Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Hopeless: Special Edition

The story was really good and I absolutely loved Beau and Bailey. But, and there is a big but, there’s a couple of things I didn’t like and others that made me uncomfortable. Number one, the plot twist/conflict at the end felt very out of no where, rushed and useless. Second, I hated the age difference. I don’t love age gaps but the fact that he had know her since she was young and that she is 22 and he is 35 was weird. Added to that the fact that there was a big emphasis on the whole virgin thing made it even weirder. On the flip side, I did like the development of their relationship. I do wish Beau had been more upfront about how he was feeling to his family. I had high hopes cause I loved Beau in the other novel so I felt a bit let down. Still a good read overall (I imagined she was 25 and he was 30).

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dlsmk's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated

3.0

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meganxstones's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

why did they make Beau a borderline predator

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cortanasreadingnook's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-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

3.75

I frankly did not expect to like Beau and Bailey because I’ve seen other readers say this is the weakest book/ship from Chestnut Springs, but it definitely wasn’t so bad! I was discouraged to read this even before I started Powerless because of the “pubes shaving” joke, but I was proven wrong like in Jasper and Sloane’s book. The fake dating/engagement trope was new to read in small town romance, so I didn’t find it boring at all. They undoubtedly had that charming, intense chemistry. I was also very much ready to say goodbye to these characters like Elsie herself, and Hopeless was a good story to end it with. The cameos were worth my time and the smut was exceptional. The way Beau’s character eventually deals with his saviour complex and trauma were fairly handled, in my opinion. He and Bailey just fit so perfectly with each other.

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yaren_98's review against another edition

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funny 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

4.25

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paoitz's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad 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

3.75

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unboundbooklover's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

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amateur_bookworm's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.5

My summary:

Beau Eaton has always been the happy-go-lucky golden boy of Chestnut Springs and an elite special forces soldier. After going missing on his last mission and then returning home injured, Beau has struggled to find a purpose in life without his military career. That is, until he starts spending time around Bailey Jansen. Bailey has grown up in Chestnut Springs with the stigma of being the youngest daughter of the trashiest family in town. Her only goal is to save up enough money to get away from this town and never look back. But then Beau offers Bailey a fake engagement that seems too good to be true. And as Bailey helps Beau feel whole again, Beau makes her feel loved for the first time ever.

My thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Chestnut Springs series and I was really excited to get to Beau’s story to wrap it up.

Beau is introduced early in the series as the fun brother and a badass special forces soldier. Then, we find out he is missing in action. And after he returns home from convalescing from his injuries, he is quiet and withdrawn. And now we get his story.

Bailey is adorable and I just want to scoop her up but also simultaneously knock out every jerk in town that is rude to her. I enjoy the banter and interactions between her and Beau. And Beau is complicated, yet sweet with Bailey. But all of the age gap references do get a little tiresome. I get it, I get it—she’s a lot younger than him.

I love that the other books in this series have sweet nicknames: Princess, Red, Sunny, Tink (as in, Tinkerbell), ….. and then we have Sugar Tits. Hilarious!

This series has been so good that I’ve even overlooked her use of the word “folds”. And it takes an excellent romance book to overcome that usage.

Overall, I adore this series and every book is so good! My favorite is Heartless, then Flawless, Powerless, Reckless and, lastly, Hopeless. My favorite girl is Willa and I’m going to have to go with Jasper as my favorite guy (followed closely by Harvey!). And I’ve found out that I really enjoy cowboy romances!

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