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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
-
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
callenmecait's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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: Death, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infertility and Toxic relationship
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
lilbookbee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
I knew going in that reading this book was probably going to poke at a few of my soft spots. When I sent the description of the book to a couple of my friends, one of them asked me if I had secretly written if and one of them asked me if it was a good idea for me to read it.
As I started it, it almost felt masochistic of me to keep pushing through. Not because it wasn't good (it was very good), but because so much of it hit close to home. The relationships, the FMC, the family stuff, it all felt especially relevant and poignant.
I really did love this book. The relationship growth was so sweet, the smut was deliciously hot, and the plot was interesting. I was excited to read more every time I picked it up. It made me cry a few times, sometimes from genuine personal sorrow, sometimes in a more cathartic way.
Hearing all this, you might wonder why this isn't a 5 star read for me. It was going to be. It got so close.But the absolutely ridiculous DOUBLE PROPOSAL after the two MCs had never officially dated and had been separated for like three months felt SO wrong. I was immediately flabbergasted and confused. I couldn't FATHOM that being a logical choice. It really took me out of how connected I had felt to the FMC. It didn't make sense and I hated the decision.
Overall though, I really loved this book. I will definitely remember it and will be recommending it to friends.
As I started it, it almost felt masochistic of me to keep pushing through. Not because it wasn't good (it was very good), but because so much of it hit close to home. The relationships, the FMC, the family stuff, it all felt especially relevant and poignant.
I really did love this book. The relationship growth was so sweet, the smut was deliciously hot, and the plot was interesting. I was excited to read more every time I picked it up. It made me cry a few times, sometimes from genuine personal sorrow, sometimes in a more cathartic way.
Hearing all this, you might wonder why this isn't a 5 star read for me. It was going to be. It got so close.
Overall though, I really loved this book. I will definitely remember it and will be recommending it to friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
shaunashares's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Infertility
spectacles_and_books's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
"Grief... it's really just all the love you want to give the person you've lost. Building up until it hurts... Find somewhere to put the love... or its gonna keep hurting"
A heartfelt friends-to-lovers Romance that explored how to truly accept love that you don't feel you deserve. Lane and Matt's relationship was explored so thoughtfully.
A heartfelt friends-to-lovers Romance that explored how to truly accept love that you don't feel you deserve. Lane and Matt's relationship was explored so thoughtfully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Minor: Biphobia, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
sariereads's review
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
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