caitlin_plotsandpints's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Grief, and Child death
readingwithvictoria's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
readingwithjass's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Child death, Death, and Miscarriage
sydapel's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I wanted so badly to love this, and it definitely made me super emotional at times. Primarily, I regret going into this expecting a lot of romance. Which is not to say that this book isn't romantic, just that the heart of it focuses less on tropes and more on grief, depression, growth and the importance of therapy in the healing process. And for some reason, I was not at a place where I could focus on that, and found myself trying to skip around to Josiah and Yasmen's reconciliation. I think if you approach this book with the right mind frame and with patience, it'll be incredible, but sometimes I am not the best reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Death, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Dementia
katietotallybooked's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
This was my first book by Kennedy Ryan and the first book pick for my new in person book club.
This book had characters that I really enjoyed and that was probably my favourite aspect of the book. I fell in love with Yas and Josiah and I was rooting for them all the way. I loved getting to know the personalities of their children, and their friends too.
This story was so emotional and I was taken aback by how well Kennedy Ryan handled the heavy themes of grief, loss, depression and mental health. She also openly presented therapy and brought up the stigma surrounding it.
There were a few steamy sex scenes and lot of emphasis on physical appearance and attractiveness. For me as a reader, I don’t really need these in my books. So it just wasn’t a 5 star read for me.
I don’t know that I’ll explore any of Kennedy Ryan’s other novels or series, but I will continue in this series so that I can follow the side characters I grew to love!
This book had characters that I really enjoyed and that was probably my favourite aspect of the book. I fell in love with Yas and Josiah and I was rooting for them all the way. I loved getting to know the personalities of their children, and their friends too.
This story was so emotional and I was taken aback by how well Kennedy Ryan handled the heavy themes of grief, loss, depression and mental health. She also openly presented therapy and brought up the stigma surrounding it.
There were a few steamy sex scenes and lot of emphasis on physical appearance and attractiveness. For me as a reader, I don’t really need these in my books. So it just wasn’t a 5 star read for me.
I don’t know that I’ll explore any of Kennedy Ryan’s other novels or series, but I will continue in this series so that I can follow the side characters I grew to love!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
marena02's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Injury/injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Child death, Deadnaming, and Grief
ggrannum's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Death
renharms's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Child death and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief and Suicidal thoughts
lana72905's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! All of the recommendations I've received for this book, I completely agree with. My first five star read for feburary, and I truly adored it. Every aspect of this story. The pain, the grief, the love I felt like it was really real. I was rooting for Josiah and Yasmen the entire way. It truly broke me seeing all the grief and depression all characters were going through, the inevitable crash of their lives, and how they had to cope from it. It was amazing seeing them feel through it. Each character felt real. Rheir flaws, their liks, their dislikes and their personalities felt truly deep and three dimensional. It was phenomenal. I cannot express enough how much I was fangirling seeing the scenes where Josiah and Yas had do much love for each other. It felt truly like a love story, a truly heartfelt love story that also delved into grief and loss. It truly made me feel like a second chance was deserving, to which it was. A wonderful story, 10/10, I'm definitely reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Pregnancy, and Mental illness
Moderate: Miscarriage and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, and Dementia
bookswithstephy's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent