Did I have a good time reading this? Kind of. Would I recommend it? No.

I loved books about books (though I wish authors would stop putting in the line, "This isn't one of your books, this is real life." - this author put in a line ADJACENT to it, but I'll give it a pass). This book in particular, I loved how much it screamed at people to stop making people feel bad or lesser for loving romance books. It was a very organic narrative that truly showed why it's hard to be a romance reader, lover, and sometimes writer. There is more side eye given to romance writers, as if writing a romance book is any easier than writing any other book. I loved that message. 

What I didn't love was the instalove, the poor pacing, the fact that the FMC makes jokes after her aunt cornered the MMC in a bedroom and tries to strip for him, which is sexual harassment. There felt like there didn't have to be certain characters or subjects that the book decided to take on, such as xenophobia and Harry Potter controversy, along with a myriad of pop culture and current social justice takes. It felt randomly inserted and just a way for the author to virtue signal almost?? Despite her book doing a fine job of showing she was a feminist without all those inserts.

Anyways. I did enjoy some scenes (I really wish one character got clocked again, but I digress), and I feel like the writing as a whole made the book easy and bingeable. However, I was not a huge fan of this one and wanted to DNF it multiple times, so take from that what you will.

TW: sexual harassment, alcohol consumption, xenophobia, sexual content; mentions HP

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Pacing: 1/5
Overall: 2/5

ARC gifted by HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.