greatexpectations77's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This felt really long to me (It maybe could have even been two books?) - more of telling instead of showing. Like it takes me out of the character's head when the author is telling me every bit of what they're thinking and doesn't let me think for myself "wow, this must be really rewarding/tough/interesting/jarring for them." Some solid sexy scenes though, if you're in the mood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, and Medical content
michelle_my_belle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Child death
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Dementia, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
lana72905's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! All of the recommendations I've received for this book, I completely agree with. My first five star read for feburary, and I truly adored it. Every aspect of this story. The pain, the grief, the love I felt like it was really real. I was rooting for Josiah and Yasmen the entire way. It truly broke me seeing all the grief and depression all characters were going through, the inevitable crash of their lives, and how they had to cope from it. It was amazing seeing them feel through it. Each character felt real. Rheir flaws, their liks, their dislikes and their personalities felt truly deep and three dimensional. It was phenomenal. I cannot express enough how much I was fangirling seeing the scenes where Josiah and Yas had do much love for each other. It felt truly like a love story, a truly heartfelt love story that also delved into grief and loss. It truly made me feel like a second chance was deserving, to which it was. A wonderful story, 10/10, I'm definitely reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Pregnancy, and Mental illness
Moderate: Miscarriage and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, and Dementia
caseythereader's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Dementia
blackcatkai's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5/5☆~ CW: miscarriage, trauma, grief, death, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, alcohol use, sexual content
this was a very heavy novel that is much more contemporary literary novel than anything else. there is a smidge of a romance & fun in here, but i would not consider it a romcom as ive seen some places recommend this as. though it does, occasionally, make drastic tonal shifts to either side (very serious vs light & fluffy) i would not recommend this to someone unless they can handle the heavier topics explored in this story.
i overall enjoyed the book, it just would have been better if it had stuck only with the heavier tone or just with the more light hearted aspects. trying to do them both in one long novel just didnt quite work as well for me as it could have otherwise. i would definitely love to see more serious novels from kennedy ryan in the future, she's very good!
this was a very heavy novel that is much more contemporary literary novel than anything else. there is a smidge of a romance & fun in here, but i would not consider it a romcom as ive seen some places recommend this as. though it does, occasionally, make drastic tonal shifts to either side (very serious vs light & fluffy) i would not recommend this to someone unless they can handle the heavier topics explored in this story.
i overall enjoyed the book, it just would have been better if it had stuck only with the heavier tone or just with the more light hearted aspects. trying to do them both in one long novel just didnt quite work as well for me as it could have otherwise. i would definitely love to see more serious novels from kennedy ryan in the future, she's very good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Grief, Death, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Suicidal thoughts
amandas_bookshelf's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Dementia
wblove's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
This book triggered so many emotions in me that I didn't even realize I was holding on to/dealing with. It is deeply emotional, but real, and raw, and honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Death and Medical trauma
churrosmom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.5
This is a heavy, heavy romance novel, bordering fiction rather than romance. Trigger warnings listed below. Yasmen and Josiah are divorced, coparenting, and running a business together. Their marriage fell apart after they lost Josiah's aunt and son (stillbirth after an accident) in short succession. Yasmen fell into a deep depression and Josiah wasn't supportive of her. The story takes place two years later, after Yasmen has healed and they keep being drawn towards each other.
The star of this book is the depth of its portrayal of the main character, Yasmen's depression and grief. This is probably the most realistic depiction of therapy that I have ever read in a novel. As someone who has been in therapy for almost 7 years and has had a number of therapists, I think that the main character's struggles with depression are so accurate in that it is hard for her to find a therapist who is a good fit, and it takes a combination of medication and long-term therapy with the right therapist to heal. So many books I've read have a magical therapist where the character goes to therapy twice and everything is resolved, and that is not the case here. It's also so realistic that unfortunately her family (husband and daughter) do not understand her depression and blame her for their family falling apart, and it takes themselves going to therapy to understand. I also like that we see the husband, Josiah, perspective on therapy and depression evolve (shoutout to the feelings wheel!!).
I do feel like the romance takes a back seat in this story, for better or for worse. After reading other reviews it does make me realize that we don't actually see much of the couple's love and growth together besides their sexual attraction. There is some minor drama with other characters Yasmen and Josiah date but they were set aside really easily.
Trigger warnings: Depression/mental health, suicidal ideation, death (of parents, parental figures), stillbirth, explicit sexual content.
**Disclaimer: Received an eARC from the publisher on Netgalley.
The star of this book is the depth of its portrayal of the main character, Yasmen's depression and grief. This is probably the most realistic depiction of therapy that I have ever read in a novel. As someone who has been in therapy for almost 7 years and has had a number of therapists, I think that the main character's struggles with depression are so accurate in that it is hard for her to find a therapist who is a good fit, and it takes a combination of medication and long-term therapy with the right therapist to heal. So many books I've read have a magical therapist where the character goes to therapy twice and everything is resolved, and that is not the case here. It's also so realistic that unfortunately her family (husband and daughter) do not understand her depression and blame her for their family falling apart, and it takes themselves going to therapy to understand. I also like that we see the husband, Josiah, perspective on therapy and depression evolve (shoutout to the feelings wheel!!).
I do feel like the romance takes a back seat in this story, for better or for worse. After reading other reviews it does make me realize that we don't actually see much of the couple's love and growth together besides their sexual attraction. There is some minor drama with other characters Yasmen and Josiah date but they were set aside really easily.
Trigger warnings: Depression/mental health, suicidal ideation, death (of parents, parental figures), stillbirth, explicit sexual content.
**Disclaimer: Received an eARC from the publisher on Netgalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Ableism, Child death, Miscarriage, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Medical trauma
Minor: Car accident, Alcohol, and Cursing
abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was honest and visceral, while also being steamy as heck. Reading the author's note at the end, it really is evident how much work Kennedy Ryan put into this book, and it's nothing short of the product of a labour of love. Ryan does a remarkable job exploring difficult topics such as grief, depression, stillbirth, death of close family members, and the impacts of all of these things on a marriage (and subsequent divorce). It's an account of rebuilding one's life after clawing out of depression's iron jaw and figuring out what that means for them and their family. It's also a story of learning how to cope and be yourself after being irrevocably changed by traumatic events. About all, it's a story of love (familial, romantic, platonic) and healing. I was so deeply impacted by this story despite my lack of experience in some of the matters, and I can't imagine the profound impact this story will make on those who have experienced loss in the ways that the characters have. I was so moved, and so totally enthralled by Yasmen and Josiah's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident
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