chris_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, and Racism
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, and Gun violence
maddiewagner's review
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Self harm
texashippie's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Chronic illness
booksalacarte's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Contemporary romance
Second chance romance
Flashbacks
Silent disability rep
Witty banter
Generational curses
Flawed MC’s
Messy love
Great side characters
This was such an interesting, non-typical romance story. Very Romeo & Juliet- if they hadn’t died and instead met up 15 years later. I really liked the idea.
The MC’s were so interestingly flawed. I liked each of them individually. Eva was holding her own as a mom, a writer who was afraid of being in a rut and wanting to branch out.. all while keeping a silent disability a secret. Shane was perusing what he needed to solidify his place in sobriety. Recognizing his downfalls, slip ups and looking at them head on.
I found the magnetic inevitability of the romantic tension to be SO well done. The MC’s chemistry was on another level.
The side characters were fun, but the POV shifting to them would have been better if there had been MORE… or none at all. It was disorienting to have a chapter or less in a non-MC POV, then never have them revisited. And to have one of them be a catalyst in the miscommunication where a text message would have alleviated the situation completely… and then completely done away with in such a way. It felt trite.
There were a LOT of pop culture references. Not my favorite to have to read. I always worry about it putting a very specific time stamp on literature.
With black writers as MC’s, the discussion around black excellence and a celebration of black culture was very prominent throughout the book. And it was fun having it openly talked about and pointed out in a writer pannel between black authors.
Overall, I did love this book.
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Self harm
carlyjoann's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
tays_books'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
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Addiction, Self harm, Chronic illness, and Drug use
Moderate: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Child death, and Child abuse
Minor: Grief, Suicide, Gun violence, Vomit, and Sexual assault
bergha1998's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Second Chance Romance, Trauma, 2 1/2 🔥
“You push stuff away that isn’t safe and obvious, Mom, but love isn’t safe and obvious. Love is risky. Take the risk, woman.”
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Suicide attempt
fleur____'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Blood, Addiction, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Drug use
Moderate: Abandonment, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Child abuse
maria132's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Blood and Child abuse
leahisdudish's review against another edition
4.0
disability rep.
bitter sweet, hilarious, precocious and one of the best opening pages o’ve ever read
Graphic: Death of parent, Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Drug use, Grief, Child abuse, Death, and Self harm