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bella613's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked the characters, and the premise, but I did put it down a couple times because it didn’t hold me captive. The narrator was good and easy to listen to.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Medical content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death
lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Tom is such a button and I loved him and Darcy together. They both had to fight deeply ingrained insecurities to allow themselves their HEA. These types of stories are my favourite to read.
I would even be down to read Jamie and Truly’s story (loved her but liked him a lot less. I would enjoy seeing him taken down a few pegs).
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Medical content
frantically's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.25
Darcy feels like Thorne read all the criticism she got on Lucy and, in one alcohol-fueled night, created Darcy Bennett. Don't get me wrong – Darcy's fun. But she doesn't feel real, not like Lucy did.
This book is mainly one thing and that is weird. Really strange. It feels like so many different genres all at once. We've got romance (trying to be a rom-com? Who knows.), loooads of litfic vibes and a weird furry/urban fantasy sideplot.
There were so many small parts of this I loved. It took me some time to get into it but I think the middle section was truly the strongest. Yes, Darcy and Tom are both dickheads but I was still rooting for them.
Still, I could already tell their relationship wasn't quite...healthy. There are multiple instances of them describing, in graphic detail, how they'd kill the other's love interests. It became very weird very quickly.
Then – there was the fireplace scene. God, the fucking fireplace scene. That's when I decided to stop reading because I just knew I couldn't love Tom again afterwards. He does the one thing Darcy asks him not to do and when she gets upset (as is her right!) he lets out his sob story. Fuck you Tom and fuck your sob story.
I did really love the chronic illness rep – as a fellow very messy patient who realised she'd run out of her meds a few days ago and it's now Sunday, while I was listening to this, I could very much relate.
The THG epilogue had me squealing, though. Seems like the perfect time for a reread...
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Violence, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sara_med_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Alcohol
alisonreadsitall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.25 stars ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
<Spoiler>
Like I understand that she lived a pretty traumatic life with her heart condition, but that’s no excuse to say whatever is on your mind at any given point and constantly leave people on a whim.
I really enjoyed the ending and appreciate the medical representation in Darcy, but I just could not get over her annoying personality. 🫣 </Spoiler>
Tropes:
Brothers Best friend
Opposites Attract
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical content
whackettreading's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
lisa_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There were still some weird dynamics that you have to overlook in order to enjoy this book though.
Tom Vakeska, the love interest is a childhood friend and is throughout the book referred to as "adopted" or "the third sibling". That made me a bit uncomfortable tbh but other than that there dynamic was quite cute.
What made me like this book was that two of my favourite tropes are in it:
1. absolute adoration / being 100% in love with no other option + lots and lots of pining
2. they know each other so so well including their worst flaws and still they love each other.
Also there is the sibling relationship between Darcy and her brother which was so heartwarming. I mean they fight a lot and I sometimes thought they genuinely hate each other but when they show how much they each care about the other person it's so adorable!
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
srah's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Chronic illness
glacial_erratic848's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Any cute romantic tropes are vastly overshadowed by the characters' self-hate and the toxic, controlling relationship the male twin has over the female twin and their best friend. None of this is acknowledged or dealt with.
Apart from the bad writing and shallow characters, I can't believe the author would romanticize emotional abuse and try to sell it as a romance novel. Very poorly done.
Graphic: Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Alcohol