tallyvauthor's review
5.0
Remenicent of the Knitting in the City books, finally.
One thing that I missed about the knitting in the city books is the genuine challenges and growth that the characters typically go through. In the Winston Brothers series thus far, they're pretty skin deep romances with enough personality in the characters so I don't really care. That being said, Beard In Mind was wonderful. Shelly and Beau's growth, both together and separately, were fantastic. I thought Reid did a great job of showing Shelly OCD without scaring the readership. But Beau learning to lean on someone when everyone is used to leaning on him was also really well done.
At first, I wasn't a fan of how Beau treated Shelly, and I really hate how Quin treated her but like, that's neither here nor there. However, I think that was a lot of the reason I liked this book is his growth in this area. He was really treating Shelly as a partner by the end of it.
And that's amazing.
One thing that I missed about the knitting in the city books is the genuine challenges and growth that the characters typically go through. In the Winston Brothers series thus far, they're pretty skin deep romances with enough personality in the characters so I don't really care. That being said, Beard In Mind was wonderful. Shelly and Beau's growth, both together and separately, were fantastic. I thought Reid did a great job of showing Shelly OCD without scaring the readership. But Beau learning to lean on someone when everyone is used to leaning on him was also really well done.
At first, I wasn't a fan of how Beau treated Shelly, and I really hate how Quin treated her but like, that's neither here nor there. However, I think that was a lot of the reason I liked this book is his growth in this area. He was really treating Shelly as a partner by the end of it.
And that's amazing.
magnoliapigeonbookblurbs's review
5.0
10/10 recommend this series!
I love how this series is evolving! The continued character development of the Winston family is amazing - I’m so excited to see where this series goes! This isn’t a run of the mill romantic comedy series and that’s what makes it so special.
*also - the accurate mental health representation in this installation was so refreshing!
I love how this series is evolving! The continued character development of the Winston family is amazing - I’m so excited to see where this series goes! This isn’t a run of the mill romantic comedy series and that’s what makes it so special.
*also - the accurate mental health representation in this installation was so refreshing!
landragraf's review
5.0
So good, I honestly think this is a series I will read a second time. The family dynamic, the characters being so vastly different from each other, and even though each story is exceedingly long I find myself constantly smiling and getting good vibes, feelings. This is what romance is about.
mirandao78's review
3.0
3.5 stars, I did really enjoy this book and Beau is adorable. I also liked the OCD / anxiety rep in our heroine. There was just a bit of the romance that didn’t feel flushed out to me...a little too insta-love for me. And not much really happens in the story...but despite that, I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to my next Winston brothers book.
kitschykatey's review
4.0
I wasn't sure I wanted to read about Beau. He was so charming and fixed cars and I just didn't care to know more.
I was wrong. This book felt like it had more revelations about the Winston family then some of the previous books. I enjoyed the look into Beau's head and getting to see he was more than just the charm.
I will say Shelly's struggle with OCD was a little bit hard to read. Awareness about the disorder is always a good thing, but some of the earlier chapters felt like they needed a trigger warning. I love that the author included more information about how she developed a character with mental illness and how one portrayal doesn't embody an entire disorder. It was also great that both the book and the notes mentioned how people use the phrase "I'm so OCD" to imply that they are particular and how annoying that is.
I was wrong. This book felt like it had more revelations about the Winston family then some of the previous books. I enjoyed the look into Beau's head and getting to see he was more than just the charm.
I will say Shelly's struggle with OCD was a little bit hard to read. Awareness about the disorder is always a good thing, but some of the earlier chapters felt like they needed a trigger warning. I love that the author included more information about how she developed a character with mental illness and how one portrayal doesn't embody an entire disorder. It was also great that both the book and the notes mentioned how people use the phrase "I'm so OCD" to imply that they are particular and how annoying that is.
booklover1974's review
4.0
3,5 stars rounded up to 4.
I liked that the story had a important message about mental health! Otherwise it was a palette cleanser. It's easy, entertaining and well written.
I liked that the story had a important message about mental health! Otherwise it was a palette cleanser. It's easy, entertaining and well written.
tbrwarriors_87's review
4.0
Loved this book, loved this series! I love how each book is of a different brother yet you are still kept in the loop of the family. Shelly's journey really touched me in this book as well.
sten89's review
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
johnnessalovesreading's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Spoiler
i struggle with this review cause i wanted so badly to give it five stars cause best and shelly were beautiful my fav couple so far however the choices the author made throughout the book i did not enjoy and left a sour taste in my mouthone of them was the decision to make beau and duane be brothers to claire at first i didn’t mind this twist until it’s discovered that claire and billy will be getting a book later on that the fact that they both are siblings to beau and duane makes the dynamic a little weird now ie dan and serena from gossip girl
another problem i had was the book taking the same scenes from beard science just in beau’s pov i felt like skimming throughout the book cause i know what happens cause i’ve been here before and i feel we didn’t need that as readers some parts of the book should be for shelly and beau
and lastly i wished we gotten more of shelly pov that wasn’t with the therapist i wanted more of shelly cause she’s a sweetheart otherwise i think i understand the reasoning overall it’s a really great book if read as standalone
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, and Death
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Kidnapping