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emilyrpf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
jedbird's review
- 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
4.0
I liked this, but not as much as I'd liked the story of David and Murdo, the main characters of the first three books in the series. Certainly having three times as many books to get to know them made a difference. Still, this was a lovely story.
pvbobrien's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
theangstierthebetter's review
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
2.5
It took a long time to finish it. My favorite read when it comes to longing, heartbreaks, and unrequited love, it's the Friends to Lovers, especially if they are a slow burn. But the book relied heavily on the flashback to the point of not having a breakthrough of their now-selfs and how they were going to work things out. Imo, the flashbacks were also lacking to show why they fell for each other and why they keep loving each other despite all the struggles and pain.
I love the pining and angst, but the power/emotional imbalances were too much and they were never on even ground. While the reasons why he couldn't reprocicate are pretty understandable, I didn't feel that the MC was worth that effort, when he hadn't done anything to win or deserve it. Besides, it was way too far off the pages when they got together, and wasn't feeling much at that point
I love the pining and angst, but the power/emotional imbalances were too much and they were never on even ground. While the reasons why he couldn't reprocicate are pretty understandable, I didn't feel that the MC was worth that effort, when he hadn't done anything to win or deserve it. Besides, it was way too far off the pages when they got together, and wasn't feeling much at that point
jfreud's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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
3.5
suflet's review
5.0
I looooooved this sweet, romantic, lovely story. I can't recommend this story highly enough. I read it like a year before reading the other Enlightenment stories; it's a great standalone.
amazingchester's review
3.5
Made me cry in some places.
It was a bit annoying with the switching between times, one of the last switch’s I had a bit of trouble remembering if it was ‘then’ or ‘now’
Would have loved an epilogue with them living their life happily.
It was a bit annoying with the switching between times, one of the last switch’s I had a bit of trouble remembering if it was ‘then’ or ‘now’
Would have loved an epilogue with them living their life happily.
loishojmark's review
4.0
Four big stars.
Friends to Lovers... interrupted by unhappiness, loneliness, and unfriendliness. Not enemies, but heartbroken and frustrated men that couldn't have want they wanted, or didn't realise what they actually need to live a whole life.
It can sometimes be tiresome to read all the back and forth, all the repeated, frustrating angst, and you might wish you could shake the main characters by their balls and make them realise what they actually feel, and make them stop walking round in circles and hurt each other again and again and again. Sometimes you will feel frustrated with the authors that traverse around in the same groove on hundreds of pages. It can feel like the never ending story. But somehow Joanna Chambers avoids making the repeating heartbreaks become boring, and while you feel the protagonists' endless hopelessness and longing, you do not lose patience with the history. You will keep the hope... And believe in the transformational and healing power of love.
“I don’t understand why you’re insisting on making this so bloody difficult. Why can’t we just be friends, the way we’ve always been? Why do you have to ruin everything with this—this ridiculous, childish devotion! Don’t you see that it’s absurd? Christ, you’re not a boy any longer—you need to accept that you can’t always have what you want. None of us can. That’s just how life is.”
Friends to Lovers... interrupted by unhappiness, loneliness, and unfriendliness. Not enemies, but heartbroken and frustrated men that couldn't have want they wanted, or didn't realise what they actually need to live a whole life.
It can sometimes be tiresome to read all the back and forth, all the repeated, frustrating angst, and you might wish you could shake the main characters by their balls and make them realise what they actually feel, and make them stop walking round in circles and hurt each other again and again and again. Sometimes you will feel frustrated with the authors that traverse around in the same groove on hundreds of pages. It can feel like the never ending story. But somehow Joanna Chambers avoids making the repeating heartbreaks become boring, and while you feel the protagonists' endless hopelessness and longing, you do not lose patience with the history. You will keep the hope... And believe in the transformational and healing power of love.
napkins's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I wanted to like this more then the Enlightened series, but in the end, the length of the book mixed with the style worked against it, and we end up with a decent, but just decent work.
In terms of a getting-back-together story, I would've preferred more focus on the present and the future and not quite so many flashbacks; we got the point after a while. I was also looking forward to their professions coming through in their personalities a little more - Regency and Victorian science is so fun to play with - but it comes in flashes and really never again.
Iain and James doe have chemistry, and Chambers' writing is great in that regard, but as much as I like Iain and James better, the main series is a better investment of time.
In terms of a getting-back-together story, I would've preferred more focus on the present and the future and not quite so many flashbacks; we got the point after a while. I was also looking forward to their professions coming through in their personalities a little more - Regency and Victorian science is so fun to play with - but it comes in flashes and really never again.
Iain and James doe have chemistry, and Chambers' writing is great in that regard, but as much as I like Iain and James better, the main series is a better investment of time.