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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
bookswithca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
peachmoni's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
creataur90's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Beautiful story, but not for me.
I enjoyed the mystery of learning throughout the book how the characters got to where they were, and obvious chemistry. However, I’m a dialogue girl and too much inner thoughts in between statements makes it hard to follow along. I did a lot of skimming—which I hated to do—just so I could understand what was happening.
Overall, I liked the complexity of their situation and going on the journey with them.
I enjoyed the mystery of learning throughout the book how the characters got to where they were, and obvious chemistry. However, I’m a dialogue girl and too much inner thoughts in between statements makes it hard to follow along. I did a lot of skimming—which I hated to do—just so I could understand what was happening.
Overall, I liked the complexity of their situation and going on the journey with them.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Miscarriage
addiesbookshelf_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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 am not ok nor will I ever be ok because this book has DESTROYED ME. It is a MASTERPIECE. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on and ready to cry in the span of the same chapter as many times as I was reading this book. It’s messy and emotional and REAL, and manages to handle things like grief, strained familial relationships, and finding new love in such a compassionate and beautiful way. It also did a few tropes I normally don’t love (second chance romance and a third act breakup) serious justice, because for once it felt like without the circumstances that made those things happen, Sloane and Dom wouldn’t have been the people they needed to be to build a strong, healthy love together. This book had impeccable spice, too, but it is so much more than that. J.L. Seegars is a new insta-buy author for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Car accident, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
bf9288's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
This book was amazing. Honey Dominic Alexander is top tier. This book was so beautiful and inspiring. Everyone deserves to love. This enemy to lover is probably the most heart-grabbing book I’ve read. Forgiving yourself and knowing that you deserve life after unimaginable trauma and guilt and anger is something I’m sure a lot of people are struggling with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Miscarriage
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
2.75
I liked the characters and the plot of this story a lot. I really appreciated how it tackled grief as well as the mental and emotional toll of an abusive/narcissistic parent. The spice was really good and the chemistry between Dominic and Sloan was top tier.
My only complaint is that the book was way too long. So much of its length is made up of these wordy inner monologues that sometimes last whole pages when they could’ve been condensed to a few sentences, maximum. That made it really tough to push through at times.
My only complaint is that the book was way too long. So much of its length is made up of these wordy inner monologues that sometimes last whole pages when they could’ve been condensed to a few sentences, maximum. That made it really tough to push through at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
orangeaiya's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such an enjoyable read. Happy ending. Their relationship is a little complicated but mostly realistic. Dominic is one of those fictional men that could never be real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
vanessarreads's review against another edition
emotional
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
It’s been awhile since I had a romance book take my heart out and throw it over a bridge into the violent currents of the Niagara Falls to be never seen again. I too want a Dominic; I can fix him! 🥹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
ginelreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved every minute of this!!
I loved this story so much. The only thing I felt off about was the ending, it was a little bit rushed but I loved how they fell into place with one another again.
Sloane finally stood up to her nasty mother, is rocking at her job and allowed herself to be happy and love again.
Dom is the lucky man that has her love. He’s the kind of man we all deserve, someone who listens, cares, and loves the way she deserves it. He is everything, she is everything and they are more than love and happiness together.
I’m so so happy I read this book and I can’t wait to read more in this series
I loved this story so much. The only thing I felt off about was the ending, it was a little bit rushed but I loved how they fell into place with one another again.
Sloane finally stood up to her nasty mother, is rocking at her job and allowed herself to be happy and love again.
Dom is the lucky man that has her love. He’s the kind of man we all deserve, someone who listens, cares, and loves the way she deserves it. He is everything, she is everything and they are more than love and happiness together.
I’m so so happy I read this book and I can’t wait to read more in this series
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Car accident