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dlsmk's review against another edition
2.75
This book has so much potential but christ on a bike and mother mary on the handlebars these protagonists are both nearly hitting 40 and if I hear "professor google" non ironically ever again I may throw hands. It was mentioned so obnoxiously more often than it should have been. And dear god I can't even begin to tell you how poorly I feel the conversation and actions toward depression were handle (as a person with mdd and a whole host of other mental health realted disorders it just really pissed me off). I have other issues with this book but it took me an entire 3 weeks to complete a book that is relatively easy to get through. I think it put me in a slump for most of the month so I am done with it and finished talking about it. So much potential squandered. Ugh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
xtinareally's review against another edition
dark
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ This was a hilarious and deep romance I didn't know what to expect but I'm so satisfied with what I got. You get a wild plot set in the cute locale of Harlot's Bay with a rambunctious quirky cast.
I may not ever (nor want to) be the filling in an open-faced Vine Bros sandwich, butI was happy to find Athena and Matthew's relationship didn't feel as much of a triangle due to a separation of time and physical location from Johnny for a majority of the story. I felt all the simmering emotions of what Athena was going through and recognized the signs of her struggles within myself. In the end I didn't realize how much therapy I would get and work through - for that's I am so grateful for picking up this book and getting a wealth of good quotes and motivation.
I may not ever (nor want to) be the filling in an open-faced Vine Bros sandwich, but
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Child death, and Abandonment
bzliz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
This book was like a mirror to the past, looking at myself in the true depths of clinical depression and not knowing how to climb out of that hole, and that made it rough to read at times. I teared up at multiple points which doesn’t happen to me often. If only my past self would’ve had a Matthew to help make everything feel a little more bearable, it might not have taken so long.
The emotional weight is nicely balanced by bouts of silliness that take some of the edge off. Olivia Dade is so good at getting me to care about her characters. She even got me to feel for Johnny by the end.
The only reason this wasn’t a five star read for me is that I wish there had been even more healing between the Vine brothers. I don’t believe Johnny fully grasped how much Matthew gave up to raise him and continue to support him after he was grown.
The emotional weight is nicely balanced by bouts of silliness that take some of the edge off. Olivia Dade is so good at getting me to care about her characters. She even got me to feel for Johnny by the end.
The only reason this wasn’t a five star read for me is that I wish there had been even more healing between the Vine brothers. I don’t believe Johnny fully grasped how much Matthew gave up to raise him and continue to support him after he was grown.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Child death
sydneys_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
okay i’m obsessed, as we know. i literally bought the physical copy before i was even finished with the audiobook from the library. athena!!! she is the best!!!! matthew!!! the best!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death
caitlin_d33's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death and Abandonment
thelittleoddling'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
5.0
This book was exactly what I wanted. It’s a little cheesy, very sweet, and Matthew is totally my type of fictional man.
I haven’t read a book this fast in years and I had a great time start to finish.
Not only was it very funny and sweet but it also handles subjects of grief and depression with grace and manages to keep the tone overall light hearted. Though I did almost cry multiple times.
Very excited to read the next book in the harlot’s bay series!
I haven’t read a book this fast in years and I had a great time start to finish.
Not only was it very funny and sweet but it also handles subjects of grief and depression with grace and manages to keep the tone overall light hearted. Though I did almost cry multiple times.
Very excited to read the next book in the harlot’s bay series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Grief
broomsticksandmagick's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief
uranaishi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
blewballoon'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
Olivia Dade has been on my list of authors to check out for a while, and now I'm looking forward to reading more! This book was a lot of fun. I did find that certain areas of dialogue or humor would have worked better if they had been trimmed a little, but that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. This is for romance lovers who embrace the silliness of the genre. I think the audiobook narrator did an alright job, but I may have preferred reading the text myself in this case.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Medical content
estefanovich's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I may have identified a bit too closely with the FMC, but I love these characters. Half a point off for incredibly hot 39 year old virgin who is magically good in bed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child death