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stephs_cozycorner's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
I absolutely loved this story.
This book has everything.
- An amazing group of characters, especially Graham. I absolutely adored him and his friendship with Lucy.
- The best book boyfriend. Henry is so sweet, understanding and sensitive - oh how I love thee. And his story is just so raw and emotional.
- Found family. Again this amazing group of characters. You can’t help but love them all.
- Endometriosis rep and living with a chronic illness. And anxiety and mutism.
- The sweetest, fluffiest most amazing service dog Rowan!
Lanza writes this story so beautifully and really takes care to be sensitive with the topics.
I especially loved the music rep and how Lanza used music as a coping mechanism for the MC’s. This really resonated with me as I use music to cope with my own anxiety and panic attacks.
And I have to make note of Henry and Lucy’s meet cute. There really could not have been a more perfect moment for these two to meet each other.
Once I started this book I could not put it down and found I was even thinking of the characters when I wasn’t reading.
This truly is an amazing book that I will remember for a long time after and one I highly suggest reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
alyse_turns_pages's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
As someone who deeply feels music & lyrics (and has not one musical bone in her body) I absolutely ATE UP everything musical & lyrical in this book.
Once again Lindsey approaches the topic of chronic illness/pain with an honesty and gentleness while simultaneously painting a picture of how hard and difficult it is to suffer through.
I loved the found family in this story. The side characters were amazing. Also. The Oscar for the worst friend ever definitely goes to Sara.
This was a quick read that definitely gives you a few laughs and has very raw and tender moments.
Once again Lindsey approaches the topic of chronic illness/pain with an honesty and gentleness while simultaneously painting a picture of how hard and difficult it is to suffer through.
I loved the found family in this story. The side characters were amazing. Also. The Oscar for the worst friend ever definitely goes to Sara.
This was a quick read that definitely gives you a few laughs and has very raw and tender moments.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
dotarvi'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying
samnreader's review
3.5
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.
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
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse
bookswithca's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse and Infidelity
katebrownreads's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse
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