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noahhawthorne's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
hillarybowen's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.5
lorna178's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
the_bookish_mirror's review
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.5
pragreads's review against another edition
4.0
oh this was SO good and the freaking plot twist at the end !!!!!!!!! im so glad i stuck around even though i really did not like the first book
silverbear'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
callidoralblack's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
bogwitchreads's review
5.0
Holy shit I loved this one. I mean, I've loved every Cat Sebastian book I've read, and almost every one has topped the one before it (besides You Should Be So Lucky, which is my very favorite and cannot be topped), but man. I loved this book.
By far my favorite thing here is how Sam and the book itself handled Hartley's dislike of being touched (especially speaking as someone who also dislikes being touched, partially, though not entirely, for reasons that are similar enough to Hartley's that it was extremely top of mind for me while I was reading--all of CS's books have resonated for me in some aspects, but man, I connected hard with this one). So much care was taken that it made me want to cry. On a related note, I do not particularly enjoy sex scenes and mostly just skim them for whatever important character details there are, but I'm kind of obsessed with the way they were done here.
I don't know, man. This book kind of fucked me up (in a good way), but it was so soft and lovely and I already want to read it again.
By far my favorite thing here is how Sam and the book itself handled Hartley's dislike of being touched (especially speaking as someone who also dislikes being touched, partially, though not entirely, for reasons that are similar enough to Hartley's that it was extremely top of mind for me while I was reading--all of CS's books have resonated for me in some aspects, but man, I connected hard with this one). So much care was taken that it made me want to cry. On a related note, I do not particularly enjoy sex scenes and mostly just skim them for whatever important character details there are, but I'm kind of obsessed with the way they were done here.
I don't know, man. This book kind of fucked me up (in a good way), but it was so soft and lovely and I already want to read it again.
sjc1992's review
emotional
inspiring
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
4.25
coco_lolo's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Definitely the strongest of the series, which I wasn't expecting, but I really got caught up in this one! I liked the premise of breaking and entering to search for illicit paintings and how this brought Hartley and Sam into contact. Both leads won my sympathy: it was rewarding to see Hartley grow beyond his reputation and accept that his past wasn't his fault, and his ramshackle little family was one of my favorite parts. And Sam was such a great foil to Hartley: calm, steady. The author explored issues of race and class through his vantage point, and while Sam was very much aware of what society expected of him, it was wonderful to see him and his loved ones thriving. The surrounding characters were equally as strong, a balance I'd been missing in the first and third books, and while the ending was oddly rushed, the plot maintained a steady pace throughout.
Definitely the strongest of the series, which I wasn't expecting, but I really got caught up in this one! I liked the premise of breaking and entering to search for illicit paintings and how this brought Hartley and Sam into contact. Both leads won my sympathy: it was rewarding to see Hartley grow beyond his reputation and accept that his past wasn't his fault, and his ramshackle little family was one of my favorite parts. And Sam was such a great foil to Hartley: calm, steady. The author explored issues of race and class through his vantage point, and while Sam was very much aware of what society expected of him, it was wonderful to see him and his loved ones thriving. The surrounding characters were equally as strong, a balance I'd been missing in the first and third books, and while the ending was oddly rushed, the plot maintained a steady pace throughout.
“Maybe you need to get rid of your idea of better. Your boots are better than mine, but they won’t fit my feet. So to hell with better."