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am193's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
So this book isn’t “good” when you look at it from a literature point of view. The dialogue is pretty terrible, the plot is clunky, and it’s generally a bit cringeworthy. But it’s a book you can read and enjoy almost as a palate cleanser. It’s enjoyable in the same way as fanfiction on Wattpad or AO3. Lots of potentially triggering content though so check content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
Minor: Bullying and Violence
Very casual treatment of sexual violence - Ava’s rape was treated as a plot device without thought of realistic affects on the character.ecravens's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
frostreader's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
kaileyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
lilli0311's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
rosie_read_it's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I struggled a lot with this book. Certain aspects of the plot were handled really well, and I think the relationship was good - but so much of it just seemed creepy to me. And the last chapter was frustrating, but I guess it worked in context.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
bhopeu's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Abandonment
danireyes98's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
I love this book so much. This is my second time reading it, and I still enjoyed it immensely. This book begins very darkly, and I really appreciate how the author lets us know exactly what happened in the woods, without an explicit scene, and makes us feel so much for a character we just met.
Moreover, Knox is one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends, because I love a man obsessed with his girlfriend. He’s clearly emotionally stunted, but you can see him trying throughout, being sweet and present, and in general doing his best to do right by Ava. Sure, he can be an asshole at times, but he’s never able to keep up the mask, since it’s quite obvious how he really feels.
I also love Ava’s strength and resilience, and her final decision to leave Knox and school behind was the right choice for her, and I really appreciate that the author allowed for that decision to take place and didn’t back track from it. We knew they were eventually going to reunite, but it was for the best for both of them to heal away from each other and get back together when the timing was right (the reunion was perfect).
In conclusion, this book is not the best or even a great book dealing with the topic of sexual abuse and rape, but I feel it manages to deal with the topic and the aftermath in a respectful way. I would have loved more flashbacks to explore Knox’s feeling towards Ava from the beginning, and Ava’s relationship with her family was underdeveloped. Despite these flaws I still really adore this book and relationship, which is why I have to give it five stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
areadingkit's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
This was such a good book that I enjoyed so much!
Please go into this having read the TWs because it has quite strong prevalence of SA discussions which I thought were done so well despite being such a difficult topic to cover.
Other than that, I really loved the romance which is kind of second chance romance but also enemies to lovers and it was so interesting to read about Knox and Ava though it was way too obvious from the get go that Knox was Ava’s secret admirer and I was sort of disappointed there wasn’t more of that anonymous pen pal trope.
Their actual relationship was so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time and I loved their dynamics and chemistry, though I do feel like some of their interactions felt a bit too scripted and almost unnatural at times. Like the banter didn’t feel that genuine at times and the pacing of their relationship was a little all over the place for me.
The drama aspect I thought was very good and I loved how prevalent side characters ended up being to the story. But again, some of the writing was a bit weirdly paced and sometimes overly dramatic for the events happening.
I loved loved loved the epilogues and ending of this one though, it was so sweet after sort of breaking my heart with a time jump and I adore that the characters ended up being so family oriented and the end was just so comforting and homey which I think is not often done well enough at the end of romance novels!
Such a good read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault