duchessrin's review against another edition
4.0
This book was read sometime during my Goodreads hiatus in June 2015 - September 2016
shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
Justin and Amelia are two childhood best friends who grew up together and both had feelings for each other. Amelia and Justin are separated and later reunite to share a summer home, that was left to them after a death in the family. You could feel the tension between these two in the first half of the book. I felt bad for Amelia because Justin was a complete jerk but I couldn't blame him. Things eventually loosen up and you can feel them slipping back to their old ways. I'm really trying to stay spoiler free but I loved how Justin stood up to the plate and was there for Amelia in her time of need. Those scenes hit close to home and I loved the song "Daughters" that he sang in the book. I loved the dual POV. I loved the flashbacks of Justin and Amelia from when they were younger. The author took the time to give us the backstory and build the relationship so we could feel it on so many levels. The feels throughout this book were something else! This how you write a book!
atirandomness's review against another edition
2.0
I read this out of boredom and as expected, I hated the first 60% (for the usual reasons Penelope Ward gets under my skin). I skipped a few chapters and rolled my eyes a lot. But I kept listening because Ward has a way of warming my heart with her endings..
If Ward could write a female character with self worth and a backbone and also tone down the self-sacrificial hero worship, I would be able to rate her books (including this one) above 3 stars.
If Ward could write a female character with self worth and a backbone and also tone down the self-sacrificial hero worship, I would be able to rate her books (including this one) above 3 stars.
rachreads4's review against another edition
5.0
I really was craving a pregnancy trope book and this book was perfect!!! Ameila and Justin's trope was childhood friends to enemies to lovers and I loveeeee that trope so much! The fact that both of them have been in love with each other for so long and never stopped, was just so perfect omg. Bea is the cutest and when she was in the hospital my heart broke. The fact that you could see and feel her bond with Justin was so heart warming.
liz123_'s review against another edition
1.0
the storyline isn't that bad for me to rate it 1 stars ,it's just the writing ,it really ticked me off when the male lead character went "why are you dressed like a whore?" it has a lot of potential ,a really good storyline ,love the characters and how they develop ,but it definitely could be written a lot better
overall 2/5
overall 2/5
intheend's review against another edition
1.0
This had the two tropes I can't stand: pregnancy and children. The beginning was promising because it had some enemies-to-lovers vibe going on but once the MMC found out the FMC was pregnant, he completely turned his attitude around. This book is more about the development of a family. There was a lot of descriptions about managing child care that I felt was repetitive and acting as a filler for the story.
readintherainbow's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so I stayed up all night started and finished this in one night. This was supposed to be my "instigate good dreams" book but I could not put it down. Seriously, it's a good book. I'm trying not to give any spoilers, I didn't ugly cry but I teared up--quite a few times.
Penelope Ward has a brilliant ability to extract tears from my eyes. I waited for forEVER to even read the sample download of this book because I was trying to delay the inevitable; I would start it and then feel like something was missing whenever I would put it down.
I'm gonna be honest I'm a supremely generous reviewer so take what I say worth a grain of salt. I'm generous not because I think every piece of writing is absolutely fantastic but because I recognize that it takes a whole hell of a lot more than I can fathom to write a book. That being said, I loved this book and it is definitely worth all 5
Penelope Ward has a brilliant ability to extract tears from my eyes. I waited for forEVER to even read the sample download of this book because I was trying to delay the inevitable; I would start it and then feel like something was missing whenever I would put it down.
I'm gonna be honest I'm a supremely generous reviewer so take what I say worth a grain of salt. I'm generous not because I think every piece of writing is absolutely fantastic but because I recognize that it takes a whole hell of a lot more than I can fathom to write a book. That being said, I loved this book and it is definitely worth all 5
mimmie_massie's review against another edition
4.0
Some loves are meant to be,even when you run away,even when you try to hate them,even when they are angry with you for running away,even when when you finally meet them seven years later and they have a girlfriend,they are still yours.
The story of Justin and Amelia is a beautiful one not the fairy tale kind of happily ever after but one where real life happens.Their history is so long that they couldn't erase is if they tried,add a grandmother who plays cupid even from her grave it a beautiful story.
Justin is forced to face his fears head on not by having a knife through his throat but by being loved all the way out,and how adorable is it that he calls Bea bumblebee?
Amelia not knowing what she is doing,actually just thought of this now,how she names her daughter Beatrice after her grandmother who brought her and Justin back together and when they go their separate lives again at the end of summer its Bea who brings them together once more.
Anyway...enough spoilers from me,go on read the book.
The story of Justin and Amelia is a beautiful one not the fairy tale kind of happily ever after but one where real life happens.Their history is so long that they couldn't erase is if they tried,add a grandmother who plays cupid even from her grave it a beautiful story.
Justin is forced to face his fears head on not by having a knife through his throat but by being loved all the way out,and how adorable is it that he calls Bea bumblebee?
Amelia not knowing what she is doing,actually just thought of this now,how she names her daughter Beatrice after her grandmother who brought her and Justin back together and when they go their separate lives again at the end of summer its Bea who brings them together once more.
Anyway...enough spoilers from me,go on read the book.
glyneth's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Let me say up front I hate-read the fuck out of this book, I bought it cheap/free, because it takes place on Aquidneck Island, which is where I grew up. I understand the author lives in RI, probably on the Island too. 99% of my highlights are about the real places she named, and also how she changed some. Which, it’s her book, she came make up whatever she wants. But why namedrop real places? Just make everything up whole cloth! I love that another local author made up a town in RI to use - do that!
Anyway, the book itself was meh. I liked Justin, but we only got his POV in the epilogue. He seemed much more together than Amelia, and their childhood “break-up” was silly. Amelia was coasting through life, and though the book was from her POV, she was constantly undecided on every action and never really faced any hard consequences. Thebaby was about the biggest consequence she faced, and it was an accident. I’d have appreciated her having at least a vague thought about an abortion, and was glad Justin suggested it. .
I also hope her Nana left her a giant trust fund, because the taxes on the little beach house in the area she’s in are gonna be tremendous. lol
Anyway, the book itself was meh. I liked Justin, but we only got his POV in the epilogue. He seemed much more together than Amelia, and their childhood “break-up” was silly. Amelia was coasting through life, and though the book was from her POV, she was constantly undecided on every action and never really faced any hard consequences. The
I also hope her Nana left her a giant trust fund, because the taxes on the little beach house in the area she’s in are gonna be tremendous. lol