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dragonlilly's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
This book was entertaining enough and I generally enjoyed Matt's character, and the dynamic between the twins and them learning to understand each other a little bit more. I didn't really care about the other friends except for Warren, who was a bit more interesting and talked more, possibly because he is one of the main characters in the first book in this standalone series of books. Over time however, I started enjoying Lane's character less and less, which I feel a little bad for because she has anxiety and PTSD and it is affecting her comfortability with relationships, but this became the main 'conflict' of the book and it put me off a bit.
There were other scenes I kind of wasn't convinced by as well. On the other hand, I was quite convinced by Elizabeth's reasons for marrying Philip because she did not want the same fate as her mother who suffered greatly. Lane's own difficulty with her relationship with Matt makes some sense too, but I was also confused by it, because she clearly knew they both liked one another a lot, and they really were basically dating, but I guess her aversion was to the label because a label would make the relationship more concrete. So, I guess the logic is that if the relationship is set in stone, if Matt were to die, then breaking that stone up would tear up Lane as well. I get it. But somehow, I just wasn't convinced, because they really were just a couple. I guess it has to do with more of Lane's past other than what happened to her father, but the overall conflict really annoyed me, and made me feel really badly for Matt and so I really didn't enjoy that.
A huge positive within the story is how great Matt and Lane's chemistry was - that felt extremely realistic, relatable, and made a lot of sense because they were already friends. (Their great chemistry and somewhat good understanding of one another is maybe also why I wasn't super convinced by the conflict though.)
There were other scenes I kind of wasn't convinced by as well. On the other hand, I was quite convinced by Elizabeth's reasons for marrying Philip because she did not want the same fate as her mother who suffered greatly. Lane's own difficulty with her relationship with Matt makes some sense too, but I was also confused by it, because she clearly knew they both liked one another a lot, and they really were basically dating, but I guess her aversion was to the label because a label would make the relationship more concrete. So, I guess the logic is that if the relationship is set in stone, if Matt were to die, then breaking that stone up would tear up Lane as well. I get it. But somehow, I just wasn't convinced, because they really were just a couple. I guess it has to do with more of Lane's past other than what happened to her father, but the overall conflict really annoyed me, and made me feel really badly for Matt and so I really didn't enjoy that.
A huge positive within the story is how great Matt and Lane's chemistry was - that felt extremely realistic, relatable, and made a lot of sense because they were already friends. (Their great chemistry and somewhat good understanding of one another is maybe also why I wasn't super convinced by the conflict though.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
keayra_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
“Obviously. Fuck that Guy. Nobody puts Kathy in a Corner”
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This was a great story covering the grief of losing someone, even if it happened over 10 years ago. I feel like grief is never really represented in this way and it’s lovely to see Hannah write Lane’s character so well. Hannah did a wonderful representation of what it’s like to live with anxiety, and how there is never really a ‘fix’. I truly fell in love with both Matt and Lane
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This was a great story covering the grief of losing someone, even if it happened over 10 years ago. I feel like grief is never really represented in this way and it’s lovely to see Hannah write Lane’s character so well. Hannah did a wonderful representation of what it’s like to live with anxiety, and how there is never really a ‘fix’. I truly fell in love with both Matt and Lane
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
The anxiety representation hit close to home for me. Also accepting love that you don't feel you deserve. Again with HBY's other books, there are gaps that would benefit from being filled in, while this too had them, some of it settled better for me. Parts felt real while others didn't seem reasonable. I would have loved dual POV, seeing as the MMC had a lot of love to give, seeing that side would have been nice, but we can't ask for too much. I definitely prefer friends to lovers vs enemies to lovers. Maybe because the relationship is softer? The tension in the middle was wishy-washy, but you always know there will be a HEA. My review might seem harsh for the rating; I did love many aspects of it, the warmth, the love, the growth, the banter, it all worked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Infertility, and Classism
bookscatsandtats's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
edey_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Very sweet characters and good representation of mental health issues. My main qualm is that several problems were really skimmed over at the end to kind of “tie up” the plot more neatly. Otherwise, an uplifting emotional read for sure!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Infertility
faraway_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.25
It pains me to know I will never be loved like this
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
thebruce's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Infertility, and Racism
suse_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
Incredible. I practically inhaled this book within two days and loved it so much I even sat through the half time/not quite third act breakup. Lane and Matt are incredibly adorable and lovable characters that are so easy to identify with in any way, shape or form. I also appreciate the author for not putting a child into the equation so I didn’t have to take a star off my rating
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
mels_reading_log's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Okay Matt may be my new favorite book boyfriend!! This friends to lovers romance is just so sweet how they bond through him helping her make a school bus into a tiny house and they get closer to each other. Not only am I picturing Matt as a younger Jason Mamoa, but he is just so kind and loving and I want to move in with his adorable family! Lane is also cool, haha.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent