Scan barcode
khymihr's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Medical content
greatestheights's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Medical content
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
nakole's review
4.0
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฝ ๐ธ๐ฏ ๐๐ฒ๐ท
Next Book 1
By: Hannah Bonam-Young
Contemporary Romance
Paperback
๐ช๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐: 4/5
๐ฎ๐
๐พ๐ธ๐: 2/5
๐
๐๐๐พ๐๐: This book has reinspired me to pick up learning ASL again, I have taken a couple classes but since I graduated I've been slacking so I'm going to get myself to focus on it again.
It's very different concept than any other contemporary romances I have read recently which is really nice. I enjoyed that Chloe, Warren, and Luke do not just have any easy time, because while I have never been nor have I had someone I've been close to been part of the foster/adoption system, I do know that it is a process that takes it's toll and Hannah shows it in this book. How Chloe struggles with her adoptive parents and birth mother, the anxiety that Chloe experiences when she seens it's CPS calling her, Warren's anger issues, Luke being a people pleaser. And those are just a couple of examples and it is really nice to see characters learning to heal rather then meet a partner and everything being fine and dandy right away.
๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐: "I told him that you made it impossible to stay away. That everything about you is pulling me in. I may have refered to you as a whirlpool...as cheesy as that may be. I could resist, try to swim out, try to avoid it-but it would be easier to float. And, for the first time, I'm not scared to."
๐ฏ๐๐๐
๐๐: Disability Rep; Slow Burn; Forced Proximity; Roommates To Lovers; Grumpy Sunshine; Banter; Foster Guardians; Single POV; Roommates; Deaf Rep
๐ฏ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐: Foster Care & Adoption; Past Parental Neglect & Abandonment; Past Death of Parent (Drug Overdose); Drug & Alcohol Consumption; Sexual Content (Consensual); Anxiety, PTSD, & Anger Management Issues; Medically Fragile Infant in NICU (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome); Ableism; Toxic Relationships (Not MCs); Cursing
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
frankiereadstoomuch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
teacupsandfirereads's review
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
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 wouldnโt 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 didnโt pick up on one of the things Warren said soon after moving in and repeated later in a more romantic context:โI donโt want to be your friend.โ The second time he said it made his original intent obvious. Chloe didnโt make the connection, which was a little disappointing.
3. Whyyyyyy were we never shown Rachelโs visit to the apartment and evaluation of Chloeโs 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 โforeverโ when theyโve 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 (Chloeโs POV), so itโs understandable that she might not have picked up on Warrenโs more concealed positive attributes, but Chloe doesnโt 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 โ 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 didnโt 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 Rachelโs visit to the apartment and evaluation of Chloeโs 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 โforeverโ when theyโve 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 (Chloeโs POV), so itโs understandable that she might not have picked up on Warrenโs more concealed positive attributes, but Chloe doesnโt 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 โ 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
0live_tr33's review
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 against another edition
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
4.5โญ๏ธ I loved this!! I donโt have children and donโt 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 Warrenโs 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 Warrenโs 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
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