The very first review I read for this book declared, "Anyone who enjoys this drivel must have the IQ of a potato." The vast majority of those who chose to respond indicated that they felt that potatoes didn't deserve that level of disparagement. With such prognostications at hand, how could my interest remain unpiqued? Would I too be compared to a lowly potato?

As it turns out, I have come to the conclusion that potatoes are inherently intelligent and have determined that the comparison is quite complimentary. The potatoes themselves seem to see the entire matter as beneath them, as none of the ones I've interrogated have deigned to take up the controversy at all. Further proof of their superior wisdom and intellect.

In the common vernacular: I loved this shit.

Thank you, everyone, for all your 1/2 star, 1 star, and 2 star reviews. Without them, I wouldn't have gone into this with subterranean expectations.

This is, objectively, not a great book. I don't care. The plot is thin. I don't care. The writing is inconsistent. I don't care. The character work is spotty. I don't care.

I can't care because I had a lot of fun and I kind of loved it anyway.

The self-insert angle worked for me because it didn't work for me at all. I just saw them as an unknown presence whose blanks I can fill in however I want. It's a good way to look at it if the Y/N aspect isn't your thing.

Alabaster is a joy. Cade needs a hug. Calli is a mess. Even without a ton of depth, I liked them all.

I don't know, y'all... Chalk it up to my low standards, but I was down for this and I'm ready for the next one.