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lunar_moths's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
wardenred's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Okay. Sure. The Ghoul of Wisteria House is in your bed. No big deal.
For a romcom, this book sure made me sad a lot, but not in a bad way. It was just the sheer number of lovely, flawed characters all needing hugs. The romance honestly was among the least interesting parts of the story for me because I was so invested in other subplots. Like Delilah’s “scapegoat and golden child“ relationship with Astrid and how Isabel fucked them both up with her parenting. Or Claire’s relationship with her daughter and her ex and the co-parenting challenges they faced. Or the mystery of why Claire and Iris couldn’t have just *talked* to Astrid about their concerns, because seriously, why all the plotting and worrying? Why not just sit your best friend down and go, “Hey, sweetie, if this swiftly developing new relationship is what you truly want, we’re happy for you. But you haven’t really been acting like yourself, and here’s a list of red flags that worry us—can we maybe talk about it?“
Honestly, the lack of actual communication was a huge thing throughout the book. I liked that by the end of the story it was somewhat addressed and acknowledged, specifically by Delilah and Astrid in relation to their relationship and, in general, to the results of the trauma they’ve endured growing up. But really, there’s not a single prominent character who is capable of just talking things out. I think the ones most up to the task were Claire’s pre-teen daughter and Delilah’s one-night-stand from super early in the book (when she made a brief reappearance).
Despite all the miscommunications, I did like the dynamic between Delilah and Claire a lot, especially as their relationship progressed. There was this interesting juxtaposition between the people they actually were and the people they remembered each other as, and Delilah in particular, in all her interactions with Claire, was constantly forced to confront and reassess certain aspects of her past. I did wish they were on a bit more equal ground. Because Claire, for all of her struggles, had a support network, while Delilah, outside of gradually fitting in with Claire and Iris, was absolutely on her own. No old high school friends happy to reconnect and be in her corner, no close New York acquaintances just a phone call away. It honestly hurt at times how lonely she was.
Speaking of, I’m not sure I loved how her arc resolved in basically
Those complaints aside, I did enjoy the overall experience and found all the characters deeply compelling. I’ll definitely continue the series with the hopes of seeing more of Delilah and Claire through other people’s eyes, learning more about Iris who’s my favorite (and I think has her own book?), Josh who’s pretty interesting, and hey, Astrid and Delilah both still have completely unresolved issues with Isabel that I want to see addressed!
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity
nicoleduguay's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
crystalisreading's review against another edition
- 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
Iris acted like a bully when they were kids and is still making people uncomfortable and being rude even as an adult. It was difficult for me to see her portrayed as a good friend, with no criticism of or consequences for her behalf. even physical assault seems to be okay if she's the one who does it.
Also these characters are freaking alcoholics! There is not a task aside from their jobs that they can do without something alcoholic to drink in their hands. it's nice to see women be able to drink without criticism, but this level of constant, automatic alcohol consumption is seriously unhealthy. Therapy would work better and be easier on their livers.
And as far as representation goes, the Sapphic rep is great, but that's it. This is a glaringly white small town (perhaps accurate in a former sundown state but still annoying), full of conventionally attractive, vigorously healthy ablebodied cis white folks. Unrealistic and grosss.
Part of me wants to read the next 2 books, but I don't know if I can get past the drinking and representation issues, not to mention Iris. So probably not. Back to more diverse romances
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy
Death by aneurysmshannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
abby_can_read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was delightful. I had a wonderful time reading this book. I liked the characters and the relationships.
Bonus: It was set in the Pacific Northwest.
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer and Blood
katbotelho's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
also as i read more of this authors books i have to raise my eyebrow at her inability to call characters lesbians,, like it’s very clear which characters are bisexual bc they mention such all the time but the characters that are supposed to be lesbians (aka Deliliah Green herself) never actually say the word lesbian ?? it’s always queer which is not the same thing at all,, lesbian isn’t a bad word why can’t we just say it ?
also the relationship dynamics in these books just be lacking diversity,, why is is always a white bisexual woman and a white lesbian woman who is unwilling to call herself a lesbian ? why can’t the love interest be a poc ? why can’t the love interest be a she/they or a nonbinary lesbian ? why can’t it be a bi/bi pairing or a bi/pan pairing or any other of the multitudes of queer pairings ? its just all feeling very the same
that being said i will be reading iris kelly doesnt date just to see if the third book surprises me
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer and Infidelity
reddeddy's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Incest, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism
nightworldlove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story itself had me hooked almost instantly and it stayed that way. I really enjoyed the alternating POVs, which really made sense in this case and added a lot. All the characters have a distinct personality, no mary sues here!
There's some smut scenes that were incredibly good and I thoroughly enjoyed those too. The emotions came across so vividly, it was lovely <3 The narrator did a phenomenal job too!
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Abandonment
khymihr's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity