notapenguin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Death of parent
discarded_dust_jacket's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
I will never stop saying it: men written by Talia Hibbert are superior. And to be honest, among them, I think Rahul might be my new all-time favorite (and that’s saying something)! The emotional maturity, the kind-heartedness, the overall gentle disposition (that becomes absolutely filthy in the bedroom)? We’re talking green flag after green flag, my friends.
A lot of times, the friends-to-lovers trope is a miss for me, simply because the conflict never seems believable. I just think to myself “ugh, if you’re in love, just get together already, why all the angst? It needn’t be this difficult!” But with this one, I feel like I really did empathize with Jasmine’s reluctance to see what was right in front of her (and then to sabotage it when it could no longer be ignored). I appreciated her character development a lot.
As is always the case, Hibbert’s writing is accessible and enjoyable, I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.
A lot of times, the friends-to-lovers trope is a miss for me, simply because the conflict never seems believable. I just think to myself “ugh, if you’re in love, just get together already, why all the angst? It needn’t be this difficult!” But with this one, I feel like I really did empathize with Jasmine’s reluctance to see what was right in front of her (and then to sabotage it when it could no longer be ignored). I appreciated her character development a lot.
As is always the case, Hibbert’s writing is accessible and enjoyable, I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
rickireadss's review
4.0
did i pick this up because everyone and their momma on booksta is talking about it and its new cover? umm yes and i don't regret it. RAHUL>>>>>> that man was just SO down bad for my girl jasmine and i was here for it all. both of their inner monologues truly hurt my heart at times and damn, i didn't not expect this to get as emotional as it did towards the end?!? my heart was breaking. this didn't really pick up for me until about the 20% mark, but once it picked up, i was all in. also i didn't realize this was apart of series - although i don't think they are interconnected - so i'm going to go read those soon! not my favorite talia book but still really good.
⚠️: alcoholism, death of parent, abandonment, grief, panic attacks/disorders
⚠️: alcoholism, death of parent, abandonment, grief, panic attacks/disorders
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
readsandreality's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Abandonment
kathrynok's review
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
yourbookishbff's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Grief
lujisa's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abandonment
triple_m's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Maybe my expectations were too high because I typically loved forced proximity but I had to force myself to finish this book.
Positives — I really liked Talia Hubert’s writing and the spicy scenes were giving.
Negatives — I don’t particularly like either one of the characters.
Rahul was… fine. He’s nice, but honestly a little pathetic and I think he let Jasmine walk all over him way too much. Also so much of the pressure he puts on himself as the “man of the family” felt dated and gross to me. Jasmine was a mess and left me feeling frustrated. Both character flaws are acknowledged and worked on but I didn’t buy the character development.
Neither are the worst or anything but I was never rooting for them.
Positives — I really liked Talia Hubert’s writing and the spicy scenes were giving.
Negatives — I don’t particularly like either one of the characters.
Rahul was… fine. He’s nice, but honestly a little pathetic and I think he let Jasmine walk all over him way too much. Also so much of the pressure he puts on himself as the “man of the family” felt dated and gross to me. Jasmine was a mess and left me feeling frustrated. Both character flaws are acknowledged and worked on but I didn’t buy the character development.
Neither are the worst or anything but I was never rooting for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Grief
ashleycmms's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
kb33's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I liked the book. I didn’t like Jasmine, because even as just a friend she was kind of shitty and seemed to take advantage of Rahul a lot. In the whole book I can’t remember them doing something that he considered fun, everything was for her. I do love that she realized her issues were holding her back and hurting others, and she went to therapy! 🎉 So few characters go to therapy for issues they can’t solve on their own, and I love that this author embraced that solution.
This easily loses half a star for putting the epilogue under what is essentially a spam paywall. You have to provide and verify your email, and check a box to agree to receive “marketing emails.” Such crap.
This easily loses half a star for putting the epilogue under what is essentially a spam paywall. You have to provide and verify your email, and check a box to agree to receive “marketing emails.” Such crap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Alcohol, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent