avery_eagle's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
downtown_kb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Ok, so this story starts out when Joey and Aoife are 12 and we go on a rollercoaster of hormone filled teenage angst, drama and bullshit until age 18. Then it just turns into angst.
It was hard to stomach. If you have read Binding/Keeping13 you know how much Joey stands between his parent’s abuse and his siblings. He takes it all and then he copes with drugs. So we get front and center POV for alllll of that. Heavy and were just getting started. I had a hard time with the pacing at first because we spent so much time with them at ages 13-14. And while I appreciated the nostalgia of the time period, generationally, I had a hard time relating to the drama and then remembering they were so young. haha.
This is not a swoony romance. This is gritty but great writing. I think by the time you get to the 3rd part of this book you understand these two pretty well. Joey desperately needs someone in his corner he can trust because he’s drowning. Aoife is prepared to put Joey before everything else to prove she is that person. So in this book we get to know our couple and see the huge obstacles in between them. On to part 2…I hear it’s even more heavy. eek.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Mental illness
readwthsam's review
dark
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
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