apslp's review against another edition
5.0
Might have been my favorite pairing of this season! I really enjoyed it even though it was harder to get into in the beginning! Give it a chance! Everyone needs a Mason!
jessicakaitlyn's review against another edition
4.0
BETTER THAN THE FIRST!! Didn’t think that was even possible, BUT THAT ENDING?!?! Nothing short of breath taking. It’s 3:20am here where I live and I’m CRYING it was so good!! Can’t recommend it enough!!
lenoreo's review
3.0
3.5 stars -- and I *really* had a hard time deciding to round up or down. Oh, and I received a copy of this book through netgalley.
I think I started off a little leery with this book....I mean, the premise for the start of their relationship is that Penny is sleeping with this guy for a year, but has accepted a secret relationship and Mason just keeps *purposefully* parading these other girls in front of her (occasionally *right* after they are intimate). It's not a start where I'm going to be liking either character that much. And quite honestly, even at the end of the book, when secret motives and reasons were explained, it was still hard to get past. It was just such a jerk thing (on his part) and such a ....no-self-respect thing (on her part). But then again, real life people make these stupid decisions and mistakes all the time....so maybe it's that they were a little too realistically human for my liking. ;) If that makes any sense.
But about the time when Penny hooks up with Jenna, my feelings started to change about the book. a) b/c Jenna is frickin kickbutt (and I can't help but secretly hope she will be the one to save Preston, cause he needs a kickbutt girl). b) b/c we finally start to see a bit more to Penny...she gets some development and her good qualities are expanded. And when she grabs her balls and forces herself into Mason's trip, I was like "GO PENNY!" I knew there was still a lot of growing for her to do, but it was nice to see her sort of put her foot down. I LOVED everything else from there on. The trip was fantastic. I could really see a better chemistry between them, and more respect for each other. It wasn't like they didn't still have their issues, but it was moving in a more positive direction and I felt I wanted to cheer for them more.
So, unlike book 1 where you LOVE Knox from the first moment, Mason has to grow on you. And you have to be disappointed with him. Not terrible, but he's not becoming my book boyfriend anytime soon.
On a side note -- I didn't like that Ms. Cannon brought up some self-image issues with Penny (particularly how her Mother made her feel about herself and her body), but that it wasn't really explored at all. Either it should have been left out, or it's purpose and role should have been explored more.
I think I started off a little leery with this book....I mean, the premise for the start of their relationship is that Penny is sleeping with this guy for a year, but has accepted a secret relationship and Mason just keeps *purposefully* parading these other girls in front of her (occasionally *right* after they are intimate). It's not a start where I'm going to be liking either character that much. And quite honestly, even at the end of the book, when secret motives and reasons were explained, it was still hard to get past. It was just such a jerk thing (on his part) and such a ....no-self-respect thing (on her part). But then again, real life people make these stupid decisions and mistakes all the time....so maybe it's that they were a little too realistically human for my liking. ;) If that makes any sense.
But about the time when Penny hooks up with Jenna, my feelings started to change about the book. a) b/c Jenna is frickin kickbutt (and I can't help but secretly hope she will be the one to save Preston, cause he needs a kickbutt girl). b) b/c we finally start to see a bit more to Penny...she gets some development and her good qualities are expanded. And when she grabs her balls and forces herself into Mason's trip, I was like "GO PENNY!" I knew there was still a lot of growing for her to do, but it was nice to see her sort of put her foot down. I LOVED everything else from there on. The trip was fantastic. I could really see a better chemistry between them, and more respect for each other. It wasn't like they didn't still have their issues, but it was moving in a more positive direction and I felt I wanted to cheer for them more.
So, unlike book 1 where you LOVE Knox from the first moment, Mason has to grow on you. And you have to be disappointed with him. Not terrible, but he's not becoming my book boyfriend anytime soon.
On a side note -- I didn't like that Ms. Cannon brought up some self-image issues with Penny (particularly how her Mother made her feel about herself and her body), but that it wasn't really explored at all. Either it should have been left out, or it's purpose and role should have been explored more.
geekygraceelyse's review against another edition
2.0
Copy provided by publishers via NetGalley for an honest review
Mason Trent has spent the last year sleeping with Penny Wright one night then hooking up with other girls the next, avoiding any sort of romantic connection for the fear of getting hurt. So when Penny discovers she’s pregnant she wants to find the right time to break the news to Mason.
I found ‘The Moment We Began’ to be quite a slow paced novel, and although it was 80,000 words, nothing much seemed to happen.
I did like the dynamic between Mason and Penny, and believe that Cannon has created two very lovable characters.
‘The Moment We Began’ is an emotive and enjoyable novel, the second in the Fairhope series by Sarra Cannon.
Mason Trent has spent the last year sleeping with Penny Wright one night then hooking up with other girls the next, avoiding any sort of romantic connection for the fear of getting hurt. So when Penny discovers she’s pregnant she wants to find the right time to break the news to Mason.
I found ‘The Moment We Began’ to be quite a slow paced novel, and although it was 80,000 words, nothing much seemed to happen.
I did like the dynamic between Mason and Penny, and believe that Cannon has created two very lovable characters.
‘The Moment We Began’ is an emotive and enjoyable novel, the second in the Fairhope series by Sarra Cannon.
gerireads's review
2.0
2.5 stars!
I actually love the unrequited love/friend to lovers trope. Every time I read a blurb of a book that has this type of story line, I would, in a heartbeat, read them. The first half was okay. Yes, it was crazy and Mason was an ass and Penny was a bit of a doormat when it came to him but I totally enjoyed the craziness.
Then the second half happened. The story sort of lost me the moment After that, the craziness just kept piling on. The twists and the turns were kinda hard to keep up. Now, I don't mind the many twists and turns but the thing is each event should be allowed to settle first in order for me to feel its impact or at the very least, I want the characters to feel its impact. This book just keeps hitting you with it and I got deprived of reading about each the development of these characters, which was a shame. They ended up being shallow to the point of almost being caricatures.
But my biggest problem with this book is not the craziness but the fact that I never felt that Mason truly loved or even liked Penny. I wasn't convinced of their romance. I really felt that Mason could care less about Penny. It was too one-sided for me. I couldn't find a spark between them. Sorry.
An ARC was provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I actually love the unrequited love/friend to lovers trope. Every time I read a blurb of a book that has this type of story line, I would, in a heartbeat, read them. The first half was okay. Yes, it was crazy and Mason was an ass and Penny was a bit of a doormat when it came to him but I totally enjoyed the craziness.
Then the second half happened. The story sort of lost me the moment
Spoiler
Penny decided to go with Mason on a "road trip"But my biggest problem with this book is not the craziness but the fact that I never felt that Mason truly loved or even liked Penny. I wasn't convinced of their romance. I really felt that Mason could care less about Penny. It was too one-sided for me. I couldn't find a spark between them. Sorry.
An ARC was provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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