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mlb16'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
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse
crystalmackey's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment
briochebun's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
╰┈➤ [3 out of 5 ☆’s.]
❝𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬.❞
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I was super excited to read this story — the synopsis made it sound like the angsty book of my dreams — but it ended up falling a bit flat for me (unfortunately). :(
I wish that this book had been longer — and that Frankie + Arlo had more of a slow burn romance where we got to see them pine for one another for a little while longer before getting together.
I think that it’s difficult to tackle a book with this subject matter in under 300 pages. I just wanted more. Others who aren’t fans of slow burn romances might feel differently though!
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Physical abuse
alice_yali's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Child abuse
readingtotravel's review
4.0
Graphic: Addiction and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse
thelibraryofjordan's review
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse and Physical abuse
kaykaysbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
This one is related to Without You & Ache, so I am glad I read those before! It's not needed, but characters from those one pop up, so I'd do those two first, if you want.
Once again, Marley Valentine ripped out my heart and put it back together in this steamy story about second chances and learning how to face the past. I just loved Frankie and Arlo with all of my heart.
Some of my favorite quotes include:
"How far into the past are we willing to go to get to our future?"
"I don't care about anybody else's space, I just want you in mine."
"You can only be somebody's reason to relapse if you were their reason to use."
I should note, that these might not be 100% right since I did the audiobook, but you know it's good if I paused the audiobook to write them down.
Spice: 3
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse
Moderate: Child abuse
romanceschmomance's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Yes, we have Frankie and if you read Ache, we've met him before. It's been a while since I've read that book, so I couldn't remember everything about him.
Marley digs it in right from the very beginning and really paves the emotional journey ahead.
I truly did enjoy this read, but it didn't quite go as deep as I hoped on the emotional level. And I struggled with the connection between Frankie and Arlo. A big part of that was avoidance of a conversation that was very much needed for a big chunk of the book.
I thought Arlo's journey towards recovery was written really well and the romance fell a bit and needed more balance.
There were just things here and there that were missing, but still a good read. And I can't wait for the stories to come.
Graphic: Addiction
Minor: Child abuse