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acourtofstarsandmoons's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an enjoyable book but for many reasons it doesn’t hit higher than 3.5 for me.
One being the first 20% of the book, with Lennon’s insecurities a huge aspect of the book, was very very triggering for me. Being a bigger, bullied girl myself everything she said rang true - a little too true. Though I liked her mini glow up after the four year time jump it also felt a little gut wrenching for me. It was good for the character to become confident but it made me feel just that little bit shittier. But that’s a me problem.
I liked that this book straddled the line of dark/toxic and light. I’ve read much much worse than this in terms of dark and toxic but this still had elements of it that allowed me to be drawn in while also providing a strong emotional background that I don’t always read.
This book didn’t shock me with any of its ‘twists or turns’ but that also isn’t the goal of this novel. It’s a romance through and through, not a mystery.
I would recommend people read this book, it was emotional, the spice was great, there’s a HEA. I would just advise any curvy girls out there struggling as much as I still am with my insecurities, shame and self-hatred proceed with caution. This one hit me a lot.
One being the first 20% of the book, with Lennon’s insecurities a huge aspect of the book, was very very triggering for me. Being a bigger, bullied girl myself everything she said rang true - a little too true. Though I liked her mini glow up after the four year time jump it also felt a little gut wrenching for me. It was good for the character to become confident but it made me feel just that little bit shittier. But that’s a me problem.
I liked that this book straddled the line of dark/toxic and light. I’ve read much much worse than this in terms of dark and toxic but this still had elements of it that allowed me to be drawn in while also providing a strong emotional background that I don’t always read.
This book didn’t shock me with any of its ‘twists or turns’ but that also isn’t the goal of this novel. It’s a romance through and through, not a mystery.
I would recommend people read this book, it was emotional, the spice was great, there’s a HEA. I would just advise any curvy girls out there struggling as much as I still am with my insecurities, shame and self-hatred proceed with caution. This one hit me a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
kaileeledger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed this story. The only reason I gave it 4/5 stars is because at points in the story it kind of dragged. It was a lot of back and forth “do I wanna be with him or do I not?” Without having a fair amount of plot to distract. Wasn’t a bad story, it was just a bit repetitive at times. Overall, I would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Car accident
Minor: Child death and Toxic relationship
aj_igoe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
To say this was a wild ride is an understatement.
First, I was very upset because there are no trigger warnings. And they’re definitely needed to be some. While there’s not much that triggers me, there is a form of SA, and as a survivor, sometimes I do get emotionally triggered. When the protagonist, Lennon, thinks she’s having a wet dream and wakes up to a girl going down on her. A girl that she doesn’t know. Being told to do so by the male lead, Phoenix, and so on. It was the most questionable scene and out of place seen in the book and they just gloss over it— no discussion on it and forget it ever happens except like one mention.
Second, there’s there’s literally on page child abuse - the prologue and later one. This alone warrants a TW. Plus the toxicity of the relationship and death of a parent, dementia, all these things needed to addressed in the beginning.
Lennon I loved her. Second, I read some other reviews bothered by her losing weight. I’ll you what, my skinny was a size 10 and I wasn’t skinny at all. I just wasn’t obese and I appreciated her being at that size because I felt like I could relate to her 100% at that size. She was still plus size. At that size I was told I was plus size at ducking forever 21 at 19. I wasn’t even large, I was more like average but I always had breasts and huge hips.
I want to address some of Phoenix behavior. There were some reviews addressing how poorly he acts. But to this, as someone who studied child development (pregnancy thru 25) and how trauma affects the brain — working alongside kids as a former preschool teacher, a few with traumatic childhoods, his actions are normal behavior for someone who never received therapy or help. While I agree some of his behaviors are abhorrent they are not out of the norm for a broken individual.
Those things aside I really really enjoyed the book. I read dark fantasy’s and dark romance. So other than needing TW — which if the book had them, I might have rated it higher — it could never be 5 stars with the SA on page unless it had been discussed in book and actually like spoken about as SA.
But I loved all the characters, and I was extremely invested in them. I really did care for all of them, I’m a Stormy stan for sure. I wish I could give this more stars but my conscience will not allow. I finished it hours ago and can’t stop thinking about it and even considering purchasing the audio and listening to
It. I really did love the characters and story itself.
First, I was very upset because there are no trigger warnings. And they’re definitely needed to be some. While there’s not much that triggers me, there is a form of SA, and as a survivor, sometimes I do get emotionally triggered. When the protagonist, Lennon, thinks she’s having a wet dream and wakes up to a girl going down on her. A girl that she doesn’t know. Being told to do so by the male lead, Phoenix, and so on. It was the most questionable scene and out of place seen in the book and they just gloss over it— no discussion on it and forget it ever happens except like one mention.
Second, there’s there’s literally on page child abuse - the prologue and later one. This alone warrants a TW. Plus the toxicity of the relationship and death of a parent, dementia, all these things needed to addressed in the beginning.
Lennon I loved her. Second, I read some other reviews bothered by her losing weight. I’ll you what, my skinny was a size 10 and I wasn’t skinny at all. I just wasn’t obese and I appreciated her being at that size because I felt like I could relate to her 100% at that size. She was still plus size. At that size I was told I was plus size at ducking forever 21 at 19. I wasn’t even large, I was more like average but I always had breasts and huge hips.
I want to address some of Phoenix behavior. There were some reviews addressing how poorly he acts. But to this, as someone who studied child development (pregnancy thru 25) and how trauma affects the brain — working alongside kids as a former preschool teacher, a few with traumatic childhoods, his actions are normal behavior for someone who never received therapy or help. While I agree some of his behaviors are abhorrent they are not out of the norm for a broken individual.
Those things aside I really really enjoyed the book. I read dark fantasy’s and dark romance. So other than needing TW — which if the book had them, I might have rated it higher — it could never be 5 stars with the SA on page unless it had been discussed in book and actually like spoken about as SA.
But I loved all the characters, and I was extremely invested in them. I really did care for all of them, I’m a Stormy stan for sure. I wish I could give this more stars but my conscience will not allow. I finished it hours ago and can’t stop thinking about it and even considering purchasing the audio and listening to
It. I really did love the characters and story itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Child death
Minor spoilers in review but nothing of plot or character developmentsniderbeebooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book received a lot of hype, which convinced me to read it. I wasn't as taken by it as everyone else. It moved quickly, though it was way too long. A good chunk of the middle was unnecessary. I wasn't sure the point of certain subplots such as the sister. Her presence really muddied the waters.
The sister, the assaulted band mate, the mean girls from high school... what happened with these aspects of the story. I didn't feel any closure.
The MCs relationship is all over the place. They hate each other, they love each other, they just want to bone each other. Back and forth, we go and it just would... not... end. Their arrangement 'ended' over and over only to keep going on and on.
This book also reminded me why I am very careful when selecting new adult titles. Like some of the stories don't exist in the real world. Suspension of disbelief is highly recommended. Additionally, the characters are horrible decision makers, usually handling their problems with substance abuse or violence. It was very disappointing to see a MMC use his fists on people so much in this story considering he was physically abused by his father.
Lastly, I was uncomfortable with the plus sized rep in this. I know a lot of readers may find the FMC relatable, but I'm not sure it was handled in the best way. It was also a major theme of the book that just sort of... dropped away.
That said, I think 3 stars is fair. I didn't hate the experience, nor would I try to dissuade anyone else to read it.
The sister, the assaulted band mate, the mean girls from high school... what happened with these aspects of the story. I didn't feel any closure.
The MCs relationship is all over the place. They hate each other, they love each other, they just want to bone each other. Back and forth, we go and it just would... not... end. Their arrangement 'ended' over and over only to keep going on and on.
This book also reminded me why I am very careful when selecting new adult titles. Like some of the stories don't exist in the real world. Suspension of disbelief is highly recommended. Additionally, the characters are horrible decision makers, usually handling their problems with substance abuse or violence. It was very disappointing to see a MMC use his fists on people so much in this story considering he was physically abused by his father.
Lastly, I was uncomfortable with the plus sized rep in this. I know a lot of readers may find the FMC relatable, but I'm not sure it was handled in the best way. It was also a major theme of the book that just sort of... dropped away.
That said, I think 3 stars is fair. I didn't hate the experience, nor would I try to dissuade anyone else to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
mya_love's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Car accident, and Death of parent