disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. Thus, no stars doesn’t indicate that the book wasn’t worthy of any starred system. It just means I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all, even if the lesson is that I’m a ho for the smut, recognizing a genre/book/author is not for me, or confronting my own mommy/daddy issues lol. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Happy reading! Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial

general premise: 

 
thoughts:
I'd like to first start this off by saying that every time there is a character named Brittany that is spelled exactly as I spell my name, she is utter and absolute garbage. I do not claim characters in books named Brittany; I have yet to find a redeeming or kind one hahaha. This book is further proof that Brittanys in books suck.

Maybe it's because I've read so many celebrity x peasant romances lately, but this one didn't hit for me the same way The Stand In did last year! That's not to say that this was a horrible romance or that it was a bad book. I still enjoyed the writing, thought there was sweet moments & rooted for Ari & Jihoon. However, I just wasn't gushing over the characters or the romance by the end!

However, the part that did work for me were the representations of and commentaries on racial dynamics in Toronto, Canada. Though I'm not from there (I have family there though!), these instances of microaggressions, overtly problematic behaviors, and ruminations on belonging rang authentic to me as a bisexual, neurospicy, AAPI survivor in the United States. I think sometimes people read about these situations or they watch them portrayed on tv/film and think "huh, that's so exaggerated. I've NeVeR seen someone act like that or say anything racist before. NoT iN mY ToWn!" OR they think, "Wow, some people are so horrible. I'm such a good ally myself though!" Lol, look, I enjoy a good delulu era. However, I hope that you are constantly examining how your actions and words can be actively anti-racist. Otherwise, you actually could be causing more harm than you think.

Here are questions you can think on to explore your own behavior:
-Are you talking over anyone? Are you constantly taking up space in conversations? Who are you talking over? Are there any voices not being heard?
-When someone brings up a situation that was problematic/harmful to them (that you caused or have power over in that dynamic), do you question them and ask them for proof/examples? Do you deflect and make it about your feelings instead? Do you get defensive and immediately feel attacked? Do you call them "mean", "negative", or accuse them of using race/sexuality/etc. as a weapon? OR do you ask how you could do better next time? Do you think, 'hm, I never thought of that before and I'm glad to have this information so I can expand my perspective.'
-When someone says something harmful (not you), do you point it out? Do you address it? Are you trying to foster brave spaces? OR do you hide under "SaFe SpAcEs" that inevitably end up harming POC/queer/disabled/fat/poor folx because others are allowed to speak however they want -typically over marginalized folx- without consequence?

Those are just a few ways to examine any internalized bias that we *all* have. No one is perfect but the key is to be actively working on it. So I'm grateful that there's more representation of these kinds of conversations!