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cristineconey's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is probably the smuttiest book I’ve read lol. This was good, but “it’s complicated” definitely describes my thoughts about this look. So. Long. And it took forever to get to the point I wanted.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
ewillreadit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief
chareadsss's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
This was the first @booksandlooksbookclub BOTM that I hadn't finished in time for the meeting 😅, and I'd considered DNFing it, but doing that stresses me out so I decided to see it through.
*sigh* The writing style, the MCs, the length- all of it was a no from me. I'm not against a little cheesy romance sometimes but the cringe levels in 'Restore Me' were sky high, and it felt extremely long-winded and repetitive. Honestly, guys, I'd be reading and thinking "I MUST'VE tackled 20% by now", only to realise I'd only tackled 3 😭😂 and it felt like there was so much internal dialogue but nothing was really happening. Also, I don't want to read the words, "angel", "small of my/her back" or "liquid heat" again at this point. I'M TIRED.
I definitely preferred Sloane's chapters, and found the depiction of grief in these to be more thoughtful and emotive, but the balance between the characters' chapters was off and Sloane's character started to grind my gears after a while. I found her to be a bit too passive at times. Her relationship with Eric's family was a nice touch though and I liked that they'd created a space where it was okay for her to grieve yet live at the same time (which we can sometimes feel guilty about).
For me personally, it would've been helpful to know a bit more about Eric and to see more of Dom's experience actually grieving his best friend rather than just coveting his wife/widow. As for Dom's character as well, all I'm going to say is NO.
I've heard the other books in the series are better, which is good to hear but, for now, I won't be finding out as this is where my journey with the series ends.
*sigh* The writing style, the MCs, the length- all of it was a no from me. I'm not against a little cheesy romance sometimes but the cringe levels in 'Restore Me' were sky high, and it felt extremely long-winded and repetitive. Honestly, guys, I'd be reading and thinking "I MUST'VE tackled 20% by now", only to realise I'd only tackled 3 😭😂 and it felt like there was so much internal dialogue but nothing was really happening. Also, I don't want to read the words, "angel", "small of my/her back" or "liquid heat" again at this point. I'M TIRED.
I definitely preferred Sloane's chapters, and found the depiction of grief in these to be more thoughtful and emotive, but the balance between the characters' chapters was off and Sloane's character started to grind my gears after a while. I found her to be a bit too passive at times. Her relationship with Eric's family was a nice touch though and I liked that they'd created a space where it was okay for her to grieve yet live at the same time (which we can sometimes feel guilty about).
For me personally, it would've been helpful to know a bit more about Eric and to see more of Dom's experience actually grieving his best friend rather than just coveting his wife/widow. As for Dom's character as well, all I'm going to say is NO.
I've heard the other books in the series are better, which is good to hear but, for now, I won't be finding out as this is where my journey with the series ends.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism and Miscarriage
theblackstepford's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Solid story. WAY too long. I mean, I appreciate the ins and outs of this relationship, but they could have had one slightly difficult conversation and knocked 150 pages off the back and forth drama. Spice was 🌶️🌶️.5, will read the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Car accident
Minor: Miscarriage and Death of parent
thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Car accident, and Gaslighting
tddaffin's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
18+
This book lived up to all the hype surrounding it! I had Restore Me on my TBR because of TikTok but ultimately read it because on J.L. Seegars' website she states, “All of my works center around Black women and the lovingly possessive men who are obsessed with them.” and this book definitely delivered that! Dominic is obsessed with Sloane, Sloane is obsessed with Dominic, and I am obsessed with both of them.
“An enemies to lovers romance about forbidden relationships and love after loss”; the way Dominic and Sloane's story unfolded was equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking. I will say that the ending did feel a bit rushed for the book to be so long but I enjoyed the book overall. If you're looking for a book to read where the man falls head over heels in love first, this book is for you!
Check Trigger Warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
Minor: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
shanaetheflyest's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
3.5
This was veryyyyy long, longer than it needed to be. A lot of spice, as in frequency. It is dual pov but I felt it was a little off balance as we got mostly Sloane's POV and I would've liked to get more of Dominic. The ending was cute but just took too long to get there the middle dragged a lot.
5/5🌶️
5/5🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism and Car accident
jerricka329's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Grief, and Sexual harassment
bookishplantmom's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was really disappointing so buckle up because I have thoughts. The book started out well and the premise was interesting. Two people with a complicated and conflict filled past start seeing each other romantically while trying to grapple with the death of someone they both loved very deeply. Ok fine, good. I am not a widow and can’t know how realistic the grief portrayed in the book actually was. For me, it felt like it took too much space in the story especially given that Sloan is apparently ready to get out there and date again. It felt like her internal conflict and constant referring to her husband as though he was still living and she was cheating on him was contradictory to me because it has been YEARS and she is trying to move on. Though grief can be that way, I’ve heard, so again maybe it’s realistic. My struggle with this aspect wasn’t so much that she was conflicted, it’s more that the conflict and her perspective on it never actually evolved or shifted in a meaningful and understandable way to me. It was as if there were two Sloans in the story and at no point did they connect really.
Dom’s grief was similar in that he was deep in his self loathing and we never really get to see him work through that. His secret pining for Sloan and his whole “I hate you” act for over a decade needed wayyyy more unpacking than what it got. He was an ASS to her for a DECADE and we’re just not going to talk about it?! Because…he was…secretly in love???!?! I needed to see more atoning for that for sure.
My other major difficulty with this book is that Dom’s authoritative/possessive tendencies while fun in some sexy instances were concerning in other moments especially after “the incident” happened that he had to help with (iykyk) I found the dubious consent between them so soon after what happened was not believable/ok given how the incident affected Sloan. Even though it was clear that she was into what Dom was doing it was icky to me. I also always feel annoyed when a book equates an STI conversation with “being clean” because it perpetuates stigma.
My next and biggest problem which really pulled me out of the story at about 60% and grated on me until the very end of the book was that the whole premise of this romance is based on miscommunication which continues nonstop and made me increasingly frustrated. I was so annoyed with their ridiculous refusal to have adult conversations left me unable to root for them at all. Because of this constant inability they had to just bffr with each other I basically hated them as a couple by the end of the book. And the fact that this same refusal to have mature conversations extended to the whole family?! I just… I enjoyed the book at the beginning but after the halfway point it was a steady decline until the bitter end. The one saving grace is that there is plenty of decent steam though even that got dull after a while. Idk I’m bummed this was not for me.
Dom’s grief was similar in that he was deep in his self loathing and we never really get to see him work through that. His secret pining for Sloan and his whole “I hate you” act for over a decade needed wayyyy more unpacking than what it got. He was an ASS to her for a DECADE and we’re just not going to talk about it?! Because…he was…secretly in love???!?! I needed to see more atoning for that for sure.
My other major difficulty with this book is that Dom’s authoritative/possessive tendencies while fun in some sexy instances were concerning in other moments especially after “the incident” happened that he had to help with (iykyk) I found the dubious consent between them so soon after what happened was not believable/ok given how the incident affected Sloan. Even though it was clear that she was into what Dom was doing it was icky to me. I also always feel annoyed when a book equates an STI conversation with “being clean” because it perpetuates stigma.
My next and biggest problem which really pulled me out of the story at about 60% and grated on me until the very end of the book was that the whole premise of this romance is based on miscommunication which continues nonstop and made me increasingly frustrated. I was so annoyed with their ridiculous refusal to have adult conversations left me unable to root for them at all. Because of this constant inability they had to just bffr with each other I basically hated them as a couple by the end of the book. And the fact that this same refusal to have mature conversations extended to the whole family?! I just… I enjoyed the book at the beginning but after the halfway point it was a steady decline until the bitter end. The one saving grace is that there is plenty of decent steam though even that got dull after a while. Idk I’m bummed this was not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment