Reviews tagging 'Blood'

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

17 reviews

sdupont's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

This one is for the Hallmark Christmas girlies who also like a side of smut! While this one was not as strong as Merry Little Meet Cute, I did enjoy reading this sequel. I like Kallum and Winnie, definitely two characters you root for. The spice delivered but I felt like I needed a little more for the characters when it came to talking about themselves and their feelings. The two conflicts in the timeline detracted from the growth arc in my opinion. If the book was a little shorter and had stronger communication I think it would have been a home run. I still recommend this for a festive read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Pregnancy

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.25

There are no good variables to work with when the answer to the equation is other peoples' idea of perfection.

Another one where I liked the previous book in the series, liked the main and side characters, liked much of what was being addressed, but still didn't love the story or execution. Le sigh.

There's no age when people stop learning about their bodies.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury

A note about the sexual content: features a sexual awakening and admirably frank language and scenes of exploration as a character deprograms from the learned shame and inhibitions of purity culture Other content notes: in addition to the unplanned pregnancy trope, there's a

miscarriage scare

that opens the door for

toxic religious parents

to try to regain a foothold in a main characters life

annahamburger's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury

arthur_ant18's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy

Minor: Blood

sarahsbookss's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

uranaishi's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

tanzipanzi's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This was a fun book! Cosy Christmas vibes, steamy romance, and empowering characters overcoming their challenges.

It was great to see an exploration of some more complex themes (particularly around shame, narcolepsy, going against people's old perceptions and the influence of religion), although it would've been nice to see these all explored a bit further.

I have not read the other book in the series but I will definitely be adding it to my list.

Thank you to HarperCollins Australia, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Pregnancy