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megelizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
"Then, it’s me and the sparkling expanse of constellations, the sparse buttery squares of distant cabin windows, and the wanting, wanting, wanting of Adam Reed."
I'm not being dramatic when I say that I honestly feel as if Courtney Kae stared into my soul and wrote this book just for me. It was EVERYTHING that I could have possibly wanted it to be, and so much more. I haven't connected so deeply and wholeheartedly to a book and to a set of characters in a long time, maybe even ever.
This just hit so hard in every conceivable way. The romance, the friendships, the family relationships, the figuring-your-life-out elements, the way trauma is explored...literally every aspect was just done so, so well and just hit me in a way I could never have expected. Ben and Adam deserve the whole entire world and have truly taken a piece of my heart.
This is a beautiful love story and I adored the build-up of the romance. It's also very much a story about childhood trauma and its lingering effects, and Ben's abusive father is very much a part of the narrative. For me it hit so perfectly and felt so incredibly true to my own feelings and experiences, but I'm aware that not everyone may connect with or be able to deal with that element of the story, and I do think the fact that I did connect so much with that was part of why the reading experience was so incredible for me.
However, whilst it won't necessarily 'hit' for everyone, it never feels like trauma for the sake of trauma and it's so clear that Courtney Kae truly cares about her characters and the stories she puts out into the world. I don't think I can adequately explain just how much this book means to me but I can say that I love and adore it with everything I have and know I will go back to it again and again and again. Ten thousand stars <333333
I'm not being dramatic when I say that I honestly feel as if Courtney Kae stared into my soul and wrote this book just for me. It was EVERYTHING that I could have possibly wanted it to be, and so much more. I haven't connected so deeply and wholeheartedly to a book and to a set of characters in a long time, maybe even ever.
This just hit so hard in every conceivable way. The romance, the friendships, the family relationships, the figuring-your-life-out elements, the way trauma is explored...literally every aspect was just done so, so well and just hit me in a way I could never have expected. Ben and Adam deserve the whole entire world and have truly taken a piece of my heart.
This is a beautiful love story and I adored the build-up of the romance. It's also very much a story about childhood trauma and its lingering effects, and Ben's abusive father is very much a part of the narrative. For me it hit so perfectly and felt so incredibly true to my own feelings and experiences, but I'm aware that not everyone may connect with or be able to deal with that element of the story, and I do think the fact that I did connect so much with that was part of why the reading experience was so incredible for me.
However, whilst it won't necessarily 'hit' for everyone, it never feels like trauma for the sake of trauma and it's so clear that Courtney Kae truly cares about her characters and the stories she puts out into the world. I don't think I can adequately explain just how much this book means to me but I can say that I love and adore it with everything I have and know I will go back to it again and again and again. Ten thousand stars <333333
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug use
venturebyname's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kelseyholler's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
amberinpieces's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism
socorro44's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
katemybreathaway's review against another edition
4.0
Another cute summer queer read. Perfect for a day at the beach or an afternoon by the pool.
Poor Ben has no less than three personal crises going on at any given point in the story, but he thankfully by the end realizes that he can rely on his friends and family to help support him. Both boys deal with generational trauma from their parents that inform their relationships and both learn to overcome those fears to grow as people. Also G-ma is an absolute BAMF!
The story loses a few points for me because the romance between Ben and Adam feels very rushed. You start knowing the story believing Ben has been having a multi-year one sided crush, but apparently Adam felt the same but wasn't confident/brave/self-assured enough to realize his own feelings? I wish there had been a little more development into their friendship, especially from Adam's POV to make their relationship feel more authentic.
Poor Ben has no less than three personal crises going on at any given point in the story, but he thankfully by the end realizes that he can rely on his friends and family to help support him. Both boys deal with generational trauma from their parents that inform their relationships and both learn to overcome those fears to grow as people. Also G-ma is an absolute BAMF!
The story loses a few points for me because the romance between Ben and Adam feels very rushed. You start knowing the story believing Ben has been having a multi-year one sided crush, but apparently Adam felt the same but wasn't confident/brave/self-assured enough to realize his own feelings? I wish there had been a little more development into their friendship, especially from Adam's POV to make their relationship feel more authentic.
mikilah's review against another edition
Weird plot and they get together so quick.
cozyupwithfictionandtea_sarah's review against another edition
4.0
New author & narrator for me. And this was great, it did drag a bit near the beginning in the explanation of the small town & surrounding area. Living in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in NorCal I did check out a little. Besides that though, it was a pleasure to follow Ben as he struggled not only to keep his bakery open but also grow in spite of his childhood trauma. And when Adam comes on scene, I felt like it was finally getting somewhere. Anyway, typically I tend to gravitate towards stories with older aged characters I do occasionally pick one up & overall this story did not disappoint! Listened via Hoopla.
librarylady10's review against another edition
3.0
Ben is a bakery owner cast on a (live?) reality television show. Adam is his longtime crush who has seemingly broken his heart on live television. When Ben's shady, absentee father also reappears to disrupt Ben's life and success, Ben leaves for a two week vacation at his grandmother's house to celebrate G-ma's birthday. However, G-ma has invited Adam to play guitar at her birthday events and housed Ben and Adam together in a guest cottage. G-ma and her interference may have been one of my favorite parts of this book, by the way.
The romance happened very quickly, and went from zero to forever in no time at all. The obstacles were just swept away.
I did enjoy the communication between the two main characters. They were open and largely honest with each other. I also liked that it showed Ben going to therapy to work through his neglect and abandonment issues.
I received an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And honestly, this wasn't one of my favorite books. I was very excited for it, because I loved Ben so much in the first Fern Falls book. But, ultimately, found it rather underwhelming.
The romance happened very quickly, and went from zero to forever in no time at all. The obstacles were just swept away.
I did enjoy the communication between the two main characters. They were open and largely honest with each other. I also liked that it showed Ben going to therapy to work through his neglect and abandonment issues.
I received an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And honestly, this wasn't one of my favorite books. I was very excited for it, because I loved Ben so much in the first Fern Falls book. But, ultimately, found it rather underwhelming.