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fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was easy to see through the eyes of the protagonist, because it was easy for me to judge the choices I might’ve made at every step in the relationship. Just as the public judged her, I found myself doing the same. I also found it weirdly believable. I still hated the ending, probably because I’ve done the same thing with past relationships myself, and I have a lot of lingering self loathing. So the book was successful in these ways. However, I hated the storyline and pretty much all the make characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
cirrenamarie's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
sk8r2natls's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This one was fun, and very well written. The relationships and characters were well-developed and it really took you on a full journey. A quick, easy read, with only a few elements I’d change. Flabbergasted that this was her debut novel (Lee tried to get published for over 6 years prior to getting this book deal) and I can’t wait to see more of her work published in the future!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
danigold's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
Robinne needs to have a restraining order against her, she is a pedophile, and disgusting. This book was so hard to read but i did it to watch the movie. Soléne is a creepy, old, selfish, stuck up, pretentious woman. I hated the way she described people younger than her, from random people to her own daughter i was appalled. And its worse bc the people she was talking about in a creepy way are my current age group. Hayes deserved so much better. What their relationship was, was never love. Justice for Isabelle, she was the strongest character and i felt so bad for her. And Daniel knew, he warned Soléne and she was irresponsible. She was also so weak for throwing up at the thought of a young boy band member being non monogamous. Also i dont know anything about art and it felt like so much of that was only included so that Robinne could show off. Also the halfway fade to black was annoying.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Vomit
shamelesslyash's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
elmtreebooks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If you read it lightly and don’t think too much about it, it’s a compelling and romantic love story.
But it did not in anyway convince me that this age gap was ok or not horribly alarming the entire time. The male love interest was only appealing because he absolutely never acted like a 20 year old through out the entirety of the book — he was emotionally mature, committed, thoughtful, experienced, etc etc etc. Nothing about the choices he made or the way he acted cued “20”, so the idea of this somehow being a non-creepy age gap romance only worked because he was 20 only in statement, not in characterization.
Eh. Perhaps my expectations were too high due to the glowing reviews, but it was good, not great, and I doubt it will leave a lasting impact. There was too much about both characters that were unignorable red flags for me to really root for them. It was well written and very readable though.
One major grief I had with the book:
The fact that our heroine and hero explicitly and knowingly help to cover up the rape of a minor — a fellow STUDENT of the heroine’s daughter’s school — and it is acknowledged that this happens all the time and she thinks just scolding the other boys is somehow… enough? Horrific. Grotesque. Lost any respect or empathy I could have for this mother, though to be fair there wasn’t a lot left for her at that point anyway. She puts the raped abandoned child in a goddamn car service and washes her hands of it. Doesn’t tell the girls parents. The police. Doesn’t make sure the traumatized child put in the car with another strange man mere hours after her rape made it home ok. Just is like “yikes” and moves on. /spoiler>
But it did not in anyway convince me that this age gap was ok or not horribly alarming the entire time. The male love interest was only appealing because he absolutely never acted like a 20 year old through out the entirety of the book — he was emotionally mature, committed, thoughtful, experienced, etc etc etc. Nothing about the choices he made or the way he acted cued “20”, so the idea of this somehow being a non-creepy age gap romance only worked because he was 20 only in statement, not in characterization.
Eh. Perhaps my expectations were too high due to the glowing reviews, but it was good, not great, and I doubt it will leave a lasting impact. There was too much about both characters that were unignorable red flags for me to really root for them. It was well written and very readable though.
One major grief I had with the book:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
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