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pitoufas_bookish_corner's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
5.0
Something I appreciate when it comes to Mariana's books is the way she does not sugarcoat things or try describing her FMCs as though they're flawless or p💩💩p rainbows. I also LOVE her talent for crafting the most amazing slow burns of all time! And being a sucker for that trope, I know where to go when I'm in the mood for one ❤
Rhodes breathed and exhaled grumpiness 🤣 I kid you not, his grumpiness was OFF THE CHARTS!! I've honestly never read about a character as miserable as he was 😭 what I love most about similar characters is the way they love and give endlessly when they allow themselves to actually live instead of just survive. Tobias was never really taught how to love and be loved, yet he somehow succeeded in being such a caring and protective dad 😭❤
Aurora was such a blabbermouth 🤣 I've never seen a character that talked as much as her!! But I guess that was part of what made her who she was. She couldn't stay silent for more than a second, but she also had pretty much no filter, and people like her are usually the ones you don't have to worry about because they wear their hearts on their sleeves. She was stubborn as a mule too, and when she went on those hikes in homage to her late mother, I couldn't help but think she was NUTS but I certainly admired her determination as well ❤
I love me a good slow burn with a pinch of found family, realistic depictions of human beings' complex emotions, and how they don't actually smell like roses after a long hike or a fishing trip 🤣
Rhodes breathed and exhaled grumpiness 🤣 I kid you not, his grumpiness was OFF THE CHARTS!! I've honestly never read about a character as miserable as he was 😭 what I love most about similar characters is the way they love and give endlessly when they allow themselves to actually live instead of just survive. Tobias was never really taught how to love and be loved, yet he somehow succeeded in being such a caring and protective dad 😭❤
Aurora was such a blabbermouth 🤣 I've never seen a character that talked as much as her!! But I guess that was part of what made her who she was. She couldn't stay silent for more than a second, but she also had pretty much no filter, and people like her are usually the ones you don't have to worry about because they wear their hearts on their sleeves. She was stubborn as a mule too, and when she went on those hikes in homage to her late mother, I couldn't help but think she was NUTS but I certainly admired her determination as well ❤
I love me a good slow burn with a pinch of found family, realistic depictions of human beings' complex emotions, and how they don't actually smell like roses after a long hike or a fishing trip 🤣
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
2busyreading's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Mental illness
witcheep's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
This is a wholesome read about finding your people and your place in the world. I love how the book depicts grief respectfully and shows how new interpersonal relationships – with not just romantic love but all kinds of love – build over time and give you happiness. The main characters Aurora, Rhodes, and his son Amos revolve around each others lives, slowly getting more involved with each other and forming beautiful, meaningful relationships together. The beginning of the book felt s little slow to me, but once I got invested in the main characters' lives, I loved seeing their mundane life changing and intertwining with the others'.
The forming relationships show how the characters get more comfortable with each other, which results into their communication getting from easily misinterpreting the other one to expressing themselves more clearly and being able to read the others' nonverbal communication easily. The result is that the main characters have good communication throughout the rest of the book: even when there are difficulties or disruptions to this, the main characters always follow through with a conversation about the situation.
The bonus epiloque has Aurora and Rhodes discussing the love languages of the important people in their lives while on a hike with Amos, and that shows the best aspects of this book: good, open communication and love that is shown in so many ways in the whole book.
The audiobook has one narrator from the pov of the main character Aurora, but there's another reader voice for the male characters – that works really well and gives those characters added depth, making you immerse yourself into the story more.
The forming relationships show how the characters get more comfortable with each other, which results into their communication getting from easily misinterpreting the other one to expressing themselves more clearly and being able to read the others' nonverbal communication easily. The result is that the main characters have good communication throughout the rest of the book: even when there are difficulties or disruptions to this, the main characters always follow through with a conversation about the situation.
The bonus epiloque has Aurora and Rhodes discussing the love languages of the important people in their lives while on a hike with Amos, and that shows the best aspects of this book: good, open communication and love that is shown in so many ways in the whole book.
The audiobook has one narrator from the pov of the main character Aurora, but there's another reader voice for the male characters – that works really well and gives those characters added depth, making you immerse yourself into the story more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
buttermellow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Classism
lilly_springer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse
marisabenn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Love me a grumpy zaddy 🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
goldensisyphus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Was fully on board loving this book and all it's profound and healing moments UNTIL 85% in when the two MMCs judge our FMC for something that was completely 100% not her fault and then act like immature judgmental assholes and give her the silent treatment. It's totally emotionally abusive behavior. It's then washed over with lovebombing behavior and all supposedly ends well but that is a major red flag. Left a bad vibe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Medical trauma
snipinfool's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Aurora was stunned when the man she had been living and working with for fourteen years told her their relationship was over and that she needed to leave ASAP. She ended up in Pagosa Springs, CO. It was the last place Aurora lived with her mother before she went missing. She planned to stay a month to see whether Pagosa would be a good fit. Aurora rented a small apartment outside of town. When she arrived, she found that the owner’s son had placed the ad without his knowledge. He finally agreed to let her stay when she offered him triple the rate she agreed to pay. Aurora found a job working at an outdoor adventure store for her friend, Clara. Aurora planned to take some of the hikes her mother had taken when they lived here as part of her healing.
Rhodes was angry his son, Amos, rented out the apartment. He agreed to let Aurora stay because she looked desperate for a place to live. Rhodes worked for the parks and wildlife department and sometimes had varied work hours. Aurora took Amos to the hospital for possible appendicitis because he was unable to reach his father. Rhodes was very grateful and his feelings toward Aurora being around changed. The three of them started doing more activities together. Months passed. Slowly, Rhodes and Aurora started to see each other as someone they wanted to keep in their lives for a long time.
Rhodes was definitely a man written by a woman. He had just about every positive characteristic one could hope for. He wasn’t perfect, but he put in the effort to try. His relationship with his son was unexpected and wonderful. Aurora was broken, but started to heal once she returned to Pagosa. Having her Clara and becoming friends with Rhodes and Amos helped her to get past old hurts and start anew. I loved reading how Aurora’s presence smoothed some of Rhodes' rough edges. Amos was a wonderful character. He added so much to the story. Clara and Yuki were the type of supportive friends we all need. I loved their story.
Rhodes was angry his son, Amos, rented out the apartment. He agreed to let Aurora stay because she looked desperate for a place to live. Rhodes worked for the parks and wildlife department and sometimes had varied work hours. Aurora took Amos to the hospital for possible appendicitis because he was unable to reach his father. Rhodes was very grateful and his feelings toward Aurora being around changed. The three of them started doing more activities together. Months passed. Slowly, Rhodes and Aurora started to see each other as someone they wanted to keep in their lives for a long time.
Rhodes was definitely a man written by a woman. He had just about every positive characteristic one could hope for. He wasn’t perfect, but he put in the effort to try. His relationship with his son was unexpected and wonderful. Aurora was broken, but started to heal once she returned to Pagosa. Having her Clara and becoming friends with Rhodes and Amos helped her to get past old hurts and start anew. I loved reading how Aurora’s presence smoothed some of Rhodes' rough edges. Amos was a wonderful character. He added so much to the story. Clara and Yuki were the type of supportive friends we all need. I loved their story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
avery_hutchinson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.75
This book had me literally annoyed when I had to put it down. The only reason that it is not 5⭐️ is because of the third act conflict, as it felt like a mildly stupid argument which did get resolved in a cute way. Very good main characters with strong backstories and motives, and side characters were very lovable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
lilaknitsandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting