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saber77's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ashlynkcraig's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 ⭐️ Okay, so I had a few major problems with this book. The first one I have to address is I listened to the audiobook and the narrator for Kristen was TERRIBLE. She did these weird voices that sounded like she was trying to make herself sound cool and dragged out the end of the sentences in a way that was so obnoxious it almost ruined the book for me. At 2x speed it was almost tolerable, but I think her voice made me more annoyed with Kristen’s character than I was already. I would suggest if you’re going to try to read it, find a physical or digital copy and find a different audiobook.
Next, Kristen is an obnoxious character. The “I’m not like other girls” trope feels so played out at this point. She also, like many of Jimenez’s other female characters, decides without having any conversations with the love interest that she’s not good enough for some reason and then making them both suffer unnecessarily. So much of the plot could be solved by her just… talking to him, and at this point, if that’s the only thing that’s driving the narrative forward, it feels lazy. I get it, there are plenty of reasons these characters don’t want to talk about the things that they perceive as their flaws, but at this point it feels beyond drawn out and redundant. And I know, I know, where’s the drama in good communication, but I just want these authors to be a little more creative here. Is that too much to ask?
Next, Kristen is an obnoxious character. The “I’m not like other girls” trope feels so played out at this point. She also, like many of Jimenez’s other female characters, decides without having any conversations with the love interest that she’s not good enough for some reason and then making them both suffer unnecessarily. So much of the plot could be solved by her just… talking to him, and at this point, if that’s the only thing that’s driving the narrative forward, it feels lazy. I get it, there are plenty of reasons these characters don’t want to talk about the things that they perceive as their flaws, but at this point it feels beyond drawn out and redundant. And I know, I know, where’s the drama in good communication, but I just want these authors to be a little more creative here. Is that too much to ask?
saracata's review against another edition
emotional
2.0
Emm so much happened in this book. Looking back, I don’t remember why I even started reading it. If you like sudden changes with traumatic events, this is the book.
witch_of_bywater's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Nope. No. No no no no no no no. Nope.
This is both a spoiler and a huge trigger warning:Death of a loved one. Trauma of losing them just before the wedding.
This is definitely NOT a lighthearted or hopeful read. Read at your own risk ⚠️
This is both a spoiler and a huge trigger warning:
This is definitely NOT a lighthearted or hopeful read. Read at your own risk ⚠️
brisievenpiper's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Grief, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Medical content, and War
leahcmorris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
toriholzwarth44's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't love this group of characters as much as those in her other trilogy. Wasn't feeling how Kristen was "not like other girls" because she enjoyed burgers and didn’t have to wear makeup. It seemed outdated and cringey. I also hated how she was emotionally involved with multiple men and all of the miscommunication. Josh annoyed me too by being stereotypically manly most of the time. The big event at the end pushing the two main characters together seemed unnecessary. I am interested in reading the next book though to see major events/themes from this one play out.
vdaank's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe 3.5. It felt a little drawn out with the main character’s “big secret” and idk if it deserved that much of the storyline?
sunshineinpages's review against another edition
2.0
This book had me conflicted the whole time.
I loved the chemistry between Kristen and Josh, and I loved how strong Kristen is. My issues are:
1) Josh constantly describing Kristen as “not like other girls”. He explains that girls are always indecisive about what they want to eat, but she always knows. Girls are always full of drama, but not her. Stereotypes, much?
2) While I wouldn’t exactly describe Josh as toxic, his macho vibe did bother me. He’s a fireman and ex-marine. When he finds out, not long after meeting her, that someone tried breaking into her place he immediately gets overprotective and says he’ll be spending the nights in her guest room until her boyfriend returns from deployment, and angrily tells her he’s going home to get his gun, and she’s coming with him because he won’t leave her alone. This is supposed to come off as sweet, but frankly it was just too much too soon. He could’ve calmly talked to her instead, given suggestions such as how she could stay at her friend’s until the culprit is caught, who knows, or even maybe, just maybe, have some faith that she’s not some weak defenceless creature who can’t survive without a big, strong man bu her side??
3) Her best friend’s fiance dying - WHY? Completely ruined the book for me, using death and the complete and total breakdown of her best friend as a way for her to see the value of love. Just no. Plus, it didn’t even have the desired effect, since they only actually got together after he compiled that list.
4) Her getting pregnant at the end was a complete cop out. I understand that women with infertility issues could still potentially get pregnant, but if the whole point was to empower women so they don’t see themselves as worthless if they’re not able to birth children, why do you go and get her pregnant?? It has the complete opposite effect, and instead of allowing women to accept, sends the message that if you just keep pushing through you might have a miracle at some point. This book could have been great, and could have empowered women to choose whether they want to have children (for themselves, not for society), and could’ve given a great plug for adoption!
5) His whole “I need to get her to marry me today, as soon as possible because I know that she believes in marriage and if we’re married she’ll honour it. She might have more health issues and if we’re not married she’ll want to leave me so I don’t need to deal with them so I need to lock her down quickly.” - hell NO! I know this is supposed to come off as cute and that he’s doing it because he knows her and it’s self-sacrifice and all that but it’s 2020, there’s this thing called CHOICE. Just no. Not okay.
TL;DR great chemistry between the characters, but book tries to come off as feminist when in fact it’s the complete opposite.
I loved the chemistry between Kristen and Josh, and I loved how strong Kristen is. My issues are:
1) Josh constantly describing Kristen as “not like other girls”. He explains that girls are always indecisive about what they want to eat, but she always knows. Girls are always full of drama, but not her. Stereotypes, much?
2) While I wouldn’t exactly describe Josh as toxic, his macho vibe did bother me. He’s a fireman and ex-marine. When he finds out, not long after meeting her, that someone tried breaking into her place he immediately gets overprotective and says he’ll be spending the nights in her guest room until her boyfriend returns from deployment, and angrily tells her he’s going home to get his gun, and she’s coming with him because he won’t leave her alone. This is supposed to come off as sweet, but frankly it was just too much too soon. He could’ve calmly talked to her instead, given suggestions such as how she could stay at her friend’s until the culprit is caught, who knows, or even maybe, just maybe, have some faith that she’s not some weak defenceless creature who can’t survive without a big, strong man bu her side??
3) Her best friend’s fiance dying - WHY? Completely ruined the book for me, using death and the complete and total breakdown of her best friend as a way for her to see the value of love. Just no. Plus, it didn’t even have the desired effect, since they only actually got together after he compiled that list.
4) Her getting pregnant at the end was a complete cop out. I understand that women with infertility issues could still potentially get pregnant, but if the whole point was to empower women so they don’t see themselves as worthless if they’re not able to birth children, why do you go and get her pregnant?? It has the complete opposite effect, and instead of allowing women to accept, sends the message that if you just keep pushing through you might have a miracle at some point. This book could have been great, and could have empowered women to choose whether they want to have children (for themselves, not for society), and could’ve given a great plug for adoption!
5) His whole “I need to get her to marry me today, as soon as possible because I know that she believes in marriage and if we’re married she’ll honour it. She might have more health issues and if we’re not married she’ll want to leave me so I don’t need to deal with them so I need to lock her down quickly.” - hell NO! I know this is supposed to come off as cute and that he’s doing it because he knows her and it’s self-sacrifice and all that but it’s 2020, there’s this thing called CHOICE. Just no. Not okay.
TL;DR great chemistry between the characters, but book tries to come off as feminist when in fact it’s the complete opposite.