aggrano's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Eating disorder, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
teagan105's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this one was so good and fast paced after the second one, i read it it one sitting and loved it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
Minor: Rape
cressida's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Charlotte and James go on separate adventures throughout most of this book, and they were both done brilliantly. I really enjoyed that we got Charlottes POV for the first time, and got to peek into her mind. We explore themes of grief, jealousy, determination and trust in this instalment of the series and you can see how Cavallaro came into her own and really understood her character’s motivations for things. Very well done!
I have now read the entire series (accidentally read them out of order) and this is by far my favourite one. It does have lots of references to the first two books, but I think it would still be enjoyable if you only wanted to read this one from the series.
I have now read the entire series (accidentally read them out of order) and this is by far my favourite one. It does have lots of references to the first two books, but I think it would still be enjoyable if you only wanted to read this one from the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Violence
Minor: Eating disorder
lexa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.5
I think this might be my favourite in the series so far. Listened to part on audiobook - solid narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Gun violence
gracefulbooks's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Honestly, this is the third book in this series, and in this one after the events of the second book, Charlotte Homles & Jamie Watson are at an impasse. They haven't seen each other nor talked to each other in at least a year. They are also mad at each other and while Jamie returned to his normal life and even got himself a girlfriend, Holmes is still stuck in the world of mystery and trying to hunt down the Moriarty's. But things suddenly start to go wrong in Jamie's life and he is the supposed culprit for everything. In order to clear his name and save his own reputation, he needs to find Holmes and team up once more.
Do I LOATHE Charlotte & Jamie as a thing? OH, you bet your ass I do. I think they are beyond bad for each other, super fucking toxic. I don't like Charlotte as a person in a relationship. I think she needs some serious help and I hate how Jamie seems to always WANT her and want to go back to her. Like he has this gorgeous girl who is sweet and intelligent in Elizabeth and he still has this girl on his mind?!?! Jamie, you deserve better and so does your girlfriend. I HATED ANY MOMENT PEOPLE BROUGHT UP CHARLOTTE LIKE SHE WAS A GOOD THING FOR JAMIE LIKE NO HELL NO! FUCK NO!
I genuinely with so much honesty, hate them as a couple and want nothing more than for them to end up apart. I have NEVER hated a couple in a series so damn much. The best thing about this book was that the two were separated for most of the book. I just hated any moment where he expressed missing her or people made him express it. Like no, she was toxic for him. Like please noooo.
But besides that, this book wasn't bad. Also if the narrators for this are the same as the previous book then damn. They did a fantastic job with all of the different accents and voices. It was honestly amazing, I was shocked and surprised and happy. They did a seriously fantastic job and it really boosted the experience of listening to this book. So job well done to them and I may try to listen to the last book on audiobook. But let me not lie, I legit only read this series for the mysteries. Even if the mysteries aren't that exciting because, for the most part, you know who the MAIN culprit is every time...but it's cool to see the solving process unfold and more parts get added to each case other than what you originally think each time.
But yeah this is just an ok book. Like the previous ones but I've come this far so why not finish it?
Do I LOATHE Charlotte & Jamie as a thing? OH, you bet your ass I do. I think they are beyond bad for each other, super fucking toxic. I don't like Charlotte as a person in a relationship. I think she needs some serious help and I hate how Jamie seems to always WANT her and want to go back to her. Like he has this gorgeous girl who is sweet and intelligent in Elizabeth and he still has this girl on his mind?!?! Jamie, you deserve better and so does your girlfriend. I HATED ANY MOMENT PEOPLE BROUGHT UP CHARLOTTE LIKE SHE WAS A GOOD THING FOR JAMIE LIKE NO HELL NO! FUCK NO!
I genuinely with so much honesty, hate them as a couple and want nothing more than for them to end up apart. I have NEVER hated a couple in a series so damn much. The best thing about this book was that the two were separated for most of the book. I just hated any moment where he expressed missing her or people made him express it. Like no, she was toxic for him. Like please noooo.
But besides that, this book wasn't bad. Also if the narrators for this are the same as the previous book then damn. They did a fantastic job with all of the different accents and voices. It was honestly amazing, I was shocked and surprised and happy. They did a seriously fantastic job and it really boosted the experience of listening to this book. So job well done to them and I may try to listen to the last book on audiobook. But let me not lie, I legit only read this series for the mysteries. Even if the mysteries aren't that exciting because, for the most part, you know who the MAIN culprit is every time...but it's cool to see the solving process unfold and more parts get added to each case other than what you originally think each time.
But yeah this is just an ok book. Like the previous ones but I've come this far so why not finish it?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
ashlightgrayson's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Definitely liked this installment more than the previous one. Charlotte and Jamie had a falling out at the end of the last book and have not spoken in 1 year by the beginning of this book. I really liked that we got to see Leander play the role of a mentor for Charlotte when she most needed it. Her family is terrible and have essentially left her alone to clean up the aftermath of August's death. She continues to struggle with unhealthy coping mechanisms including putting herself in harm's way and indulging in her drug addiction. This is all tied in with feelings of guilt and protectiveness surrounding Jamie. Leander acts as great support towards Charlotte and it made me appreciate his character even more. So far he is my favorite side character.
We also get to learn more about his interesting friendship with Jamie's father, James. I'm actually hoping we get more of this in the next book because I really love their friendship and it's a subplot that went in a different direction than I expected.
Jamie isn't faring super well on the other side of the pond either. He is dating Elizabeth and sort of hanging out with his friends, Lena and Tom, but you can tell his heart isn't invested wholeheartedly into anything. Internally he has a lot of emotional turmoil that is directly related to Charlotte. He is also struggling with his own mental health issues. This all affects the progression of his other relationships and reflects the importance his friendship with Charlotte has had in his life. It also demonstrates that despite how much Jamie loves Charlotte, he wasn't balancing the rest of his relationships well because he was always so busy being around her. I think there is important commentary to be had about how you need different kinds of relationships in your life and how it's not healthy to be attached at the hip to a single person. Relationships need balance, and Jamie and Charlotte haven't really had that. There is a lot of character growth for him and Charlotte in this installment and a lot of the problems seen in their relationship in the last book are addressed. They are in a much healthier place by the end and I can't wait to see them continue to heal and grow in the next book.
Despite Jamie trying to live his life as disconnected from trouble and the Holmes', trouble has a way of finding him. Plot-wise, there was more organization compared to the last book with more linear investigations. I felt like I knew each character's motive for the most part while still having a sense of intrigue as far as what would happen next. It's probably as good as the plot of the first book and I'm hoping I feel the same about the next one.
For most of this series Charlotte has been the one to be pinned as less in touch with her emotions and how she treats those around her and Jamie has usually been painted to be more the empathetic one. However, due to his increased trauma and his unresolved feelings about Charlotte, he gets called out by his friends (Tom and Lena) for neglecting them. Jamie for once is seen as the insensitive one and adequately has to face his friends about it. He doesn't currently have the emotional energy for other relationships and had not realized that Charlotte had become pretty much his only strong relationship. Again, this is unhealthy, but Jamie is becoming more self-aware. I have to say Elizabeth in this book is great in that respect. She tells Jamie that just because he recognizes what he did wrong doesn't make him less of a jerk. This is very true. He needs to take active steps to improve himself as he is healing from the breaking off of his relationship with Charlotte.
Charlotte on the other hand misses Jamie and she definitely has romantic feelings for him. It is clear she has skewed view of love, but she has also learned through Jamie and Leander what healthy forms of love can look like. Yes, Jamie and her have a sort of unhealthy dynamic, but his feelings for her are not tied to her accomplishments, but simply who she is as a person. She doesn't have a high emotional intelligence to begin with and now fears hurting Jamie more by getting close, so she is keeping her distance. Her history of sexual assault also adds to the intimidation of beginning a romantic relationship with him. She knows that if she does enter a relationship with him that she'll be asking for a lot of patience from him. Many forms of affection that are normal for a lot of couples are tied to trauma for her. She is definitely more worried about how Jamie will perceive her reactions than Jamie is worried about this being a problem as their relationship progresses to being romantic. This is a great reflection of the experience of a lot of sexual assault victims have after the fact in their relationships I'm sure. A lot of them feel like they can be a burden to their new partners because of how their trauma affects their new relationships. It's a very interesting topic explored here, especially because we are in Charlotte's head more than in the previous books.
As I mentioned before I liked the plot in this one. I was not expecting Lucien to marry Jamie's mother when I started this book. However, I did see it coming as I was reading the story because it was pretty obvious from how mysterious his mother's new suitor was. Still, an interesting twist that was appreciated.
We also get to learn more about his interesting friendship with Jamie's father, James. I'm actually hoping we get more of this in the next book because I really love their friendship and it's a subplot that went in a different direction than I expected.
Jamie isn't faring super well on the other side of the pond either. He is dating Elizabeth and sort of hanging out with his friends, Lena and Tom, but you can tell his heart isn't invested wholeheartedly into anything. Internally he has a lot of emotional turmoil that is directly related to Charlotte. He is also struggling with his own mental health issues. This all affects the progression of his other relationships and reflects the importance his friendship with Charlotte has had in his life. It also demonstrates that despite how much Jamie loves Charlotte, he wasn't balancing the rest of his relationships well because he was always so busy being around her. I think there is important commentary to be had about how you need different kinds of relationships in your life and how it's not healthy to be attached at the hip to a single person. Relationships need balance, and Jamie and Charlotte haven't really had that. There is a lot of character growth for him and Charlotte in this installment and a lot of the problems seen in their relationship in the last book are addressed. They are in a much healthier place by the end and I can't wait to see them continue to heal and grow in the next book.
Despite Jamie trying to live his life as disconnected from trouble and the Holmes', trouble has a way of finding him. Plot-wise, there was more organization compared to the last book with more linear investigations. I felt like I knew each character's motive for the most part while still having a sense of intrigue as far as what would happen next. It's probably as good as the plot of the first book and I'm hoping I feel the same about the next one.
Spoiler
I know we found out that Leander was gay in the last book, but I didn't think that we would also find out that he is in love with James Watson. Worst of all, James Watson didn't even realize Leander was in love with him until he began having marital problems with Abigail because it's implied that he is spending more time with Leander than her. Leander seems to be pretty sure he is a heterosexual man; however, based on his admission to Jamie that Leander is indeed his favorite person it is left open to interpretation that he may be biromantic or homoromantic as well. He is going to have to sift through those feelings at some point and I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes in the next book. My prediction is that his marriage probably isn't going to last long. I'm sure he cares about his wife and children, but if he does have feelings for Leander I don't think it's fair to his wife to stay in a monogamous relationship with him if he isn't sure about his feelings and priorities. He needs to figure that out first before they continue their current relationship.For most of this series Charlotte has been the one to be pinned as less in touch with her emotions and how she treats those around her and Jamie has usually been painted to be more the empathetic one. However, due to his increased trauma and his unresolved feelings about Charlotte, he gets called out by his friends (Tom and Lena) for neglecting them. Jamie for once is seen as the insensitive one and adequately has to face his friends about it. He doesn't currently have the emotional energy for other relationships and had not realized that Charlotte had become pretty much his only strong relationship. Again, this is unhealthy, but Jamie is becoming more self-aware. I have to say Elizabeth in this book is great in that respect. She tells Jamie that just because he recognizes what he did wrong doesn't make him less of a jerk. This is very true. He needs to take active steps to improve himself as he is healing from the breaking off of his relationship with Charlotte.
Charlotte on the other hand misses Jamie and she definitely has romantic feelings for him. It is clear she has skewed view of love, but she has also learned through Jamie and Leander what healthy forms of love can look like. Yes, Jamie and her have a sort of unhealthy dynamic, but his feelings for her are not tied to her accomplishments, but simply who she is as a person. She doesn't have a high emotional intelligence to begin with and now fears hurting Jamie more by getting close, so she is keeping her distance. Her history of sexual assault also adds to the intimidation of beginning a romantic relationship with him. She knows that if she does enter a relationship with him that she'll be asking for a lot of patience from him. Many forms of affection that are normal for a lot of couples are tied to trauma for her. She is definitely more worried about how Jamie will perceive her reactions than Jamie is worried about this being a problem as their relationship progresses to being romantic. This is a great reflection of the experience of a lot of sexual assault victims have after the fact in their relationships I'm sure. A lot of them feel like they can be a burden to their new partners because of how their trauma affects their new relationships. It's a very interesting topic explored here, especially because we are in Charlotte's head more than in the previous books.
As I mentioned before I liked the plot in this one. I was not expecting Lucien to marry Jamie's mother when I started this book. However, I did see it coming as I was reading the story because it was pretty obvious from how mysterious his mother's new suitor was. Still, an interesting twist that was appreciated.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Rape, and Sexual violence
mathildejosephine's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Grief
More...