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marybeths7's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
jazjas333's review
2.0
the ultimate definition of codependency and unhealthy; but still lowkey satisfying so
eesh25's review
3.0
If the second book was the most normal of the series, this one would be its exact opposite. The name proclaims that the relationship is "Just a bit" unhealthy. It's actually a lot more than "just a bit".
The protagonists met when one of them got severely injured. Gabriel is a football (or soccer, whatever) player and he didn't think he would every play again. Jared was his physiotherapist and during the recovery process, they developed a bond of sorts. Gabriel loves Jared. But Jared is in love with Gabriel, who has a serious girlfriend and is most certainly straight.
The book starts off years after the whole injury thing, Gabriel is playing again and he and Jared are still very close. Unusually close. Which is a problem because Jared is in love with the guy and watching Gabriel with his girlfriend and silently suffering cannot be healthy. He's happy to spend time with Gabe, but also kinda miserable. He doesn't know how to leave. That's why the relationship is unhealthy. It's co-dependant and there seems to be no solution. Neither can change his feelings and neither wants to let go, though Jared tries.
And despite all that, this isn't a bad book. I'm conflicted about some things but the relationship and story is actually handled well, for what it is. There's some talk about sexuality and labels. The writing is good and I kinda liked the story. The characters I wasn't that invested in. They were both fine, just not my favourites. The dynamic between Jared and Gabriel is strange, everyone knows it. But it works for them so... I got nothing.
The protagonists met when one of them got severely injured. Gabriel is a football (or soccer, whatever) player and he didn't think he would every play again. Jared was his physiotherapist and during the recovery process, they developed a bond of sorts. Gabriel loves Jared. But Jared is in love with Gabriel, who has a serious girlfriend and is most certainly straight.
The book starts off years after the whole injury thing, Gabriel is playing again and he and Jared are still very close. Unusually close. Which is a problem because Jared is in love with the guy and watching Gabriel with his girlfriend and silently suffering cannot be healthy. He's happy to spend time with Gabe, but also kinda miserable. He doesn't know how to leave. That's why the relationship is unhealthy. It's co-dependant and there seems to be no solution. Neither can change his feelings and neither wants to let go, though Jared tries.
And despite all that, this isn't a bad book. I'm conflicted about some things but the relationship and story is actually handled well, for what it is. There's some talk about sexuality and labels. The writing is good and I kinda liked the story. The characters I wasn't that invested in. They were both fine, just not my favourites. The dynamic between Jared and Gabriel is strange, everyone knows it. But it works for them so... I got nothing.
savpav's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
_deynaaaa's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
imme_van_gorp's review
2.5
➛First read: March 2022 | ★2.5 stars
➛Second read: July 2023 | ★2.5 stars
Okay.. So.. I actually think this book deserves an even worse rating than I gave it, as I absolutely hated everything about it. But then again.. I also found myself enjoying hating it.. If that makes any sense??
Like, yea, it's terrible, but I wasn't bored once and it did capture me in some way? Like, I wanted to keep reading, even when I hated it. I know. It's weird.
Anyway, back to the actual reasons I hated this.
Firstly, I have to say that this one had far too much inner monologue for my liking. I was really craving a bit more action and dialogue.
More importantly, however, I just hated these characters and their entire relationship.
Gabriel is no saint, and I found him a bit of a pathetic character, but nothing compared to my annoyance and dislike towards Jared. The sheer audacity and entitlement of this guy was outrageous.
And the worst thing about it is that Jared is portrayed as the good guy, and Gabriel is set out to be like some horrible human being. But, seriously, how is Jared not the problem??
The whole drama of this book starts only because Jared somehow thinks Gabriel owes him his love or something. For some reason, the idea is that gay guys cannot just be friends with a straight guy; that would somehow mean that Gabriel is leading him on???? As if it is his fault that Jared has a crush on him and cannot accept the fact that he is straight. The fuuuuuck???
The premise is literally: Jared cannot be friends with Gabriel if he won't put out. He would literally terminate their friendship over Gabriel's sexuality. What a dick move. I genuinely felt bad for Gabriel when he was being abandoned by his best friend because of this. Imagine that? Your friend saying 'yo, I have a crush on you, but I know you don't swing my way, so I'm gonna remove you from my life after all these years, because.. well... Because.' I would cry.
Gabriel said it best himself:
➛Second read: July 2023 | ★2.5 stars
Okay.. So.. I actually think this book deserves an even worse rating than I gave it, as I absolutely hated everything about it. But then again.. I also found myself enjoying hating it.. If that makes any sense??
Like, yea, it's terrible, but I wasn't bored once and it did capture me in some way? Like, I wanted to keep reading, even when I hated it. I know. It's weird.
Anyway, back to the actual reasons I hated this.
Firstly, I have to say that this one had far too much inner monologue for my liking. I was really craving a bit more action and dialogue.
More importantly, however, I just hated these characters and their entire relationship.
Gabriel is no saint, and I found him a bit of a pathetic character, but nothing compared to my annoyance and dislike towards Jared. The sheer audacity and entitlement of this guy was outrageous.
And the worst thing about it is that Jared is portrayed as the good guy, and Gabriel is set out to be like some horrible human being. But, seriously, how is Jared not the problem??
The whole drama of this book starts only because Jared somehow thinks Gabriel owes him his love or something. For some reason, the idea is that gay guys cannot just be friends with a straight guy; that would somehow mean that Gabriel is leading him on???? As if it is his fault that Jared has a crush on him and cannot accept the fact that he is straight. The fuuuuuck???
The premise is literally: Jared cannot be friends with Gabriel if he won't put out. He would literally terminate their friendship over Gabriel's sexuality. What a dick move. I genuinely felt bad for Gabriel when he was being abandoned by his best friend because of this. Imagine that? Your friend saying 'yo, I have a crush on you, but I know you don't swing my way, so I'm gonna remove you from my life after all these years, because.. well... Because.' I would cry.
Gabriel said it best himself:
"Unrequited love? What are you talking about? What unrequited love? You're not leaving because your love is 'unrequited'. You're leaving because—because sex means more to you than love."
And Gabriel was genuinely trying, you know. Jared literally got him to start putting out just so Gabriel could keep him. The fact that Gabriel eventually started 'liking' it on his own was a mere coincidence and doesn't take away from the sheer creepiness and unfairness of it all. He shouldn't have to be sexual with his friend just to keep him? Fuck Jared. Seriously. Gabriel was so attached to Jared, he would do anything for him. Jared was his physiotherapist when Gabriel was a sixteen year old, paralyzed boy who didn’t think he could ever walk again. He had no one. So he thought he needed Jared. And Jared took advantage of that. He groomed him. So seriously, how is Gabriel not the victim??
"I can give you anything you want."
"I don't want a pity fuck."
"It wouldn't be a pity fuck. It has nothing to do with pity. I love you and want to make you happy. What's wrong with that."
Honestly, Gabriel's girlfriend voices my thoughts pretty accurately, and I was quite literally screaming 'PREACHHH girl' when she finally snapped and gave Jared a piece of her mind:
"You know he can never love you the way he loves me. So what is the point? Stop ruining our relationship! He was sixteen when you two met. He was an impressionable, vulnerable, paralyzed kid and you took advantage of him—you must have encouraged his weird fixation on you. And now he wants to make you happy. Don't you see you're coercing him into something he doesn't want? You make me sick."
You know what might possibly have annoyed me the most, though? The way every single person pretended like Gabriel was Satan incarnated. No one has a good word to spare for the poor guy.
Not even Jared. Jared who supposedly loves him soooooo much that he cannot accept being merely his friend, and is basically emotionally manipulating him into giving him what he wants sexually. Yea, that guy. That guy apparently not only thinks Gabriel isn't much to look at, but also thinks he has an absolute shite personality.
Jared repeatedly talks about what a trash human being Gabriel is; how selfish, how rude, how unkind. I think the only positive thing he has said about him is that he is supposedly loyal. Kay. Great. So, um, quick question: WHY EXACTLY ARE YOU IRREVOCABLY IN LOVE WITH A DUDE YOU DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE KIND WORD TO SAY ABOUT???????
At the end of the day, I cannot for the life of me understand how this poor kid's confidence wasn't absolutely shot to hell.
"What do you see in me? I mean... Looks-wise, I'm nothing special. And it can't be my personality. I'm not nice or anything."
"Who told you only nice and conventionally beautiful people deserved to be loved?"
"So you don't really think I'm attractive. You love me despite my being plain and weird-looking."
Really, though, plain and simple: Jared was a freaking creep. And apparently he knows it too:
"You probably think I'm a pervert. I thought so, too. I tried to convince myself I wasn't attracted to you. You were a teenager and I was an adult. You were so vulnerable and fragile—and you depended on me—so I had no right to feel it, but it was useless. You could make me breathless just by looking at me. You should have never trusted me."
So glad we can finally agree on something, Jared! You are indeed a pervert, and Gabriel should indeed never have trusted you. Too bad you only say it this once, and afterwards go back to ignoring it and pretending like you are holier than thou, while Gabriel is somehow a dickhead for being straight??
God forbid straight guys are super close with their gay guy friends!! They must be leading them on!! *sigh* Yea rightt
krisssreads's review
2.0
What the fuck did I just read?
This would have to be one of the most weirdest books that I’ve read in a while and I don’t know how to feel about any of it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice:
This would have to be one of the most weirdest books that I’ve read in a while and I don’t know how to feel about any of it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: