Spin the Bottle by Stephanie Alves

We’re severely lacking in character description which is a little bit of a culture shock to me, but I’m just gonna roll with it and see how it plays out. Maybe we’re lacking imagery because this is the second book in a standalone series, but if you’re marketing each book as an available standalone, I would maybe add the descriptions in each book even if it makes the series a touch redundant. After finishing the book, I’m concluding the author went with the less is more option, and while I’m not a fan of that, it was mostly enough. 

I detest a third act breakup. But I get this one. When you spend your life running from yourself, it’s hard to accept love you don’t have to fight for. 

TWO third act breakups? Come on. The second one was even more unnecessary than the first and I almost put the book down out of sheer frustration. 

So much trauma in one relationship, but it’s obvious Leila takes responsibility for her insecurities and pain (despite the fact that she is most certainly not the source of them) and is actively working to heal and grow. Aiden seems like he has the tools and maturity to deal with his trauma and come out the other side a better man. 

The wrap up of the blackmailers plot was fairly cheesy, but it was a happy ending and that’s what matters. 

I love that the book didn’t push the “if you just go on a diet and exercise more” message that so many “size inclusive” narratives fall back on. As a PCOS girlie who’s had a kid, a diet and exercise aren’t going to do shit for me, I’m just built like this and that’s okay. But yeah, it’s hard. It’s hard to remember to love yourself. It’s hard to remember that your kids are listening to what you say about yourself and internalizing that message whether it’s your daughter about herself or your son about the girls around him. We are not inherently less deserving of love because of our size, we deserve to be able to show up exactly as we are. So, I love the authors message with this book and it was an overall fun read aside from the two breakups.