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deen734'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
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
nina_mk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Lesbophobia
annadelreads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
"Sometimes in life, we need a few bad days in order to keep the good ones in perspective."
I remember reading this when I was still in my late teens - maybe around nineteen going twenty; and I'm twenty-eight years old now. So that's almost a decade since I've first read this. I also know that I recommended this book to my friend when we swapped books to read during our summer internship. I know she sort of liked it and I know for sure that at that time, I did love this book. But after a decade and maybe being in my second relationship now, I can see how I had to lessen my rating.
[SPOILER BELOW: YOU ARE WARNED]
This book definitely has the cheating trope and I'm not even going to hide that fact because it's right there after a few chapters in. I know that they're both mature adults who tried their hardest to stop whatever they were feeling and as much as possible, not act out to their desires but the woman in me felt it for Maggie. The whole story really is revolving around that fact. They both know about it and really tried to be matured about it. But really though? Why not just let her move out? I'm trying to be where Maggie is at when she found out but I really can't because I definitely don't have a life-threatening illness. I tried imagine my position if my own boyfriend fell in love with someone while still being with me and I just can't imagine it because I'll be so heart-broken by it and that's just through imagining. I know they really tried to be mature about it and even I can see that but damn, it's just something that can be avoided. It was insta-love that is between Ridge and Sydney so it's kind of hard for me to defend their actions. But it was supposed to be done - Maggie needs to be independent while Ridge and Sydney needs to be together. It's as simple as that.
I just needed to re-read this story before I start reading Maybe Now. It's been years since I've bought the book but never actually tried reading it until now (since it was picked by my TBR jar).
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
pisces1_1318's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Chronic illness
eggfartz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, and Alcohol
sarah_j90's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Some things I liked about this book
- Ridge is deaf and communicates with the world through writing and texting, so the whole of his and Sydney's relationship is in theory built up behind a computer, but in person.
- Colleen Hoover worked alongside Griffin Peterson to write and record the songs from the book into an actual album which you can get on Spotify, listening to them as you go through the book rather than just reading really puts you there in the place of the characters. That got it the extra star.
Bits I didn't like,
- Ridge got himself into the situation but then when it all crashed around him he blamed everyone but himself.
- I've read quite a few Colleen Hoover's books and they are all starting to feel very samey.
- Ridge treats Sydney like shit to be honest, but it's masked behind sweet words and a big romantic gesture at the end and she's in!!
I would really like to see Colleen Hoover write some books with a strong feminine lead, one who doesn't swoon for the hot, mean, troubled emotionally unavailable guy!! Think I'll be taking a break from Colleen Hoover books for a while!!
Moderate: Chronic illness and Medical content
Minor: Body shaming and Terminal illness
eagerreader2022's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The soundtrack that goes along with this novel is FANTASTIC - you should totally listen to the songs as they appear in the novel. This just brought in a whole new element to the story (and my reading) that I missed the acoustic guitar when I had to continue on. What I need is an acoustic version (no lyrics) of all those songs to play while I'm reading in the future!
Some of those twists in to create the 3rd act of the novel - my goodness Colleen how do you think of this stuff!
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Alcoholism
samw0327's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Child abuse and Infidelity
xcjliow'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Infidelity
bibliophile002's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Chronic illness and Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse