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witcheep's review against another edition
- 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
However, at the beginning of the book, the pace feels a little too slow and as a reader I was just impatiently waiting for a more emotional section in the story to start. The later phases make up for the slow beginning with all the struggles to come to terms with the impact the awakened emotions have on the characters.
Besides the romance, the book gives weight to different types of relationships as well: there are work relationships, meaningful friendships, and familial strain. That is great, since it balances the plot to make the lives of the main characters more well rounded.
Both the main characters have very dark back stories (
The past trauma feels quite dire, and it made me question if they both really needed that dark pasts; couldn't the issues have been addressed even if they affected the characters to a smaller degree? Now, I wondered if it was mostly just to create shock value to the characters.
The audiobook experience is great. I love when there are different narrators in the same chapters reading different characters' dialogue. It makes the listening experience feel more immersive and authentic compared to one narrator doing different voices. The narrators here work great for their roles!
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Alcohol
doahdancer's review against another edition
- 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
Mariana Zapata has written an incredibly nuanced and introspective romance about two messy humans who find that, while they have incredibly different personalities, they understand each other's perspectives and experiences. Moment by moment, they put in the work necessary to build a solid foundation of friendship that later raises up a sweeping romance.
Sports are a mere backdrop in this story. The real focus is on communication and how learning and practicing skills your upbringing didn't teach you can be the ultimate gateway drug to happiness. Changing and growing doesn't happen right away and a love built on genuine personal growth burns slowly at first, but consumes all once it catches.
This book has left me shaken and so, so in love with a fictional couple. I'm not sure how I'll ever recover from the swelling of my heart growing three sizes.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment
fatfemmequeer's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Physical abuse
imaginationindex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
- I enjoyed Vanessa as a character! I appreciated she had her own tough beginnings, goals she wanted to achieve, and put her foot down; her ✨growth✨was amazing!
- Zapata writes physical signals and touch really well (like so well you feel all mushy inside)
- Fake marriage trope with a side of sunshine/grumpy; I AM HERE FOR IT!
- Bonus for the bonus content that was in my edition: I usually don’t like that kinda stuff but it was super cute and well placed
- There was a lot repetition and filler throughout the story; Vanessa’s inner monologue said the same thing 3 different ways before we moved into the next idea… and then this repeated with another thought. And another one. And another one. Either the book could have been shorter OR more story beats could have been fit in (like learning more about Cain towards the end) OR more 🌶️…
- Speaking of spice, this book was always made out to be more spicy than it was. Don’t get me wrong, the lingering kisses and looks gave me butterflies, but, I was expecting more than just that last chapter after such a great build up.
- Finally, a vegan football player? Nothing wrong with veganism but I just found it hard to believe he’s still that large of a man with that diet.
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
cariam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Child abuse
ireadtoescape_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was cute, though. I’m choosing not to over-think the other stuff 🙃
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Confinement, and Domestic abuse
khloereads86's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol
sebradley29's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
kirstenpod_'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
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
nicoleherz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I didn't really like either of the characters either. I found them to be incredibly selfish and obtuse. Their relationship became better but started off as something incredibly toxic and I was practically yelling at her to run away.
Don't get me started on the everything-is-perfect, happily ever after epilogue. She literally has him say he can't remember not being happy. Yeah ok life is 1 dimensional now, great.
And seriously has she ever even talked to someone who doesn't get along with their parents? That relationship seemed totally unrealistic. Not to mention just creating the most superficial villian in her sister. Where does any of that even come from??? If you are expecting answers by the end, you will be sorely disappointed.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing and Toxic relationship