Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - Speechless

Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

bookedwithbonnie's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

Reading this was really an experience. The heroine was plucky and appealing. The hero was major swoon material, and the exploration of their relationship was really slow and deliberate in a really great way. Henry is also a composer which was a lovely way to play with expression and feelings, and he is an extremely romantic hero.

The surrounding friends are interesting, but other than an exception or two are not fully fleshed other than to support the principals. This is what I found most disappointing, they seemed to be a means to an end for the couple, highly centered on everything having to do with them and not just smaller characters that support the overall story.

So while there is some great stuff here, the bones still felt a little underdeveloped. It's forced proximity with a whole cast, but they aren't really that interesting in their own right. The romance did it's job, for sure, but the rest was filler and a lot of the filler was rough and expositional. This is why I liked when the author wrote from Henry's point of view. He often had to show, because of his anxiety and tendency to freeze with new people and his overall reticence. Other chapters held details but they weren't feeling details always-they were often telling details.

I will say I also enjoyed Lanza's dialogue though. It was a pleasant surprise and why I kept reading after the initial pages-that's where the book seems to hit its stride. It also had good exploration of severe endometriosis, but I hope readers go into this with awareness of the chronic health, mental health and other possible triggers. While it read pretty lighthearted overall, it did get gritty from a few angles.

I recommend this with reservations (and with full content warning awareness), and I'd rate it between a 3&4. It mostly appealed to me for the unique composer spin and a couple of subplot threads that I thought were handled deftly.

Content Warnings

elysareadsitall's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

I just loved this book so much. The found family, the sweet romance, the cute dog, the excellent backstories, the representation. It's all good. I teared up more than once (weirdly, the one that got me the most was the soup).

Don't mind me. I'll just be over here cyberstalking Lindsey Lanza to get all the latest on any new books she writes.

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peacelovereading's review

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emotional hopeful reflective 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 is such a beautiful story!! I loved the growth with both main characters and I absolutely loved the friends/roommates! Lucy and Henry have both been through a lot and I enjoyed how they came together in an unexpected way. Henry's roommates, who also work with him, added a lot to this story. I loved how there was that "found family" aspect.
There were so many little instances throughout this book that made it feel so special to me- cute nicknames, some pop culture and book loving references, Jewish rep (and a yummy matzo ball soup scene). The chronic illness rep was done so well and I had all the feels while reading this one! I definitely recommend picking this one up when you're in the mood for a good romance!

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booksinherview's review

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emotional funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

izziepng's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

I LOVE THIS BOOK ITS PROBABLY IN MY TOP 3-5 BOOKS RIGHT NOW.

I just finished it like 15 minutes ago and I can’t even collect my thoughts because I love it so much. I love Lucy and Henry (total get henry’s anxiety i have the same issues just less severe) I love Rowan (cutest thing ever) and Graham and Jayce and Preston and Adamma.

I love found family it makes me feel so cozy and as someone who basically has a fear of making friends (i’m not even gonna get into it) it’s hard to make me actually yearn to make friends but i wish i had the HAAAM group in my life.

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