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sea_sea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I thought this was going to be a cute romcom, but it was so much sadder T-T…
The book was still absolutely amazing!
The book was still absolutely amazing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
gigi_jodie's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
4.0
This book has been on my to read list for so long and you know how they say 'don't judge a book by it's cover' i did... and the cover but also blurb kept me from reading it. BUT then I read The Girls I've Been by Sharpe and that was incredible. So I was like, this book has to be good too then...
And it was, so good. I knew I was going to be frustrated and kept on my toes, i mean the title says it all. Like damn how do you go all those years with that TENSION!!
But the way they care for each other is so so palpable. And what I loved as well is the complicated and messy family relationship between Penny and her mum. It hurt to read honestly, especially because some of her mum's characteristics are familiar. But that just made it so well written, that it made me uncomfortable at times.
I only wished the book was longer, and we got to see them be happy for a little bit.
And maybe have her mum figure some shit out.
P.s. bless Anna and grams
And it was, so good. I knew I was going to be frustrated and kept on my toes, i mean the title says it all. Like damn how do you go all those years with that TENSION!!
But the way they care for each other is so so palpable. And what I loved as well is the complicated and messy family relationship between Penny and her mum. It hurt to read honestly, especially because some of her mum's characteristics are familiar. But that just made it so well written, that it made me uncomfortable at times.
I only wished the book was longer, and we got to see them be happy for a little bit.
And maybe have her mum figure some shit out.
P.s. bless Anna and grams
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, and Death of parent
arcticmelting's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Omg this was such a good read! It was funny since I read it in the timeperiod the book was set lol
The book was so much more than I thought it would be. I honestly kinda avoided reading it for a while since I thought it was predictable. I started it going in for an easy summer read. However, this made me feel so much more. I really enjoyed this book.
I do wish it gave more time to close the story. Though I understand why it ended this way. This particular story is finished, but if only there was a sequel...
The book was so much more than I thought it would be. I honestly kinda avoided reading it for a while since I thought it was predictable. I started it going in for an easy summer read. However, this made me feel so much more. I really enjoyed this book.
I do wish it gave more time to close the story. Though I understand why it ended this way. This particular story is finished, but if only there was a sequel...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
jordanez's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Minor: Biphobia, Cancer, and Abandonment
mfernandes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
melio22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
sbennett28's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Just a really sweet gay romance, but also looking at family relationships, grief and healing. I just loved this ugh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Difficult parent / child relationshipslithoerary_atria's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i have 4% charge left on my phone so i'll try to be brief.
please check the trigger warnings for this one. this is not really a cute summery romcom!! there's ableism, character death, graphic scene of character death & injury, grief from losing a loved one, bad parenting, ptsd, major surgery of a loved one etc. go into this book taking your mental health into account!!
now if the formalities are over with, onto my review:
THIS BOOK WAS MADE FOR ME!!! like handcrafted & thought for me idcidcidc. i just, god, the characters are SOOOOO human and flawed and i was crying so many times & my herat was in my throat because god, this felt tooooo real. tess sharpe didn't hold back AT ALL. like ok here's the thing, this is the PERFECT™ love story for me. the way the entirety of their relationship is shown ughhh it's sooo *screams & starts chewing on walls*.
the scenes where they are comforting each other but can't say what they feel for each other while DESPERATELY pining for each other is just TOP TIER!! THE YEARNING, THE PINING, THE EMOTIONS, THE WAY THESE BITCHES FUCKING TOUCH EACH OTHER & HUG EACH OTHER (SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT PENNY ALLOWS TO TOUCH HER HANDS!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS SHIT!!!!) BUT STILL CANNOT SAY WHAT THEY THINK BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES & THERE'S TOO MUCH HISTORY ON THEIR SIDES — i'm telling you once again this book was written for me actually idec about anyone else.
the romance aside, this is also such a brilliant depiction of grief and complex familial relationships and it hurts to see both penny & lottie hurt each other because they're both grieving and neither of them can't help themselves and there's so much anger and love in here, both of them at the exact same time, they both wrong each other in so many ways but it's sooo realistically portrayed. it's all just done so so so well. it's so dysfunctional and it was just portrayed sooo well (also penny's last thoughts about how she wants to have a relationship with her mom but it seems growing apart is inevitable and how we are left hanging at the end — it's so so so so so messy yet satisfying in its own way).
idk i have SOOOO many thoughts about this book — the portrayal of mother-daughter relationships (and oh the contrast between penny & tate and lottie & anna killed me!!! it was so cruel but that is life), the romance, the fucking prose at some specific moments — all of them *chef's kiss*
idk girl just read it. this took me a month to read ('cause exams & college & life & mental health & global issues stuff) but i'm sooo glad i did read this!!! and my phone will switch off at any moment. so parting words: READ IT!!!
please check the trigger warnings for this one. this is not really a cute summery romcom!! there's ableism, character death, graphic scene of character death & injury, grief from losing a loved one, bad parenting, ptsd, major surgery of a loved one etc. go into this book taking your mental health into account!!
now if the formalities are over with, onto my review:
THIS BOOK WAS MADE FOR ME!!! like handcrafted & thought for me idcidcidc. i just, god, the characters are SOOOOO human and flawed and i was crying so many times & my herat was in my throat because god, this felt tooooo real. tess sharpe didn't hold back AT ALL. like ok here's the thing, this is the PERFECT™ love story for me. the way the entirety of their relationship is shown ughhh it's sooo *screams & starts chewing on walls*.
the scenes where they are comforting each other but can't say what they feel for each other while DESPERATELY pining for each other is just TOP TIER!! THE YEARNING, THE PINING, THE EMOTIONS, THE WAY THESE BITCHES FUCKING TOUCH EACH OTHER & HUG EACH OTHER (SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT PENNY ALLOWS TO TOUCH HER HANDS!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS SHIT!!!!) BUT STILL CANNOT SAY WHAT THEY THINK BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES & THERE'S TOO MUCH HISTORY ON THEIR SIDES — i'm telling you once again this book was written for me actually idec about anyone else.
the romance aside, this is also such a brilliant depiction of grief and complex familial relationships and it hurts to see both penny & lottie hurt each other because they're both grieving and neither of them can't help themselves and there's so much anger and love in here, both of them at the exact same time, they both wrong each other in so many ways but it's sooo realistically portrayed. it's all just done so so so well. it's so dysfunctional and it was just portrayed sooo well (also penny's last thoughts about how she wants to have a relationship with her mom but it seems growing apart is inevitable and how we are left hanging at the end — it's so so so so so messy yet satisfying in its own way).
idk i have SOOOO many thoughts about this book — the portrayal of mother-daughter relationships (and oh the contrast between penny & tate and lottie & anna killed me!!! it was so cruel but that is life), the romance, the fucking prose at some specific moments — all of them *chef's kiss*
idk girl just read it. this took me a month to read ('cause exams & college & life & mental health & global issues stuff) but i'm sooo glad i did read this!!! and my phone will switch off at any moment. so parting words: READ IT!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Medical content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual harassment
sapphic_alpaca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
alisonchen's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Perhaps I just don’t like this genre, but this book follows fanfic tropes beat-by-beat, which felt repetitive. The main problem is that I didn’t like the characters. Penny is insufferable and Tate is long-suffering; I honestly couldn’t tell why she liked Penny so much. I liked their friends, but side characters can’t make up for an annoying first-person POV. I skim-read through most of the family troubles and traumatic backstory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment