anovelglimpse's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
The whole idea of an 18-year-old high school senior and a 34-year-old man getting married and moving in together, even if it's just for health insurance reasons, really pushes my boundaries. That being said, Cole mostly made this book work for me. I loved the friendship and emotional connection between Skylar and Lucky. I am happy those things came first before they truly fell for each other in a romantic way. There was a whole lot of ups and downs with their relationship, but the ending made it worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Bullying, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Mental illness
ellie_isreading's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.25
every girl’s dream: to marry a man for his health insurance and eventually fall in love and get dicked down on the regular
look up full list of TWs prior to reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
bookgrrl's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Child abuse
thefantasybookaddict's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Sexual content, Vomit, Addiction, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child abuse
claravek's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship
shector1's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
bbygirl21's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This was a very interesting story. It was heavier than I thought it was gonna be, and it definitely could've been shorter, but I really enjoyed it.
I found the characters frustrating at times, but I still find them likable for the most part.
There was a conversation between Skyler's boss and Jude where I think she should've stayed out of Jude and Skyler's business and left well enough alone. It definitely would've saved a lot of trouble and doubt she caused on top of the insecurities both Jude and Skyler already had about being together. Yes I think it's good she was concerned for Skyler seeing as there is an age difference, but her timing was way off. I feel she was only hurting Skyler indirectly, not protecting her, by putting even more doubt in Lucky's head.
Skyler's parents were very frustrating perhaps even angering. They obviously didn't care much for her in the long run. While Skyler's Dad was trying in the end, I felt he had too much of an opinion on Skyler's relationship with Jude when he left Skyler in a horrible living situation and wasn't there for most of her life to have any say on what she does or who she decides to be with. But I do gotta give him credit for trying to salvage his relationship with his daughter.
I love how the author addressed mental illness with Skyler's mom's hoarding problem and Skyler's eating disorder and her anxiety and depression. As much as I didn't like Skyler's mom, her hoarding problem is a mental illness and I thought it was portrayed very well. Along with Skyler's daily struggle with her mental illnesses too. Skyler's mental illnesses weren't brushed off as you see in most books you see her struggle and do the normal back and forth that comes with recovery.
The book did have a really sweet ending though. And while I was left with quite a few questions at the end, I didn't feel like they were too important to the story that I was left unsatisfied by not having them answered.
Overall this was a very good book.
I found the characters frustrating at times, but I still find them likable for the most part.
There was a conversation between Skyler's boss and Jude where I think she should've stayed out of Jude and Skyler's business and left well enough alone. It definitely would've saved a lot of trouble and doubt she caused on top of the insecurities both Jude and Skyler already had about being together. Yes I think it's good she was concerned for Skyler seeing as there is an age difference, but her timing was way off. I feel she was only hurting Skyler indirectly, not protecting her, by putting even more doubt in Lucky's head.
Skyler's parents were very frustrating perhaps even angering. They obviously didn't care much for her in the long run. While Skyler's Dad was trying in the end, I felt he had too much of an opinion on Skyler's relationship with Jude when he left Skyler in a horrible living situation and wasn't there for most of her life to have any say on what she does or who she decides to be with. But I do gotta give him credit for trying to salvage his relationship with his daughter.
I love how the author addressed mental illness with Skyler's mom's hoarding problem and Skyler's eating disorder and her anxiety and depression. As much as I didn't like Skyler's mom, her hoarding problem is a mental illness and I thought it was portrayed very well. Along with Skyler's daily struggle with her mental illnesses too. Skyler's mental illnesses weren't brushed off as you see in most books you see her struggle and do the normal back and forth that comes with recovery.
The book did have a really sweet ending though. And while I was left with quite a few questions at the end, I didn't feel like they were too important to the story that I was left unsatisfied by not having them answered.
Overall this was a very good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Addiction
ximena88's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Medical content
strugglingbookaholic's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
Things I liked:
- The characters—I loved Skylar and I also loved Lucky like 90% of the time lol (see dislikes)
- The chemistry—like Aunt Suzy, I was absolutely shipping Skylar and Lucky and I whole-heartedly wanted them to be happy together
- The tropes—I loved that this centered around a marriage of convenience; this was only my second age gap romance but I’ve enjoyed both of them
- The writing was gripping and relatable but not flowery—I was hooked from the beginning and it was so easy to get lost in
- The mental illness representation—I thought the discussions surrounding Skylar’s eating disorder and her mother’s hoarding were really eye-opening
Things I disliked:
- Maybe it’s my fault for gravitating towards books with the fake dating or marriage of convenience tropes when they almost always involve miscommunication and/or denial, but this book had a bit too much of that. I LOVED the first half where we got to know the characters and watch their relationship grow, but the second half of the book was a little frustrating. Even though I just finished this less than two hours ago, I don’t think I can clearly remember how the main conflict played out because the situation was so convoluted.
Spoiler
They both obviously really wanted to be together, but they just kept getting in their own way. They’d take turns having doubts and insecurities and just not saying what they were feeling. - While I really loved Lucky most of the time, there were a couple of moments where I was grossed out by his inner dialogue or actions. I suspect that the author included those aspects to play up his “bad boy” image and “troubled past” but I just could’ve done without them.
Spoiler
The sex scene after his sister tells him she’s been fine without him all along was not it for me. I didn’t like how demanding and disrespectful he was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, and Addiction
Moderate: Child abuse
cocpop_reads's review
emotional
sad
slow-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
Jude and Skylar, y’all had me hooked from the start.
And tearing my hair out by the end!!
I absolutely loved this book and the character growth we got to see in both Jude and Skylar.
Although in my perfect world , Jude would have gotten to beat up Skylar’s bullies’ parents.
So well written and had me hooked. I’m not normally a long book reader, like 350 is a lot for my poor brain. But I really tore through this book.
For spiciness , I’d say 2.5/5. Because there’s not many scenes and they’re all very vanilla, which was fitting for this couple. For an age-gap relationship, reading the sex scenes didn’t feel naughty.
And tearing my hair out by the end!!
I absolutely loved this book and the character growth we got to see in both Jude and Skylar.
Although in my perfect world , Jude would have gotten to beat up Skylar’s bullies’ parents.
So well written and had me hooked. I’m not normally a long book reader, like 350 is a lot for my poor brain. But I really tore through this book.
For spiciness , I’d say 2.5/5. Because there’s not many scenes and they’re all very vanilla, which was fitting for this couple. For an age-gap relationship, reading the sex scenes didn’t feel naughty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Child abuse