The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
briochebun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Medical content, Bullying, Violence, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Sexism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual harassment and Blood
literally_mint's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
rosereadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Addiction, Bullying, Mental illness, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Domestic abuse, Torture, Sexual content, and Vomit
mxcopmy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
When I picked up this book, it had to meet a few conditions: first, it had to be light, basically like a pallet cleanser for my mind during this stressful exam period. Secondly, it had to be long and thirdly, of course, it had to be something that made me feel like I was being sucked away from my reality for a while. On all these points, the book definitely scored all its points! It was super easy to read and quite compelling for me. It was definitely a book where you didn't have to think too much which made it fairly smooth. All the side characters were also super nice to read about! I genuinely felt like I created a bond with all the characters which made me want to read more about them. The romance was also a slow-burn which (everyone by now I think knows by my previous reviews) I love and therefore would pick up a romance. This book was 'all about feelings' and actually had little to nothing to do with the dirty way which made me enjoy the book extra. I often feel that 'smut' books get milked out. It was nice to read a light-hearted (except for some themes! Check out some TWs for sure!) book for a while. So definitely plus points for this!
On the other hand, this book was definitely not a pallet cleanser for my vocabulary. In fact, it was a bit... putrid. I know that when I read books like this, I have to realise that it's usually with super cringe language and that toxic masculinity (in my eyes!!!) often transcends it. I thought I was going to be able to flip that switch, but unfortunately I couldn't. For a very long time, this made me dislike reading Johnny's pieces. As the story progressed, his personality did start to turn around a bit & I started to grow sympathy for him more and more anyway... but that doesn't take away from the fact that for at least half of the time, the story came in poorly and so with this one, not all the pieces were really enjoyable for me. To expand on this, I think some parts were very misogynistic, what I absolutely dislike in a book.
What was also slightly disappointing for me was the often repetitive scenes in the book. Many things came across as unoriginal as a result. For instance, the casual romantic scenes of standing in the rain did occur at least 3 times. Or when Shannon says sorry for the millionth time or when Johnny randomly brings her home with his car for the 4000th time. This then left me a bit with reading hunger. Because of this (referring to my first sentence), this book could easily be shortened or the writer could try to use more original things to fill those gaps.
With this, I hope perhaps the 2nd book is better, because I will read that one as it was the 'perfect' book for me to read during my study breaks. The book ended with a huge cliffhanger, so in conclusion, I am hugely curious to see how this continues!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
eva27's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Addiction, Gore, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
pageafter_paige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Both characters have strengths and weaknesses that balance each other out and had me rooting for them the whole time. Not only did I love Shannon, like the river, and Johnny, but I enjoyed all the size characters too! Gibsie, Joey, Claire, even Lizzie proved to be lovable. I was initially intimidated by the page count and find size but I found myself able to fly through chunks when I made sure to dedicate time! Overall such a cute high school sports romance I will certainly be continuing!
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcoholism, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Addiction, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, and Grief
jairehrn_'s review against another edition
I honestly liked the flow of this book, and i like the characters. But i just cannot push through with the age gap. Sure, she’s 16 for half of the book, but damn he had thoughts of wanting to fuck her knowing damn well she’s 15! as a 15 year old, this is very uncomfortable to read. And she was literally described almost as a child!!! 5 flat who is skinny and really small????? And he’s gigantic???? Literally no. 😭
I also don’t like how the men are so misogynistic going around calling women “whores”. And that one school staff getting with teenage boys? Hell nah.
I really wanted to finish this book because some parts are intriguing (was looking forward to how things will end with Shannon and her family), but I can’t put up with it anymore. I have already put myself in enough discomfort by reading half of the book.
I also can’t believe that only a few people mentioned those problems ^^ I expected so much, really disappointing and sad tbh. 🥲
Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Vomit, Addiction, Bullying, Infidelity, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
luciadreams'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? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying
andeng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Abandonment, Medical content, Medical trauma, Bullying, Pregnancy, Violence, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Vomit, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
alannahberkeley'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
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Vomit, Child abuse, Violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, and Cursing
Moderate: Rape