Nguyet Tran
I feel embarrassed writing this review because now the internet and all my friends will know I read this book. However, I feel a deep sense of duty to warn society against this mess and a strong desperation to vent. If any friend of mine read this, in my defense, I read the Dutch translation to improve my Dutch as the chapters are short and the writing seems simple, not because I like this kind of thing. And I even had to turn to the English version for the last half because I could not prolong the torture to myself.
First, why isn't this book cancelled? It's literally promoting misogyny. Belly literally slut shamed her best friend and there's one freaking chapter to talk about two best friends competing for male gaze. Okay I would expect that if Belly and Taylor were just teenagers, they might have that phase and they would grow up. However, it was not resolved at all by the end of the book, which clearly shows that Jenny Han is definitely not a girl's girl. Additionally, the whole book revolves around Belly becoming pretty and everyone loving her for being pretty. Isn't that super shallow? It would be a hundred times better if Jenny Han can write more about her other qualities. Instead, she made this super selfish, self-centred character that is so annoying, obnoxious, and delusional, but somehow, everyone falls for her. Do people really buy this?
Second, Jenny Han, I really question your ethics. Why are you violating the bro codes? Why is your protagonist mingling with TWO BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS?????? AND EVEN TWO OTHER BOOKS TO CONTINUE MINGLING WITH TWO BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS?????
Third, I think Jenny Han has some unhealthy fantasies. Belly disliked Cam because he asked for her permissions before kissing and he respected her boundaries and he didn't smoke, drink, or do anything crazy. Belly fell for Conrad who was mentally unstable and emotionally unavailable, who was constantly toying with her emotions. Guess who's the chosen one. I'm really concerned that teenagers might have the wrong perception because of Jenny Han. Respecting others' boundaries is a good thing, you shouldn't discourage it Jenny Han!
The book is so bad that it makes the tv series look like an Oscar-worthy material.
I feel embarrassed writing this review because now the internet and all my friends will know I read this book. However, I feel a deep sense of duty to warn society against this mess and a strong desperation to vent. If any friend of mine read this, in my defense, I read the Dutch translation to improve my Dutch as the chapters are short and the writing seems simple, not because I like this kind of thing. And I even had to turn to the English version for the last half because I could not prolong the torture to myself.
First, why isn't this book cancelled? It's literally promoting misogyny. Belly literally slut shamed her best friend and there's one freaking chapter to talk about two best friends competing for male gaze. Okay I would expect that if Belly and Taylor were just teenagers, they might have that phase and they would grow up. However, it was not resolved at all by the end of the book, which clearly shows that Jenny Han is definitely not a girl's girl. Additionally, the whole book revolves around Belly becoming pretty and everyone loving her for being pretty. Isn't that super shallow? It would be a hundred times better if Jenny Han can write more about her other qualities. Instead, she made this super selfish, self-centred character that is so annoying, obnoxious, and delusional, but somehow, everyone falls for her. Do people really buy this?
Second, Jenny Han, I really question your ethics. Why are you violating the bro codes? Why is your protagonist mingling with TWO BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS?????? AND EVEN TWO OTHER BOOKS TO CONTINUE MINGLING WITH TWO BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS?????
Third, I think Jenny Han has some unhealthy fantasies. Belly disliked Cam because he asked for her permissions before kissing and he respected her boundaries and he didn't smoke, drink, or do anything crazy. Belly fell for Conrad who was mentally unstable and emotionally unavailable, who was constantly toying with her emotions. Guess who's the chosen one. I'm really concerned that teenagers might have the wrong perception because of Jenny Han. Respecting others' boundaries is a good thing, you shouldn't discourage it Jenny Han!
The book is so bad that it makes the tv series look like an Oscar-worthy material.