The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
dkgreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Blood, Death, Bullying, Kidnapping, Drug use, and Alcohol
nushreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape and Child abuse
Moderate: Ableism
fevalente's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Rape, Gaslighting, Cursing, Ableism, Torture, Stalking, Self harm, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death and Animal death
fevalente's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Blood, Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Gaslighting, Incest, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Alcoholism
theteamsreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Minor: Car accident
jen1804's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Damon has obviously committed a lot of really bad shit and we cannot excuse some of his behaviour, but this book does an excellent job of exploring his past trauma and layering the reasons behind his decisions. It is heartbreaking to read at times, nobody deserves the childhood that he had.
I absolutely adore his and Winter’s story, the secrecy of their earlier relationship when Winter didn’t know who he was, because he was scared she would hate him if he revealed his identity which is heartbreaking, but the scenes were so beautiful - the driving of the car, the motorcycle ride. I also love that they have this back story from when they were kids, with the fountain and the tree house and how it all comes full circle when they’re older.
I really loved the internal struggle between Winter and Damon, with the slow burn enemies to lovers and them finally giving into each other. I think it made it spicier at times too. I love that they are both each other’s downfalls and yet each other’s saviours. Damon’s confession of his feelings toward Winter was so beautiful. And the fucking poem behind her name and then his tattoo of the decaying snowflake, omg send help I am dead. And the note he leaves her in fucking braille. Stop it!
The disability of Winter being blind is really beautifully explored in this book actually and I just loved it so freaking much. The descriptions of her listening to the rain, the snow, chef’s kiss, her feeling her sandpaper markers on the floor so that she can still dance and do what she loves. There’s kind of a story within this story of self acceptance and how Winter loves how her other senses are enhanced, she also doesn’t let it stop her from doing anything. There are definitely times when her blindness is taken advantage of don’t get me wrong, but I loved how Winter had people who were there for her and took care of her, being her eyes for her when she needed.
Add to the story how Damon finally gets his group of friends back and my heart is happy, thank god because by the end of book 2 I was feeling sad for him, he needs them! Though perhaps he defo needed to do more grovelling than he did…
I loved the further layers about Damon and Will’s friendship too. I think the scene of the car underwater and Will essentially having a panic attack as it brought back the trauma of drowning in the first book was really beautifully done too, with him being calmed by both Damon and Winter. And Damon’s inner turmoil about what his friend has been through knowing that he’s responsible.
Overall a really good book with some extremely complex themes. It’s not a 5/5 for me but it gets a well rounded 4.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Ableism, Abandonment, Blood, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Panic attacks/disorders
jlaz_13'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
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Cursing, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Stalking, Blood, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
sydneys_bookshelf's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism
anncatherine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
“If she left me, I'm going to burn the whole fucking world down until I find her.”
“Your body can only feel one pain at a time. Because pain in the body quiets the pain in the head. It feels good, like a kill switch for your brain.”
“Life felt like hell, because we expected it to feel like heaven.”
“And I hated that I’d missed him. I hated that so fucking much. How I still felt the parts about him I loved when I didn’t know it was him I was with. How his arms around me still felt protective and how his whispers reminded me of when I loved the feel of them all over my neck.”
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Drug abuse
anna_m16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol