kassreads's review against another edition
3.0
Helena Hunting books are either okay or just not great
mimmie_massie's review against another edition
5.0
This book took me longer to read than any other has in a long time.It was just so good and places gave me crippling anxiety that i had to take breaks in between.It has a lot of 'aw shucks' moments between Lavender and Kodiak.Soulmates who have loved each other since they were kids.And I love the growth they both went through ,the healing and realizing when they weren't good for each other.And the River surprise???
pockyreads's review against another edition
5.0
This book was everthing I needed and wanted, book delivered
dkaihenderson'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
3.5
kfriend's review against another edition
5.0
Oh sweet Lavender and Kody- oh their story touched and inspired me. Hands down my favorite Helena Hunting book ever-this is a love story so beautiful and meaningful- complicated but at its heart pure and optimistic.
Lavender and Kodiak’s story begins as childhood friends. They grow up together, their parents are close friends and Kodiak is best friends with Lavender’s older brother. A series of emotionally traumatic moments and a kinship they share over their mental health struggles creates an intense connection between them- one that increasingly becomes an unhealthy, and secret, codependence. Forced to confront it, one of them overdials the distance- and in the future, these two have a very different relationship. One more than distant- one painful and full of hurt. But one they can’t escape now that they attend the same college. There is SO MUCH to this story- it is emotional, so much longing and hurt, but so much beauty. The road is not easy, but the journey is captivating.
What has made this story so special for me is just the tender, genuine, and loving care that Helena has given to all of these characters. This is a story about character growth- about self-actualization, but it is the kind of story that I’ve rarely read about. Because both have mental health issues. And Helena lets that be real- she immerses us in their minds, helps us see the complexities and challenges of living every day with the issues both Lavender and Kody face- as kids and as adults. She lets us see how it impacts their families, the catalyzing impact of trauma, the healthy and unhealthy ways people cope and process. And in doing so, she normalizes it. In a powerful and profound way. Beautifully- she lets two characters who are defined by their mental health challenges grow up into people who aren’t- who are working through it, who are thoughtful about their mental health, who go from being controlled by it to finding ways to cope and manage it. It is real- told with empathy and honesty, but most importantly, with love.
I don’t think I’ve ever loved a heroine like I loved Lavender Waters. From the first moment we meet her- wide- eyed, anxious, sweet and resilient, I knew she’d crawl into my heart and never leave. She is so unique and complex- a heroine that feels so fresh and novel. She’s a beautiful contradiction- she’s brave but fearful, smart but naïve, hesitant and bold. And that’s because Helena lets us see the many facets of her- she lets us understand so vividly what makes Lavender tick and she lets us watch Lavender evolve.
And she also lets us see Kodiak in the same light- his complications, his nuances, his evolution. He is also different than any hero I’ve read- Helena lets him be SO vulnerable, so fragile in places. Another character full of contradictions- so loving, so tender and sweet, but biting and angry at times. Above all, he's a wounded boy, just trying to do right by those he loves.
Helena so brilliantly tells us a story of contrasts through a narrative of contrasts. We really have twin stories- the Lavender and Kodiak love story of the past juxtaposed to the one in the future. One sweet, innocent, and light- but one tinged with naïve codependency and emotional toxicity. Another angst, anguished, full of longing- something chaotic that has the makings of something healthy and magical, something mature. And the sexy times in this book?! Holy hotness- sweet little Lavender has got a kinky flair. Tonally, Helena too gives us a book of contrast- brilliantly weaving together the sweet and tender with the hysterical and silly with the deep, emotionally gutting and more angsty moments. Each moment is so carefully constructed, delicately woven, into a story that is a perfect balance of its part- sewn together with the kind of creativity and passion that Lavender herself put into her constructions.
Fans of the Pucked and All In series will be in heaven hearing about all your favorite characters and seeing how their children all interact, but don’t worry if you haven’t- this can be read as a standalone. But it was such a delight to see how Alex and Violet’s children embody the pieces of them- in some cases making similar mistakes, but they have these quirky and loving parents who help them understand.
Truly, this is a story about the many faces of loves. How love can provide safety, how love can protect and reassure, but also how love can be unhealthy, how it can become toxic and limiting, even when it is pure and well, even when it is well-intentioned. Sure, this story is full of lies that characters tell each other, out of love and protection- and those lies harm. But the most dangerous thing of all are the lies we tell ourselves- about our love, about being okay, about what we need. And that is the power of Little Lies- because these characters can only find a way to each other not only when they stop lying to each other but when they stop lying to themselves- when they learn to prioritize their needs, to confront their challenges, and to proactively address that when a relationship is unhealthy sometimes it means you are unhealthy. Watching both of these characters, but especially Lavender, become empowered adults- broken by love but then healed by it, rebuilt stronger, because they choose to love themselves and their own well-being is one of the most hopeful and touching character progressions I’ve read. I have not loved or rooted for two characters this hard in a long time.
This second generation world just has my heart all aflutter- I am so in love with every single character. There is a magic to this ecosystem- a magnetic draw to this chosen family of characters. Each one of them is compelling- dynamic and interesting- and i hope we get more of every single one. I’m not sure how she could top this story- but I’m ready to dive back into this world over and over again!
Lavender and Kodiak’s story begins as childhood friends. They grow up together, their parents are close friends and Kodiak is best friends with Lavender’s older brother. A series of emotionally traumatic moments and a kinship they share over their mental health struggles creates an intense connection between them- one that increasingly becomes an unhealthy, and secret, codependence. Forced to confront it, one of them overdials the distance- and in the future, these two have a very different relationship. One more than distant- one painful and full of hurt. But one they can’t escape now that they attend the same college. There is SO MUCH to this story- it is emotional, so much longing and hurt, but so much beauty. The road is not easy, but the journey is captivating.
What has made this story so special for me is just the tender, genuine, and loving care that Helena has given to all of these characters. This is a story about character growth- about self-actualization, but it is the kind of story that I’ve rarely read about. Because both have mental health issues. And Helena lets that be real- she immerses us in their minds, helps us see the complexities and challenges of living every day with the issues both Lavender and Kody face- as kids and as adults. She lets us see how it impacts their families, the catalyzing impact of trauma, the healthy and unhealthy ways people cope and process. And in doing so, she normalizes it. In a powerful and profound way. Beautifully- she lets two characters who are defined by their mental health challenges grow up into people who aren’t- who are working through it, who are thoughtful about their mental health, who go from being controlled by it to finding ways to cope and manage it. It is real- told with empathy and honesty, but most importantly, with love.
I don’t think I’ve ever loved a heroine like I loved Lavender Waters. From the first moment we meet her- wide- eyed, anxious, sweet and resilient, I knew she’d crawl into my heart and never leave. She is so unique and complex- a heroine that feels so fresh and novel. She’s a beautiful contradiction- she’s brave but fearful, smart but naïve, hesitant and bold. And that’s because Helena lets us see the many facets of her- she lets us understand so vividly what makes Lavender tick and she lets us watch Lavender evolve.
And she also lets us see Kodiak in the same light- his complications, his nuances, his evolution. He is also different than any hero I’ve read- Helena lets him be SO vulnerable, so fragile in places. Another character full of contradictions- so loving, so tender and sweet, but biting and angry at times. Above all, he's a wounded boy, just trying to do right by those he loves.
Helena so brilliantly tells us a story of contrasts through a narrative of contrasts. We really have twin stories- the Lavender and Kodiak love story of the past juxtaposed to the one in the future. One sweet, innocent, and light- but one tinged with naïve codependency and emotional toxicity. Another angst, anguished, full of longing- something chaotic that has the makings of something healthy and magical, something mature. And the sexy times in this book?! Holy hotness- sweet little Lavender has got a kinky flair. Tonally, Helena too gives us a book of contrast- brilliantly weaving together the sweet and tender with the hysterical and silly with the deep, emotionally gutting and more angsty moments. Each moment is so carefully constructed, delicately woven, into a story that is a perfect balance of its part- sewn together with the kind of creativity and passion that Lavender herself put into her constructions.
Fans of the Pucked and All In series will be in heaven hearing about all your favorite characters and seeing how their children all interact, but don’t worry if you haven’t- this can be read as a standalone. But it was such a delight to see how Alex and Violet’s children embody the pieces of them- in some cases making similar mistakes, but they have these quirky and loving parents who help them understand.
Truly, this is a story about the many faces of loves. How love can provide safety, how love can protect and reassure, but also how love can be unhealthy, how it can become toxic and limiting, even when it is pure and well, even when it is well-intentioned. Sure, this story is full of lies that characters tell each other, out of love and protection- and those lies harm. But the most dangerous thing of all are the lies we tell ourselves- about our love, about being okay, about what we need. And that is the power of Little Lies- because these characters can only find a way to each other not only when they stop lying to each other but when they stop lying to themselves- when they learn to prioritize their needs, to confront their challenges, and to proactively address that when a relationship is unhealthy sometimes it means you are unhealthy. Watching both of these characters, but especially Lavender, become empowered adults- broken by love but then healed by it, rebuilt stronger, because they choose to love themselves and their own well-being is one of the most hopeful and touching character progressions I’ve read. I have not loved or rooted for two characters this hard in a long time.
This second generation world just has my heart all aflutter- I am so in love with every single character. There is a magic to this ecosystem- a magnetic draw to this chosen family of characters. Each one of them is compelling- dynamic and interesting- and i hope we get more of every single one. I’m not sure how she could top this story- but I’m ready to dive back into this world over and over again!
hager87's review against another edition
4.0
I am so in love with Lavender and Kodiak. Their growth, their strength, their endurance, their courage and definitely their love. They shattered my heart and made it whole again.
The book is so beautifully written, the narration from the two perspectives complimented one another, the flashbacks were not a distraction but make you grip at your seat wanting to know what happened.
At first I hated Kody and I thought Lav is meek but then my heart broke for Kody and lil kody and Lav became that princess who slays dragons and found her voice.
Loved it so much that I am crying and definitely will be spiraling into a depressive state with these romance books I read
The book is so beautifully written, the narration from the two perspectives complimented one another, the flashbacks were not a distraction but make you grip at your seat wanting to know what happened.
At first I hated Kody and I thought Lav is meek but then my heart broke for Kody and lil kody and Lav became that princess who slays dragons and found her voice.
Loved it so much that I am crying and definitely will be spiraling into a depressive state with these romance books I read
dgignac's review against another edition
5.0
I just devoured this book. I can’t say that Lavender and Kodiak’s relationship is anything near normal… but I just couldn’t put the book down. It was fun reading about the second generation of all of our favourite hockey players.
pendygal80's review against another edition
4.5
This book was more emotional at times than I expected - my heart just hurt for both Lavender and Kodiak - but my goodness I loved it so much. I did struggle a bit with how Kody interacted with Lavender during the first several "present day" chapters but ultimately thought he gave good grovel. I was just rooting for these two to get it together and what a moment it was when they finally surrendered. Lavender really grew into her power over the course of the story and I was living for every moment she took charge with Kodiak. Ultimately this couple really worked for me and I could not put this book down.