Playing Through Every Choices Book, In Order (Part 32: The Sophomore 2)

Hey! Today, we wrap up our incredibly boring sophomore year at Hartfeld!

Next time (not tommorow, but probably Friday!) we move into junior year...and an apartment with Zig.

Link to previous reviews: https://www.reddit.com/user/stresseatingdog/comments/sj3s3m/all_choices_reviews_megapost/

SPOILER WARNING, AS ALWAYS!

The Sophomore, Book 2

M/C: Stella

Final LI: Zig

Favorite Chapter: Chapter 10

Favorite Character(s): Annisa, Zig, Kaitlyn, Amara, Rachel, Becca, Madison

Least Favorite Character(s): Manny, Mr. Delacroix, Mr. Powell

Overall Rating: 2/10

Review:

This is the book that kind of made me consider why I started this whole self-imposed challenge, because goddamn was it boring. I feel like the writers genuinely stopped knowing what to do with this series after The Freshman, Book 4, and as such, there’s a weird fluctuation at hand, where this segment of the series (Sophomore 1 and 2) is far more laid-back, then The Junior ramps it up tenfold, then The Senior dials it way back again (though I haven’t played the former fully yet, and the latter at all, but still, these are just my guesses). Every single plotline in this book is either cliche, mundane, over too soon, or just flat out annoying.

The Manny storyline, for example, was extremely rushed, when it could have been a well-crafted message about the dangers of sexual harassment. But no, instead we get a hasty half a chapter resolution. Lame.

Mr. Powell’s storyline is also extremely rushed, and Chris seems to get over shutting his freaking long lost father out of his life forever so freaking quickly. Like, what the hell?

Zig’s bisexuality has officially lost all relevance at this point, even if you are dating him, and his dance recital shit is so rushed too. Why wasn’t there an alternate male LI for him? Like, huh? HIS ROOMMATE AARON WAS RIGHT THERE!!!!!

Zack gets with Grant, completely free of any diamond choices or anything like that. Wow, what a slap in the face to the players (like me) who spent diamonds on getting Zack and Brandon together.

Kaitlyn’s battle of the bands thing is semi-interesting, but it's overshadowed by this pointless, petty drama with Natasha that could easily have been either ramped up or just left out all together. At least Annisa is an awesome character with a great sprite.

Becca’s storyline is nice and all, but it's still pretty boring. Also, Madison is randomly a lot smarter than she was before because…reasons? Like, seriously, she no longer sounds like Brittany from Glee . It's so surreal hearing her speak normally.

James is boring, but that’s expected, because he’s been boring and annoying since Book 1. Reyna is also boring, so her and James are freaking perfect for each other.

As for the main storyline of saving Vasquez's house, I honestly didn't give two shits about preserving his memory or whatever. Like, we have all these people constantly telling us about how amazing Vasquez was, how much he did, and how freaking wonderful of a human being he was. Why then, pray tell, was he such an asshole to us back in the first 3 books, hmm? Show don't tell, writers, show don't tell. Like, why did he create a whole ass scholarship just to bully the students he gave it to?

Mr. Delacroix (did I spell his name right? Idc.) is a bland, cliche, stereotypical big bad buisiness man villain, with nothing new or innovative. Sebastian has daddy issues? What a boring way to redeem a boring ass former antagonist....

Abbie and Tyler omg. SHUT UP ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP, PLEASE! Stop forcing all your petty drama and bullshit onto M/C! Abbie, stop leeching off our house without even paying rent. Tyler, get your head out of your ass. Why does the game force me to care about these two?

And once again, M/C puts in so much to only get a smidgen back. It says something when Professor Roberta's irrelevant alter ego is one of the nicest people to M/C, and she only shows up for a chapter!

This was a long ass review, because I won't be posting another one until Friday, and because this book just pisses me off with its mediocrity. Like, I would have even taken all the horrible toxicity of The Freshman, Book 1, just so things would at least be interesting***.*** I know some people like this book, and I'm glad if you do, but it just is unbearable to me.

Highlight of the whole book was getting one line about touching Zig's ass in one diamond scene in one chapter.