Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

10 reviews

sdupont's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This one is for the Hallmark Christmas girlies who also like a side of smut! While this one was not as strong as Merry Little Meet Cute, I did enjoy reading this sequel. I like Kallum and Winnie, definitely two characters you root for. The spice delivered but I felt like I needed a little more for the characters when it came to talking about themselves and their feelings. The two conflicts in the timeline detracted from the growth arc in my opinion. If the book was a little shorter and had stronger communication I think it would have been a home run. I still recommend this for a festive read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Pregnancy

Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infidelity, Infertility, and Miscarriage

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.25

There are no good variables to work with when the answer to the equation is other peoples' idea of perfection.

Another one where I liked the previous book in the series, liked the main and side characters, liked much of what was being addressed, but still didn't love the story or execution. Le sigh.

There's no age when people stop learning about their bodies.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Chronic illness, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Vomit

Minor: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexism

A note about the sexual content: features a sexual awakening and admirably frank language and scenes of exploration as a character deprograms from the learned shame and inhibitions of purity culture Other content notes: in addition to the unplanned pregnancy trope, there's a

miscarriage scare

that opens the door for

toxic religious parents

to try to regain a foothold in a main characters life

thebruce's review against another edition

funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

sariereads's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? No

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Pregnancy and Fatphobia

Minor: Medical content, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

annahamburger's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Blood, Cursing, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Ableism, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Biphobia, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Eating disorder

kcbatts's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

Moderate: Infidelity

10tlgibs's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

A delightfully sexy and utterly Christmassy romance that lovers of Hallmark, spicy Rom-coms and cinnamon roll love interests are going to Devour! 

 Set in Christmas Notch, A Holly Jolly Ever After follows Winnie Baker, the squeaky clean Hope channel actress still recovering from the scandal of her public (and rather messy) divorce. And Pizza mogul/ former boyband member, Callum Lieberman, as they co-star in the Hope Channels’ new business venture: Hope After Dark. Which sees the pair co-starring in an all new, sexy Christmas movie called Santa, Baby. 

Having loved A Merry Little Meet Cute soo much, I knew I needed to get my hands on a copy of its sequel/ companion novel as soon as physically possible—especially when I found out it would follow the pizza loving sweet heart,Callum. And, having done so (a massive thank you to Sofia for sending me a copy btw) I’m glad to report it’s just as sizzlingly swoon-worthy (and unputdownable) as its predecessor! 

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone’s unique styles of writing work so well together, and I love how seamlessly they blend humour and spice into such a heartfelt (yet chaotically sexy) read that I couldn’t help but emotionally invest in. 

Continuing with the themes of double standards, sex and body positivity (first explored in book 1), Murphy and Simone also expertly delve into subjects, such as reputation, double standards, self worth and the harmful (media led) societal pressures that affect the way we see ourselves and our bodies. Which as a plus sized reader is something I really appreciated. 

It was also really great to finally see some plus sized male rep which I feel is still something of a rarity in the genre (though if you have any recs do be sure to let me know.)

I loved our protagonists, who were both really well developed and full of soo much depth. And the romance was off the charts good! If you enjoy a well written and fabulously steamy romance then you’re gonna absolutely love Winnie and Callum’s on (and off set) interactions. 

Winnie, having spent her entire life doing “the right thing” in an effort to keep a spotless reputation has found herself tarnished regardless, so exploring her shame around sex (due to her strict, faith based upbringing) and the role public perception plays in objectifying/policing women’s bodies was really interesting.

 I was instantly endeared to her, and loved seeing just how much progress she made in unlearning soo many of the harmful perceptions she grew up with.

Callum, our MMC (and Winnie’s love interest) was also really adorable, cinnamon roll of a character, currently dealing with lifelong insecurities surrounding his weight and former career as the least popular, “fat” member of boyband INK. I really enjoyed getting to explore into a male POV surrounding the public perceptions and pressures that men in the public eye may also face. 

His patience and support (of Winnie) was soo heartwarming and I loved how genuinely kind and patient he was in helping Winnie to unpack all that trauma. Plus, his corny pizza related puns added the perfect comic relief to the tenser, more emotionally charged scenes. 

Overall, a sizzlingly satisfying, Santa-filled Rom com that’s bursting with festive sexiness (and pizza related puns) to offset the tenser, more emotionally charged scenes. I absolutely loved it! Just be sure to check TWs beforehand.

Also, a huge thank you to Sofia Saghir for the stunning finished copy. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Vomit, Infidelity, Bullying, and Body shaming

lealovesbooks's review

funny inspiring medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Infertility

Minor: Miscarriage

uranaishi's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Drug use, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Violence