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
skudiklier's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
5.0
I love this book so much. Something about the way it was written is perfect to me--it's one of those books that spoils you for other books because you wish it could always be like this. I love everything about how the relationship unfolds, how things are revealed, the small moments and little unspoken things that become so big when you're in Corinne's head with her. I love the way Morrow doesn't just barrel past the awkward words writing sex scenes requires, and addresses the lack of good words for everything, how it's hard to talk about in real life and in writing. I didn't really know the genre or premise going in so I was a little stressed the whole book that there wouldn't be a HEA, because once I got about halfway through I didn't even want to check the StoryGraph to see if it's really a romance or not. I stayed up way too late reading this book and was just so invested in it. I definitely want to read more by Rebecca Morrow.
Edit: I read this book because John Green recommended it as a "super steamy evangelical romance," but I forgot about that when I finally got around to reading it (I just marked it as "John Green rec"). Anyway I just wanted to say....he's right lmao that's a good description.
Edit: I read this book because John Green recommended it as a "super steamy evangelical romance," but I forgot about that when I finally got around to reading it (I just marked it as "John Green rec"). Anyway I just wanted to say....he's right lmao that's a good description.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Fatphobia, Cursing, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Xenophobia
Minor: Mental illness, Islamophobia, Vomit, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Abortion
shutupiamreading's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
- 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
This is such a beautiful, tender, sweet but heartbreaking story. I loved how much complexity there is to these characters and storylines and am so happy I didn’t skip this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
maregred's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Blood and Pregnancy
dalek_caan's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
I found the book to be a let down. As someone who has experienced religious trauma, I was expecting to relate to and feel for the characters in this novel. Instead I was met with blank protagonists, and an extremely confusing writing style. Most of the time, I couldn't tell if this piece was written in first person limited or omniscient because it kept flipping between the two without any warning. Additionally, there were a number of asides in parentheses that were entirely out of place. Not to mention that the writing style overall was dry and repetitive. The author kept using the same descriptors for the characters as well as repeatedly body shaming them even though their physical appearance had no significant relevance to the overall point of the story. I feel that some of the issues in the writing in regards to dryness and repetition may have been worth looking past for an interesting story, but not even that was present. If a more interesting romance had been the focus, that may have been better, but there were too many elements of forgiveness and reunification with the church. It always bothers me when the expectation is for people to forgive the people who hurt them, which I strongly feel this book was encouraging. The main character kept saying "I don't owe him anything" and yet would break her own boundaries just to fall back into her trauma, not just for the love interest but for her family. In conclusion I stopped reading and definitely would not recommend this book.
Update: in an effort to finish reading unfinished books on my shelf, I finished reading this book. Wasn't worth it, I stand by my previous review.
Update: in an effort to finish reading unfinished books on my shelf, I finished reading this book. Wasn't worth it, I stand by my previous review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse
2kimi2furious's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
jezzy8's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Immature writing at times.Spoiler
The use of parenthesis was off and I felt could have helped have a less obvious ending but disappointed me.abookwanderer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
If you’re a reader who has no experience with the Christian faith, you may pick up this book and think you’ve stumbled into a fantasy book, an exaggerated tale of a cult-like church determined to enforce their strict moral code. While I wasn’t personally raised in a fundamentalist Christian environment, there are aspects of the novel that I did endure as someone raised in the church. The imbalance of “rules” enforced on males versus females, such as the clothes women were expected not to wear. The exclusion of anyone who didn’t fit the “mold”. For an institution that preaches about light, the church can be a very dark and lonely place.
From the first page, I was engrossed in this mesmerizing love story. I couldn’t look away. I connected with Corinne immediately and she became such a living, breathing person. I was proud of her, cheering her on, heartbroken in the moments when she was hurt and happy in the moments when she found peace and understanding.
From the first page, I was engrossed in this mesmerizing love story. I couldn’t look away. I connected with Corinne immediately and she became such a living, breathing person. I was proud of her, cheering her on, heartbroken in the moments when she was hurt and happy in the moments when she found peace and understanding.
"'I know you think of what we did as a sin and a mistake,’ she said. ‘And maybe we’ll do other things that’ll feel like sin to you. But I’m not a sin. I’m not a temptation. I’m a person. And if you love me, you’ll treat me that way. You’ll treat me like a blessing.'"
There is a definite Romeo and Juliet vibe to this book. Enoch is immersed in the church that Corinne was cast out of, but despite belonging to different worlds, they cannot deny or ignore their feelings. The love they feel for one another is stronger than anything else. And while it’s a torturous experience, it’s also very hopeful.
The second half of this novel focuses on Corinne and Enoch as adults and it becomes sexually explicit and graphic. I think it’s done tastefully, that it beautifully conveys the struggle Corinne and Enoch endure to find common ground. But I know some readers will not agree. Personally, I appreciated that Corinne has a healthier understanding of her sexuality. It’s refreshing and inspiring.
Corinne is an eye-opening and fascinating look at how deep the roots of faith can grow, corrupting how a young person sees the world, their families, and themselves. I know it’s a book I will be thinking about for a long time, and may even be among my favorites for the year.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Check out my review and playlist at A Book Wanderer
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Homophobia
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