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clairebartholomew549's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
I bawled through this book. It might have been because I was on a plane (I read once that we're more likely to cry on planes - something about feeling detached from our normal lives and feeling kind of private and thoughtful) and because I was on the tail end of my period (lol that I treat Goodreads like my diary, oops), but every Abby book hits me hard. Abby always handles delicate subject matter with such deftness and compassion, and the way characters handle grief and dread and fear always feels grounded in reality and complicated in the way it would actually play out in life. I was initially wary of the way the characters were talking about pregnancy and addiction, but as usual Abby came through with her trademark empathy and introspection and made me feel so deeply for everyone involved. This book really got to me with its depictions of how families can always heal and figure out how to be there for each other, no matter how bad it's been for years and generations, and of how no day is guaranteed. I was obsessed with both Vanessa and Adrian and was really rooting for both of them, and the ending truly gave me chills. This was one of my favorites of Abby's for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
fieldofsummer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
If you already love her books you’ll love this one, if you don’t love her books but love uplifting stories with witty characters, a friends to lovers romance with independent character growth and a touch of family struggles written as if the author as personally lived through these struggles, this book of for you. Vanessa is a strong woman who knows her limits and faults and Adrian is a man who knows he needs to work on things and has some of the best written boundaries and respect for women I’ve ever seen in a book. And if your worried about the fostering element like I was, just take the leap you won’t regret it.
But, as always with her books she covers real life issues so please check the content warnings.
But, as always with her books she covers real life issues so please check the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
suzelarson's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
tina_lou_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A sweet and poignant novel my pinky complaint is with the “big reveal” at the end. I feel like it cheapened the whole story a little
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Terminal illness
catherineatspam's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Dementia
whoiscelena's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Honestly disappointed in this book. The first spicy scene in the book was just so cringey. Also Adrian could’ve spent more time watching Vanessa’s videos to find out about her ALS possibility. Like I thought he knew already and when he found out for real I was surprised too. He’s a dumb boy. Idk he was likable in the previous book but I didn’t like him in this. And for the book to end with her not having ALS? Like I guess happy ever after but also ??? Just annoyed with this book. The first one in the series was the best and my favorite tbh
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
edhyndman's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content
theotterside's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Terminal illness
sariereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
booklvrkat's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
“If you spend your life dwelling on the worst possible thing, when it finally happens, you’ve lived it twice.”
Vanessa Price, travel & fun influencer has a huge online following, but the basis for her account is that she wants people to remember to have the fun. To put your face to the sun, to drink that wine, to live life to the fullest. When her youngest sister leaves her with her infant daughter and fails to return, she switches up her world to embrace caretaking. Enter Adrian Copeland, grumpy neighbor (but not really), he becomes The Baby Tamer, and their lives start to intertwine.
The story is as beautiful, fun, and poignant as you would expect an Abby Jimenez story to be. Fast paced, filled with as many humorous moments as there are emotional, and a story I would read again. OH! There is a senior rescue dog too.
“I enjoy things as soon as possible. I burn the expensive candle, I use the fancy rose-shaped soap, and I drink the wine, even if the only thing I’m celebrating is the fact that it’s Tuesday.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse