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oceanwriter's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
I don't know how I'm feeling about this one. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't like it either.
Georgie finds herself back home and reevaluating her life. Having spent a life of people pleasing, she's ready to start figuring out her own wants and needs after rediscovering a 'friendfic' she wrote as a teenager. An old high school acquaintance, Levi, helps her along on her journey of self-discovery.
The concept of this book is wonderful. I had really high hopes. Unfortunately, it felt like a strange mishmash of genres. The main plot felt like it wanted to be literary, but it was not written in a literary style. The romance plot felt like it wanted to be a romcom, but it wasn't comedic. While I liked the Georgie/Levi pairing, I grew bored of them quickly. I also found some of their romance scenes far too graphic for my taste. Disappointing overall, but ultimately comes down to a matter of preference and wrong assumptions of what the book was going to be.
Georgie finds herself back home and reevaluating her life. Having spent a life of people pleasing, she's ready to start figuring out her own wants and needs after rediscovering a 'friendfic' she wrote as a teenager. An old high school acquaintance, Levi, helps her along on her journey of self-discovery.
The concept of this book is wonderful. I had really high hopes. Unfortunately, it felt like a strange mishmash of genres. The main plot felt like it wanted to be literary, but it was not written in a literary style. The romance plot felt like it wanted to be a romcom, but it wasn't comedic. While I liked the Georgie/Levi pairing, I grew bored of them quickly. I also found some of their romance scenes far too graphic for my taste. Disappointing overall, but ultimately comes down to a matter of preference and wrong assumptions of what the book was going to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
jessgj's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is so lovely. It feels a bit strange to call a romance book lovely but it is. This is my first Clayborn book and I'm definitely picking up more of her books. My taste in romance runs more dramatic (One could even say chaotic and messy) but this book, y'all.
I'm about the same age as Georgie and Levi so Georgie's confusion and feelings landed a little too close to home. I was also someone who had no idea what I wanted to do or be when I got older. I've seen people my age (Or younger) get married, get divorced or have kids. Meanwhile, I'm just strolling through life, knowing what I didn't want but not knowing what I did want. Wondering if everyone has their lives together. It can be frustrating and lonely and Clayborn's writing really captures that feeling.
This isn't a big, flamboyant book about finding yourself but a soft, comforting, slow burn of finally sitting with your thoughts and feelings. Those moments aren't flashy but god, they feel so triumphant.
Clayborn's writing style is so natural and easy, it's stunning. The slow reveal of Levi's past worked so well because it almost feels like you already knew it. The scenes with the natural and familiar back and front between Bel and Georgie or the settled quirkiness of Georgie's parents were just so good. I have read so many other books trying to do the same thing and it can feel flat or sitcom-ish but this? Clayborn shines. (As a writer, I both want her to teach me her ways and cry about how I'm never going to be that good, lol)
Also, as a reader, one of my pet peeves is characters (Read: Writers) using outdated pop culture reference/slang. No matter how good the book is, it will always be jarring when a 25-year-old character makes a reference to something like Matlock. Thankfully, Clayborn knows her stuff and I was spared. Her references to Twilight and the Jonas brothers landed with the perfect level of nostalgia and embarrassment.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say this is a slow burn of a book. Not just with the romance (Although that too) but the pacing. It took me about to get really get into the groove and get attached to Georgie and Levi. I mostly stuck around for Hank the dog. I cannot stress enough how much I love Hank. He is the best boi, TEAM HANK 5EVER!!!
I give this 4.5 stars. Highly recommend it if you need a slower, gentler read that packs a big emotional punch.
Trigger warning: drug use, offscreen drug abuse, offscreen violence, parental abuse, offscreen death of parent
This book is so lovely. It feels a bit strange to call a romance book lovely but it is. This is my first Clayborn book and I'm definitely picking up more of her books. My taste in romance runs more dramatic (One could even say chaotic and messy) but this book, y'all.
I'm about the same age as Georgie and Levi so Georgie's confusion and feelings landed a little too close to home. I was also someone who had no idea what I wanted to do or be when I got older. I've seen people my age (Or younger) get married, get divorced or have kids. Meanwhile, I'm just strolling through life, knowing what I didn't want but not knowing what I did want. Wondering if everyone has their lives together. It can be frustrating and lonely and Clayborn's writing really captures that feeling.
This isn't a big, flamboyant book about finding yourself but a soft, comforting, slow burn of finally sitting with your thoughts and feelings. Those moments aren't flashy but god, they feel so triumphant.
Clayborn's writing style is so natural and easy, it's stunning. The slow reveal of Levi's past worked so well because it almost feels like you already knew it. The scenes with the natural and familiar back and front between Bel and Georgie or the settled quirkiness of Georgie's parents were just so good. I have read so many other books trying to do the same thing and it can feel flat or sitcom-ish but this? Clayborn shines. (As a writer, I both want her to teach me her ways and cry about how I'm never going to be that good, lol)
Also, as a reader, one of my pet peeves is characters (Read: Writers) using outdated pop culture reference/slang. No matter how good the book is, it will always be jarring when a 25-year-old character makes a reference to something like Matlock. Thankfully, Clayborn knows her stuff and I was spared. Her references to Twilight and the Jonas brothers landed with the perfect level of nostalgia and embarrassment.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say this is a slow burn of a book. Not just with the romance (Although that too) but the pacing. It took me about to get really get into the groove and get attached to Georgie and Levi. I mostly stuck around for Hank the dog. I cannot stress enough how much I love Hank. He is the best boi, TEAM HANK 5EVER!!!
I give this 4.5 stars. Highly recommend it if you need a slower, gentler read that packs a big emotional punch.
Trigger warning: drug use, offscreen drug abuse, offscreen violence, parental abuse, offscreen death of parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Abandonment
mairead_parade's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
Totally loved this. Clayborn is so good at using tropes and archetypes in a way that’s deeply grounded in her characters rather than a shortcut to communicate something to the readers. I kept seeing ghosts of lazier versions of this book as I read - one where Georgie deludes herself into thinking completing her high school “fic” will itself solve all her problems, or where she spends time focused on Evan and pretending not to have feelings for Levi - that would have pulled conflict from characters not being honest with themselves or each other. Instead, the MCs get together relatively early on without a lot of fuss and then spend most of the book learning how to be better versions of themselves and support each other. I love a grumpy/sunshine, but especially when the grump is a man it can sometimes veer patronizing or indulgent toward the sunshine half. Here, part of Levi’s growth is trying to learn from Georgie how to find more joy for himself, which I really appreciated. Also, I love a good dog character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction and Forced institutionalization
sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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? It's complicated
Adored this book. Will need to marinate on a review, because I read this book in less than a day (would say one sitting, but I'm too easily distracted.)
But I do love the messiness that is an expensive Georgie, and this is also very much a Levi book.
Plus Lark's name is dropped at the very end. Could this mean we are closer to a story for her? Am I currently thinking Lark and Evan for no reason at all? Yes, yes I am
But I do love the messiness that is an expensive Georgie, and this is also very much a Levi book.
Plus
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really loved this book! It’s the first one I’ve read by Kate Clayborn and I absolutely loved the two main characters. Going on Georgie’s journey to figure herself out was really satisfying, and Levi is such a sweetheart who deserves all the good things!!!! And Hank! Definitely would recommend! Have the tissues ready though, I cried so much reading this on the plane!
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Pregnancy