changed after I got to around the 100-page mark. FUCK.

The book very quickly dipped into ‘what the fuck’ territory. Nothing was sacred. The author romanticised suicide in a very cliche overdone way. 2 strikes in one. He praised himself as a ‘nice guy’ which has some very uncomfortable connotations.

Finally, his poems
derailed into mere
sentences. 

And then ended. The depth was gone. The originality was gone. I was left with the same idea reiterated over and over. Not being facetious, but the entirety of the book’s second half could be condensed into one or two poems. R.H. Sin definitely did not need 100 pages to say what he did.

Planting Gardens in Graves by R.H. Sin
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
edit: The author has denounced the idea that one of his poems is about suicide in my comment section so I've swapped the word 'suicide' with 'death'. He has brought to my attention that he has suffered the traumatic loss of his premature brother and that my interpretation of a poem about suicide is incorrect. I feel for him and hope he finds peace. However, I still stand by my first interpretation that the poem under my 'romanticising suicide' category is harmful. Furthermore, I believe that interpreting the poem as romanticising suicide is completely valid and the author could not have expected me to know that he had a premature baby brother. 

I received an ARC of Planting Gardens in Graves via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


No Subtlety

men beg
for entry
then label women whores
as they exit

men chase pussy
then degrade women
for giving it to them

He’s saying the exact same thing in the two different stanzas. The first is more poetic. The second is just a reiteration of the first but in a slightly less poetic way, as though he thinks that the reader probably hasn’t understood the first stanza. Perhaps his books appeal more to younger demographics, but that doesn’t mean they’re idiots.

Short Sentences

they love pussy
but not the women
they get it from

Let’s change that into a sentence. Imagine that this appears at the end of a heart-wrenching article about gender equality and being taken for granted. They love pussy, but not the women they get it from. Now, which format has the most impact?

In my opinion, the sentence packs a lot more punch than the poem that R.H. Sin has written. That’s not good. Poetry and the structure of poetry is supposed to enhance meaning or send a message. This jarred structure may do it for some people but it is nowhere near as impactful as it is in prose.

Romanticising Suicide

i loved you
but heaven loved you more
i needed you
but heaven needed you more
i lost you but gained an angel



I completely understand that this might be a way that someone deals with the suicide death of someone that they used to be close to. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s healthy – especially when written in a book that’s supposed to appeal to those who are depressed or feeling down. In the words of the Goodreads synopsis, this original volume celebrates connection, mourns heartbreak, and above all, empowers its readers to seek the love they deserve.

In my opinion, books that celebrate should not be celebrating the creation of an ‘angel’. There really isn’t anything about suicide death (especially when it happens too early) that should be celebrated. Perhaps people can find peace in the idea that the one whom they loved is in a better place but it’s still pretty sketchy.

Here is the comment that he made. I regret the death of his baby brother and wish him all the best.  I also understand that this is a sensitive topic and I would never want to insult or ridicule someone else's experience. Nevertheless, I'm a little disappointed that the validity of my interpretation was not acknowledged, especially since the poem has no context. Like he said, poetry can be interpreted in many ways and this just happened to be my way.

"for the life of me, I don't know why your mind went to that route"
"obvious loss of life" (I understood that it was a loss of life. That's what suicide is)
"people die many ways you know..." (yes, they do. according to WHO, over 800,000 people die due to suicide each year. it's a horrible tragedy that is too common to be ignored)


I Swear I’m A Nice Guy

it’s time for men to step up
or lose their women to men like me

Let’s get something straight first; I’m 100% for confidence. You feel good about yourself? Good. Having confidence in yourself is a wonderful thing and not vain as so many people perceive it to be. However, there is a time where one must look at oneself and consider if that confidence is completely well-founded.

This poem reminded me of r/niceguys. In summary, these are basically guys who complain about how no one is willing to fuck him despite being such a nice person. Of course, they really aren’t as nice as they think they are and may actually be bigger douchebags than the ‘assholes’ who actually have girlfriends. I believe that R.H Sin might be emulating one of these people, but doesn’t actually realise it.

He says that men will ‘lose their women’ as if we are possessions to be lost. News flash! We’re not. It could be a slip in grammar, but coupled with the whole ‘I’m better than all the other men out there’ attitude, this poem makes me uncomfortable.

In Conclusion. This book is a personal experience and some may have a great deal of trouble getting through some of the poems. This could be due to mental triggers or the short, blurry sentences. Having said all of that, the first half of the book did actually house some thoughtful poetry.

Want my advice? Stop at around page 130. You’ll have read most of the original ideas in the book and will probably enjoy it. So I’m going to end on a positive note with a poem with some "pretty dope" imagery.

women with sharp tongues
cut through weak men
likes knives to bread

note: I'm not sure that I want to recommend the book anymore due to the somewhat patronising comment left by the author. I appreciate that he has lost someone special to him, but it's uncomfortable to have a grown man comment on a teenagers review telling them that they're wrong. Post this incident, I've shared this poem numerous others and suicide IS a common interpretation.

I had to look these up on Goodreads because I forgot that I read them. That’s how forgettable they are. It's Wednesday which means that it's time for a Top Five Wednesday! This is basically a bookish 'meme' where you get given a topic for the day, and have to answer with your top five pics. If you want to join in you can find the group here. Today's topic is:

January 17th: Forgettable Books 

The Road Between by Courtney Peppernell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having read another poem collection by Courtney Peppernell, I went in knowing the bare bones of what I should expect. *I received a copy of this book from the netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Peppernell writes with simplistic prose that is easy to read and easy to understand. However, with this simplicity can also come a lack of emotional depth – which you might call counterproductive. Poetry is generally meant to make us feel something.

Similar to her previous collection, there were both strong and weak pieces within the pages. Unfortunately, there were too few that truly caught my attention in order for me to label a brilliant collection. However, there is something in this book for nearly everyone and I wouldn’t cross it off your tbr if you enjoy heartfelt poetry.

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had no idea what he was talking about, but I dutifully said "yes" when he had finished.

This was a strange little book. I didn't hate it, but I did feel as though it didn't really have a point. There really isn't a moral or message to this book, nor was it extremely entertaining to read. It was, and this is likely due to the passive voice of the narrator, the kind of book that lists without meaning to. That tells you, rather than showing.

Having said that, there are quite a few illustrations in the copy that I bought that I thought really SPICED the book up a little bit. Sorry, that was the wrong word. This book isn't a spice of any kind, but I could see it as some kind of herb – if that makes sense. Homely and not that interesting, but at the same time quite beautiful.

I can see how you might be able to appreciate the writing, I can definitely understand why you might adore the illustrations and I can guess as to why other people might have liked this book. It really isn't as terrible as I've made it out to be, but I can't imagine it being very interesting without the illustrations. If you do have the chance, I wouldn't discourage you from picking it up. It's a very short book, so even if you don't like it, it'll be over in half an hour.

Firebolt by Adrienne Woods
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I got this through the ‘read now’ section on netgalley.
Every now and then expectations are made. Maybe it’s the magnificent blurb, or perhaps the cover is a piece of literal art. For this book it was both. I mean come on, a fairy tale killed her father? Who could resist a line like that? Admittedly, I have brightened up the cover a little bit in my featured image – but there’s no doubt that it’s gorgeous even without the photo editing. So where did the book go wrong?

Read The Rest: These Sentences Explain Why I Don’t Like Firebolt by Adrienne Woods

The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sophie Stark has changed her name. When she was much younger, she was a strange, constantly bullied kid named Emily Buckley. Now that she's an adult, she's no less strange but she is struggling to come to terms with it. Trying to understand what makes other people tick, and figure out how best to mimic this. How best to fit in.

She never quite succeeds in her endeavor. I'm not going to write too much about the plot, for fear of spoilers, but this book does what I love best in all books – character studies and exploration. The story is told from 4+ perspectives, so the readers are able to get an insight into a manipulative, confused and broken young woman, who doesn't quite understand the world that she lives in.

Anna North gives the readers a paradox in which you might find yourself hating the main character, but at the same time feel as though she deserves to be coddled, petted on the head and told that everything is going to be alright. She's terrible in the way that she handles others, but doesn't seem to realise what she's doing, while she's doing it. Her bemused nature replicates that of a child stuck in an adult body.

The writing was lovely. Really easy to get through, and it keeps you engaged throughout. I'm not sure whether the story was simply short, or if it just felt like that because of how quick paced the writing is. There were nice stylistic things as well, like how at the end of nearly each point of view, a review of Sophie's latest movie was written. By the same man, mind you, but it gives the readers a perspective on how outsiders saw her and the opportunity to compare that to how those who truly knew her, saw her.

I don't quite know what I should rate this. The book wasn't bad, so I'm not going to rate it lower than three stars, I feel as though I should rate it five stars but I don't think that it really had all the big of an impact on me. It was just . . . good. Plain and simple. Good.

The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Rehearsal is a literary novel that deals with the loss of innocence, the reinvention of oneself and revelations of the human psyche. However, it is far from boring or overly philosophical. Each pages gifts upon you a new way of looking at something, or an explanation of a happening that you didn't realise that you needed all the while managing to keep you engaged and glued to it's pages.

It follows three adolescent girls who can occasionally talk as though they are 40, their saxophone teacher who seems to take immeasurable joy in the insecurities of others, and a college aged boy who is really nothing remarkable. We follow them throughout the entire book, so it is very much character based.

The first chapter was, to say the least, difficult for me to read. It was overtly sexual and dramatic to a degree where it was not needed. Before you dismiss this statement as an exaggeration or me as a prude, let me quote some lines to you.

Continued on my blog.

I love the idea behind all of Lovelace's books. They're strong, powerful poems that are aimed towards strong powerful women. The message in all of them is wonderful which is why I am reluctant to rate this anything lower than 3 stars. I understand the important impact that books like this can have on a person. However, there is quite a lot of filler content in her books and this one is no exception.

The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One by Amanda Lovelace
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Poems with one or two words can be powerful, there's no doubt about it. However, when a book is filled with tiny clusters of words per page, these singular words can seem a little bit redundant. There is almost too little content per poem. When this happens, your eyes might start to drift onto the next page only to confuse differing poems in your mind. Or, perhaps the words become meaningless because they are just too little by themselves. Quite a lot of the poems in this book were baby poems. Often times they felt incomplete.

There are a few saving graces in the collection which I thought were beautiful. Detailed below is a piece of prose that I really enjoyed and thought fit the theme quite well. Like the title, it's ominous and highlights how powerful women can be.

the man with the witch-killing look in his eyes drinks deeply from the chipped lilac teacup, his trembling hands making it clink against the saucer as he places them back together. my stomach churns in circles as the dark liquid dribbles down his chin in lines. he eagerly slides the cup & dish to me across the old, rickety table & I waste no time turning the cup over the dish to get rid of the excess. when I turn the cup right-side up, I spot the clusters of soggy brown & black leaves that litter the bottom in various shapes & sizes. I study it for a moment & immediately look away, nervously wringing my hands in my skirts. there’s no question what the means.

“well? what does is say?” he asks.

i keep my eyes down. “the leaves say you’re going to . . . pay.”

“p-pardon?” he sputters, his eyes filling to the brim with terror.

“They say . . . you’re all going to pay,” i whisper.

– the leaves never lie

More often than I would like, I find myself in what’s known as a ‘blogging rut’. Sometimes I also use made-up words that sound legit, but that’s an issue that will get dealt with in another post. Basically, a blogging rut is when you get stuck for blog post ideas even though you’re racking your brain trying to find something interesting to write.

When this happens to me, not only do I stress about not having anything to post, but I also find that my motivation to write dips a little. I need an idea that sparks inspiration and actually motivates me to write. With the idea that at least some people are going to be having the same issue as me, I’ve written a blog post for you when you’re in the same situation!

1. Habits You Want to Create
2. Favourite Restaurants
3. Memories You Want to Make
4. Quote of the Day
5. TV Shows You Recommend
6. TV Shows You Don’t Recommend
7. Celebrities / Authors Who Have A Special Spot in Your Heart
8. A Letter to Your Future Self
9. Precautions You Can Take to Avoid __________
10. Your Favourite Bands or Musicians
11. A Timeline of All the Concerts You’ve Been To
12. Recipes You Want to Attempt
13. Book / TV / Movie Themed Food
14. A Roundup
15. Your Favourite Items Beginning With the Letter ‘J’(cause it's Janurary)
16. X Songs for The Summer / School Year / etc
17. Behind The Scenes of One Blog Post
18. Unhaul Things You Don't Need Anymore
19. Self-Care Tips That You Stick To
20. Your Pet Peeves
21. Your Favourite Instagram Spots
22. How You Deal With Stress
23. Online or IRL shopping? Discuss
24. How You Balance Work and Play
25. Home Decor Dos and Don'ts
26. Blog Post Formatting Tips
27. Your Favourite Social Media Sites and Why
28. Lies That You Tell Yourself
29. Recent Dreams That You've Had
30. Drop Some Controversial Opinions
31. How Do You Wake Yourself Up In The Morning?
32. Tips For Staying Healthy
33. Your Favourite Places to Shop
34. How You Find New Blogs To Read
35. Pre-Blogger You Versus Post-Blogger You
36. Things That You Wish More People Knew
37. Politics On Lifestyle Blogs – Yay or Nay?
38. How To Live More Ecologically Friendly
39. People Who Have Taught You Invaluable Lessons
40. Good Blog Post Ideas

Oops, did I just snitch on myself? That last one's a little telling, isn't it? Anyway, I hope that you've managed to find something that appeals to you, or that I've managed to help you a little. If you do use any of my ideas, feel free to let me know! I would love to read what you've written.

It's Wednesday which means that it's time for a Top Five Wednesday! This is basically a bookish 'meme' where you get given a topic for the day, and have to answer with your top five pics. If you want to join in you can find the group here. Today's topic is:

 January 10th: Books You Didn't Get to In 2017 

→ Royals Bastards
To be fair though, I only received this book at the end of the year. I’ve always had a love for books about royalty, as you can probably tell from some of the other books on my list, and this one sounds intriguing. I believe the sequel is also coming out this year, so I better get on it! 

→ Dividing Eden
Another book about royalty! This one caught my eye because of the twin aspect which I also find super interesting.

→ The Fate of the Tearling 
This series is in my top 3 series of all time. Although, having said that, I am worried that it’s been so long since I read the first two books that I’m going to be completely lost when I pick this up. It’s just that fear that prevented me from picking it up last year.

→ This Savage Song 
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this and know that it’s popular. I want to get around to it because if I don’t like it, then I can sell it on to someone else who will.

→ Roar
I took a really cute picture of this and I want to be able to use it. Is that weird?

I’m not going to rate Sad Girls because I obviously haven’t read all of Lang Leav's book. The first 25 pages have been flicked through, but I quickly abandoned it. I believe that rating books should be reserved for books that you can personally comment on, and not based on other people’s opinions as it can unfairly affect the star rating of a book. However, I have no issues with telling you why I don’t want to read Sad Girls so here we go.

→ Let’s Start With a Quote That I Actually Like.

“Great name, though. I'd fuck that name.”

I literally just got this quote from the Goodreads quote section. It’s kind of self-explanatory. Now, on to things that I’m not a fan of.

→ The Lie
According to numerous reviews on Goodreads, not only does Audrey tell a lie that causes the death of another young girl but she also feels little to no remorse about telling the lie. She only admits that it was a lie to one person. This makes her a) kind of a shitty person and b) an assist in someone’s death. Not cool.

→ Unrealistic Opportunities
When someone causes the death of another human being, one would usually expect penance of some sort. This could be in the form of incarceration, isolation or guilt. Apparently, none of these things actually happen to the main character. Instead, both her and her boyfriend are treated to internships and publications. They get opportunities thrown at them everywhere they walk. Yet, it is evident they do absolutely nothing to earn these opportunities let alone deserve them.



I’m all for unrealistic situations in books, I’m a hardcore fantasy lover, but this doesn’t really set a very good example for anyone. According to a crap ton of reviews, Leav doesn’t even really mention how bad / strange / awful the entire situation is which is kind of terrible. Sure! Have shitty characters, but please have a character acknowledge somewhere that they’re shitty. Don’t let people walk away thinking that this is acceptable.

→ The Boyfriend(s)
Let’s break it down. Boyfriend #1 is called Duck. Apparently, Audrey cheats on him, only goes out with him because she feels like she has to and Leav has created him out of a cardboard cutout. Boyfriend #2 is Rad. He’s the boyfriend of the dead girl, they hit it off at her funeral and [spoiler] was the one who actually killed Anna. What a dreamboat. Oh, and guess what? When Audrey finds out that he murdered her, she stays with him. WHAT? [end spoiler].

→ Romanticising Anxiety and Abuse
Apparently, this book is very triggering. Which is fine with the right precautions and everything. I’m not saying that people can’t write about taboo or triggering topics. However, it appears that Leav is trying to handle it well but just isn’t managing. Audrey’s anxiety is written in a flowery way that doesn’t really do much – it isn’t grotesquely pretty but nor is it serious. It seems a little bit like a gimmick.

Your first love isn't the first person you give your heart to, it's the first one who beaks it.

So you can only love the people who hurt you? Miss me with that bullshit.