evenstr's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
bookobsessed_emily's review
5.0
Book Review : 5/5
This book caught my eye as I was walking by and I decided to purchase it in about 5 seconds because something about it was telling me that this was a story I had to read. I very rarely ignore that gift feeling. It has led me to some of my favorite reads at the most random occasions.
Some would say this book is about religion, some would say about romance, some church, some control. I can’t say that I disagree with any of those, but they truly don’t encapsulate this novel.
In this novel we find Corinne and Enoch. The former, a perfect example of the exemplary church boy, the latter.. not so much. After she’s cast out of the fundamentalist church, Corinne rebuilds her life. Only run into the very thing that ruined it, Enoch Miller. It’s been 15 years. One thing remains constant, “Corinne would never be over him, but that was all right. She was used to that.”
This book hit on so many things that I experienced growing up (I was not fundamentalist in any sense, but the control, the judgement, the guilt, the subsequent deconstruction of self I had to do afterwards was very familiar). In many ways, these are things many individuals face when they decide to leave, in any sense and I found it heartbreaking, honest, and validating.
Corinne and Enoch are two very imperfect characters. And their imperfect romance was heart-wrenching and beautiful. Flawed and honorable. At times, I felt like I was reading about strangers I had known my entire life. The prose was blunt, sarcastic, and it ripped my heart straight out of my body most of the time. Truly, my favorite kind of fiction. Second-chance romance is not a trope I read often but this one was just WOW. no other words suffice. The angst, the yearning, the miscommunications, the pining, the secret glances, the absolute SHOCK when they see the other again. *chefs kiss*
I love the emphasis of the burden and blame placed on females in the church. The double standards. The control exerted on girls even while they’re children.
“You make me sound like an ordeal. Like I was something sent to tempt you. I was just a kid.” The discussions on gender roles, sexism, female pleasure, body confidence, and societal standards were intimate and refreshing.
This is an adult book and features adult themes and sexual situations.
Featuring:
- Forbidden Romance
- Second Chance Romance
- Yearning, pining, all the angst
- A healthy amount of spice
This book caught my eye as I was walking by and I decided to purchase it in about 5 seconds because something about it was telling me that this was a story I had to read. I very rarely ignore that gift feeling. It has led me to some of my favorite reads at the most random occasions.
Some would say this book is about religion, some would say about romance, some church, some control. I can’t say that I disagree with any of those, but they truly don’t encapsulate this novel.
In this novel we find Corinne and Enoch. The former, a perfect example of the exemplary church boy, the latter.. not so much. After she’s cast out of the fundamentalist church, Corinne rebuilds her life. Only run into the very thing that ruined it, Enoch Miller. It’s been 15 years. One thing remains constant, “Corinne would never be over him, but that was all right. She was used to that.”
This book hit on so many things that I experienced growing up (I was not fundamentalist in any sense, but the control, the judgement, the guilt, the subsequent deconstruction of self I had to do afterwards was very familiar). In many ways, these are things many individuals face when they decide to leave, in any sense and I found it heartbreaking, honest, and validating.
Corinne and Enoch are two very imperfect characters. And their imperfect romance was heart-wrenching and beautiful. Flawed and honorable. At times, I felt like I was reading about strangers I had known my entire life. The prose was blunt, sarcastic, and it ripped my heart straight out of my body most of the time. Truly, my favorite kind of fiction. Second-chance romance is not a trope I read often but this one was just WOW. no other words suffice. The angst, the yearning, the miscommunications, the pining, the secret glances, the absolute SHOCK when they see the other again. *chefs kiss*
I love the emphasis of the burden and blame placed on females in the church. The double standards. The control exerted on girls even while they’re children.
“You make me sound like an ordeal. Like I was something sent to tempt you. I was just a kid.” The discussions on gender roles, sexism, female pleasure, body confidence, and societal standards were intimate and refreshing.
This is an adult book and features adult themes and sexual situations.
Featuring:
- Forbidden Romance
- Second Chance Romance
- Yearning, pining, all the angst
- A healthy amount of spice
littlespookycute's review
4.0
I really only read this cause if the controversy but I actually really enjoyed it! Not everyone will like this or understand it and that’s okay but I thought our main characters were complex people with a lot of religious hang ups and they felt very real to me. It was definitely frustrating at times reading them basically argue in circles but it had a happy ending.
rrickman33's review
4.0
Religious guilt and purity culture affect you your whole life and this book hit on that perfectly. Even until the end they never really got away from it. This won’t be for everyone but I super enjoyed it and was surprised that a huge chunk of it is about sex.
beana7227beana's review
3.0
I try to make sure (most times) I’m as respectful as possible when writing certain reviews because the amount of time and work it takes to write an entire book, and the courage to share something personal like your writing, is scary enough without people being cruel in return. That being said, I do think this novel was a missed opportunity.
The beginning of the story hooked me, and while I did care for Corinne and Enoch until the end, it did begin to feel a bit redundant. I didn’t need quite so many drawn out intimacy scenes or quite so many conversations where Corinne is repeatedly expressing her love for Enoch. I would have instead loved to learn more about Corinne and Enoch, more about Corinne’s family members. Maybe more about Shannon and Natalie as well. And while the ending was very sweet, it seemed a bit too perfect. Enoch and Corinne have been treated quite terribly by the people who are supposed to love them and care for them but at the last minute these people are in support of them? It felt forced.
I think this book could have been spectacular and didn’t quite meet the mark but I respect the effort that went into it.
Oh and I would bet money that Rainbow Rowell was the true author of this.
The beginning of the story hooked me, and while I did care for Corinne and Enoch until the end, it did begin to feel a bit redundant. I didn’t need quite so many drawn out intimacy scenes or quite so many conversations where Corinne is repeatedly expressing her love for Enoch. I would have instead loved to learn more about Corinne and Enoch, more about Corinne’s family members. Maybe more about Shannon and Natalie as well. And while the ending was very sweet, it seemed a bit too perfect. Enoch and Corinne have been treated quite terribly by the people who are supposed to love them and care for them but at the last minute these people are in support of them? It felt forced.
I think this book could have been spectacular and didn’t quite meet the mark but I respect the effort that went into it.
Oh and I would bet money that Rainbow Rowell was the true author of this.
jessidee's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ashwolff's review
3.0
I want to know who this is! I want to know who writes characters with my sense of humor and lesbian side characters who experienced religious comphet. I want to knowwwwwwwwww.
amirez1043's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexism
Minor: Abortion, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
missmarkiemark's review
2.0
This was meh. I didn’t really like any of the characters, and what I found slightly interesting in the religious aspect was washed out by the terrible romance of the main characters.
babyfacedoldsoul's review
4.0
I am not ready to post publically about my feelings on this book so far.
All I will say right now is I am also convinced the author is Rainbow Rowell.
And that more romance novels need positive portrayals of larger bodied men.
All I will say right now is I am also convinced the author is Rainbow Rowell.
And that more romance novels need positive portrayals of larger bodied men.