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turnthepages_nl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- 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
3.5
The story behind how the characters come together is unique and I really liked the concept. The main characters each had their struggles and though that can somehow make things feel forced, it felt natural in how they supported each other and showed their vulnerabilities. I felt the relationship came together naturally. The found family aspect was a nice touch. The writing was accessible, but did lack some depth in places where it was "telling, not showing" I wish there weren't time jumps, I think the gaps left were important ones to fill. I appreciate that the conflict wasn't the typical normally seen in romances. I think dual POV would have also added great depth. It was a heartwarming read that touched on healing, forgiveness and acceptance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Classism
callenmecait's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
I really loved the storyline to start with. I liked that the catalyst for the story was CPS based and how the trials and tribulations of social work affect people at every level, and how there’s a wide range of outcomes from the “same” approach. The characters were lifelike, realistic, relatable. They made me laugh, cry. I loved the accurate portrayal of being an exhausted parent, and the found family trope, and the romance was very cute. There was one point where I felt it was a little forced, but I chalked that up to me reading it really fast and just not sitting with the story and the characters enough when they were first getting interested in each other. I’m really excited to read more books by her!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment
haley49's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Child abuse
gracescanlon's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this!
My favorite things:
1. Deaf representation!
2. Warren is a very giving lover, and has the sweetest and also the dirtiest mouth on him. Total hottie!
3.I was PRAYING the third-act conflict wouldn’t be either a breakup or Connie relapsing. Thank you, Ms. Bonam-Young, for taking a different tack!!!
A few things kept this from a higher score for me:
1. I wanted Chloe to be more verbally expressive to Warren about the nice things she thought about him. Not at his level (but SWOON!), but I felt like Warren deserved a little more verbal affection.
2. Chloe didn’t pick up on one of the things Warren said soon after moving in and repeated later in a more romantic context:“I don’t want to be your friend.” The second time he said it made his original intent obvious. Chloe didn’t make the connection, which was a little disappointing.
3. Whyyyyyy were we never shown Rachel’s visit to the apartment and evaluation of Chloe’s circumstances???? What a missed opportunity for some higher-stakes tension!
4. It was pretty insta-lovey, which on one hand makes sense (Chloe and Warren share v similar pasts in addition to their present similar situations), but on the other was a bit concerning, given both their traumas. Their repeated statements of wanting “forever” when they’ve known each other five months at most worried me.
5. Warren does a bit of a 180, personality-wise. The book is in first-person POV (Chloe’s POV), so it’s understandable that she might not have picked up on Warren’s more concealed positive attributes, but Chloe doesn’t comment on either her surprise or reflection with her new understandings of who Warren is. This and my second list point made Chloe seem entirely unobservant, which was frustrating.
TL;DR — Fast-paced and mildly steamy, but also heartwarming. I loved the recurrent themes of healing and forgiveness, as well as opening up to and being vulnerable with loved ones for deeper bonds.
My favorite things:
1. Deaf representation!
2.
3.
A few things kept this from a higher score for me:
1. I wanted Chloe to be more verbally expressive to Warren about the nice things she thought about him. Not at his level (but SWOON!), but I felt like Warren deserved a little more verbal affection.
2. Chloe didn’t pick up on one of the things Warren said soon after moving in and repeated later in a more romantic context:
3. Whyyyyyy were we never shown Rachel’s visit to the apartment and evaluation of Chloe’s circumstances???? What a missed opportunity for some higher-stakes tension!
4. It was pretty insta-lovey, which on one hand makes sense (Chloe and Warren share v similar pasts in addition to their present similar situations), but on the other was a bit concerning, given both their traumas. Their repeated statements of wanting “forever” when they’ve known each other five months at most worried me.
5. Warren does a bit of a 180, personality-wise. The book is in first-person POV (Chloe’s POV), so it’s understandable that she might not have picked up on Warren’s more concealed positive attributes, but Chloe doesn’t comment on either her surprise or reflection with her new understandings of who Warren is. This and my second list point made Chloe seem entirely unobservant, which was frustrating.
TL;DR — Fast-paced and mildly steamy, but also heartwarming. I loved the recurrent themes of healing and forgiveness, as well as opening up to and being vulnerable with loved ones for deeper bonds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
riminipowell's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.75
When people-pleasing Chloe learns that her birth mother has unexpectedly had another baby, she doesn’t hesitate to become a kinship carer, but at 24 and freshly graduated, she doesn’t meet CPS’ financial requirements… she has no choice but to join their new initiative where two prospective guardians join households to qualify. Enter Warren, a mechanic’s apprentice who is attempting to gain custody of his deaf fifteen-year-old brother.
I loved how this book started out, how two former foster kids were doing everything in their power to prevent their siblings from living the life that they did. Chloe and Warren’s companionship was nice to read. They both individually had a lot of demons but were a lot similar than they realised. There was some tension and the chemistry was written well UNTIL…. once it got more intimate and Chloe and Warren became an item, I found myself cringing. Perhaps it was just the way things were written, but it felt like I was reading two different books past the half way mark.
I loved how this book started out, how two former foster kids were doing everything in their power to prevent their siblings from living the life that they did. Chloe and Warren’s companionship was nice to read. They both individually had a lot of demons but were a lot similar than they realised. There was some tension and the chemistry was written well UNTIL…. once it got more intimate and Chloe and Warren became an item, I found myself cringing. Perhaps it was just the way things were written, but it felt like I was reading two different books past the half way mark.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Abandonment
0live_tr33's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
greysun69's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
4.5⭐️ I loved this!! I don’t have children and don’t plan on adopting any but this book was heartwarming as hell.
The character development was beautiful.
Two people learning to adult while taking on the responsibility of becoming insta-parents. I loved the forgiveness aspect, the anxiety of the main character surrounding forming relationships.
The side characters were likable, even the birth mother I had sympathy for.
The conversations surrounding how the CPS system can function was so good.
The ROMANCE!! Slow burn, reluctant partners, Found family. The delayed gratification and the tension building was soo good. It took like 60% of the book for anything sexual to happen and I was okay with it because I was having a good time. The chemistry burned me up then after all that waiting the sex scenes had the nerve to be AMAZING.
The reverse alphabet? Yas!
Last but not least, NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!
The thing that cost this book the .5 star was because I wish it spent more time discussing Warren’s outburst. I wanted there to be more recovery story for the mother and the adopted mom. Definitely recommending!!
The character development was beautiful.
Two people learning to adult while taking on the responsibility of becoming insta-parents. I loved the forgiveness aspect, the anxiety of the main character surrounding forming relationships.
The side characters were likable, even the birth mother I had sympathy for.
The conversations surrounding how the CPS system can function was so good.
The ROMANCE!! Slow burn, reluctant partners, Found family. The delayed gratification and the tension building was soo good. It took like 60% of the book for anything sexual to happen and I was okay with it because I was having a good time. The chemistry burned me up then after all that waiting the sex scenes had the nerve to be AMAZING.
The reverse alphabet? Yas!
Last but not least, NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!
The thing that cost this book the .5 star was because I wish it spent more time discussing Warren’s outburst. I wanted there to be more recovery story for the mother and the adopted mom. Definitely recommending!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Medical content, and Abandonment
libriinks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment
mrsherrera's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
Minor: Drug use and Death of parent