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displacedcactus's review against another edition
emotional
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
Age gap romances aren't normally my thing, but this was just the right amount of messy drama to be a fun change of pace.
I did have a couple of frustrations with the book. Erin, the MILF, felt a bit sketched-in at times. Throughout the book, she's working on trying to get a free clinic launched, but while this idea is mentioned several times, and we see her working on it, the details are so incredibly vague as to why she wants it and what her goal is for it.
And as someone who has never experienced campus life, I had some concerns about Cassie's drinking.We find out pretty early on that Cassie's mother is an alcoholic and drug addict, so it feels weird that only one side character ever addresses Cassie getting sloppy drunk. I know that heavy drinking at parties is a normal college-age thing, but it was so emphasized in the early chapters that I thought this was going to be part of her character arc, when instead her problem drinking mostly resolves itself as her other problems resolve themselves.
On the other hand, one thing I did really like (spoilers for MC's relationship with her own mother):We learn right off the bat that Cassie is not really in touch with her mom, due to her addictions and generally being a bad mom. No one ever judges Cassie for this choice, and there's no forced reconciliation, nor does the mom show up to serve as a villain.
If age-gap romances (between consenting adults), forbidden romances, temporary long-distance, MILFs, college romance, or messy awkwardness are your jam, this book is a pretty decent read, but I don't think it's good enough to recommend if you're neutral or negative towards the tropes.
I did have a couple of frustrations with the book. Erin, the MILF, felt a bit sketched-in at times. Throughout the book, she's working on trying to get a free clinic launched, but while this idea is mentioned several times, and we see her working on it, the details are so incredibly vague as to why she wants it and what her goal is for it.
And as someone who has never experienced campus life, I had some concerns about Cassie's drinking.
On the other hand, one thing I did really like (spoilers for MC's relationship with her own mother):
If age-gap romances (between consenting adults), forbidden romances, temporary long-distance, MILFs, college romance, or messy awkwardness are your jam, this book is a pretty decent read, but I don't think it's good enough to recommend if you're neutral or negative towards the tropes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Biphobia and Drug use