This book is incredible and I mean to shout that from the rooftops. The characters, the representation, the depth and development, the talk about mental health, it checks off all the important boxes. It had it all, and it did not feel slow or rushed, the pace was just right. Nothing felt pushed, everything seemed natural and heartfelt. The love story was believable and overwhelmingly lovely. Dev is likeable, he is kind, he wants so much to believe in love and the show that he looks past the negative connotations and the evident lack of sympathy for the Prince or the contestants for the Prince's heart. He is a "hopeless" romantic, but he does not believe he deserves love for himself. He is flawed, thinking little of his own mental health and how it effects himself and those around him. Charlie, or Charles on the show, agreed to come on the show in order to refresh his reputation. He was voted out of his own company, WinHan, by his best friend and their board. He feels he needs to work, work being the only calming thing in his life, the only thing he can control. So, he did not come on Ever After with the belief he would fall in love. But, when he meets Dev, he begins to see that maybe he was wrong, maybe work had become a crutch for him and it was holding him back from actually living his life. Dev and Charlie are so stinking adorable together. Charlie feels calm around Dev, allows him to touch him, to help him, to guide him. He trusts Dev. Dev thinks Charlie is strange at first, but right away works his magic in calming him. He also goes above and beyond in trying to understand Charlie's triggers and how to soothe him. He does not push Charlie, but rather asks Charlie what he needs or how he can help him get to where he needs to be comfortable touching others. Dev and Charlie understand each other because they both deal with their own mental health struggles. The book shines a light on the business of reality TV. How staged and mentally exhausting it is for the contestants, the lead, the people who are in the background. The book talks frankly about mental health and how it is treated, the stigma surrounding it. Charlie's OCD has been used against him, pushing others to fear and distrust him because he hides it out of shame. Dev's depression is ignored by all those who work with him, and he clearly works very hard to be fun Dev all the time, at the expense of himself. This book pushes the reader to see how ridiculous it is that people feel ashamed about talking about their mental health. There should be no shame in telling others that you suffer, or that you need help. We often hide our pain and it sends us into spirals, which often isolate a person even more. If mental health was more talked about, people would be more comfortable to share and could then seek the help they need. As well, companies and the tv and movie industry need to be held accountable for the treatment of those who have mental health issues. This book also highlights the importance of self care, if we do not focus on taking care of ourselves and our own mental health, even the most perfect relationship will not last. Tons of representation as well. Many of those working on the set of Ever After are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They are a tight knit family and fight for each other, even if it means going against a cruel boss. Charlie also has an incredible friend in his corner, his agent, who fights for him, clearly loves him, and would kill anyone who hurts him. A beautiful book in every way. Honestly, read this book and fall in love! Atria Books gave me a copy of an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
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