The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
lomesia's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Death, Death of parent, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abandonment and Alcoholism
jenneroni's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I did find myself wishing we got more descriptive tidbits of the characters. Even the leads seemed to only get one mention of hair color and eye color and that was it. I usually appreciate a couple drops of “tucked a blonde curl behind her ear” or “his blue eyes glinted” type of detail to make them feel like real people in my mind.
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Violence
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
alexreadshere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism
jillwedemeier'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? Yes
5.0
Read this book if you like:
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, and Stalking
madanxiety's review against another edition
3.25
The second thing I didn't like all that much was the twist at the end. This isn't a major gripe tho. I was just so caught off guard because it seemed to so clearly be a nightmare that would never end, which seemed logical because Jack struggled with nightmares, and I was like oh he'll be able to return the favor and comfort her. Like when she was walking back to the car and it took a million years, that seemed to obviously signal to how slow you are in your dreams. I think I wouldn't have minded the twist too much if it had been revealed a little sooner. Because by the time she was watching the footage (which is when I finally became convinced it wasn't a dream - probably later than most, I'll admit lol), I had to replay the whole last like 30m I feel like lol bc I'd spent most of it impatiently grumbling, waiting for the supposed dream sequence to end already. Am I an idiot for this lol? Maybe, but it was a little too Twlight Breaking Dawn for me.
I also wished there'd been a little more romance between Hannah and Jack. We only really got two scenes of them together communicating/acting in their feelings. Obviously the whole book was them like developing the feelings, and that in itself isrl romance, but I'd have liked if they got more time actually together. Which is funny bc I saw a similar comment under a different book I recently read and thought they were crazy. So it's probably a to each their own kind of situation.
I know this has been a mostly critical review, but I really didn't hate the book. The style of narration was interesting; it reminded me of voice-over narrators in film and TV, both humorous and personal. I think it's just one of those books you can breeze through quickly, needing to know the resolution, but that won't really stick with you all that much.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Cancer, Gun violence, Car accident, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism
tinkeringcheck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That being said: Do not (do not!) go into this book expecting realistic drama or steamy romance. It's a bantery, feel-good, bodyguard trope that runs on rom-com logic, but in the best way.
(Sidenote: As someone with a family member who taught crime prevention for a living: Hannah's way of looking at the world was pretty accurate. You can laugh at her for thinking about the ways a potted patio plant can be used to break a window, but there's a reason my silly painted rocks were never allowed on the front porch as a kid. Even though the romantic hijinks and kooky coworker drama could overshadow it, I thought those details showed that she really was quite capable at her job.)
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Vomit
Overall: It's a very light-hearted, hopeful book but it deals with some background heavy topics. DEATH OF PARENT, DEATH, GRIEF: Very beginning of book skims over the main character's mother dying, and the grief from that is a catalyst for the rest of the book. Grief (and hope) is a major theme. DOMESTIC/PHYSICAL ABUSE: Past, as a memory. A very violent incidence of it and the injuries/aftermath is described by character who was a child at the time. STALKING: With one lead being a famous actor, there's lots of discussions about stalking in general. Stalking incidents are discussed in detail, though light-heartedly, untilkirstenpod_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Stalking, and Car accident
Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Death
Minor: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Cancer
willa_rose15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief and Stalking
Moderate: Gun violence, Cancer, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
kcbatts's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Cancer
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abandonment and Toxic relationship
sebradley29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Cancer, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide, Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, and Death