uglydogman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
hannahecabre's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.5
Really good book overall. The mixed timelines got confusing a little bit but I think they added good dimensions to the book.
samleaf's review against another edition
5.0
this book was just so amazing to me. the way it's written and the characters really spoke to me. the book was sad but almost in a comfoting way? like it was very real, but the way it's written is very inspiring and hopeful (for me, at least). the way the sapphic relationship was written was so tender and beautiful. the hardcover book and the dust jacket being green is also the perfect detail (which relates to one of the characters in the novel). i look forward to reading other novels by Nina LaCour.
pppaigeee's review against another edition
5.0
In a word: fuuuck. I think this is *the* book of 2022 for me so far. It’s beautiful. Would reread in a heartbeat; would write out certain passages just to read them again.
alittlediamond's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
An LGBQT book that didn't make the gay romance the focus. It was just a romance. Very refreshing! And the romance part wasn't even the most important focus- it was really 2 women, each with their own stories and perspectives, finding their way in the world. I really enjoyed this book.
agnesceciliajuliane's review against another edition
4.0
Lågmäld och vacker. Mycket fin karaktärsskildring. Jag älskar när karaktärer i böcker startar stora projekt, njöt av att läsa om husrenoveringarna. Det fanns en handling men ingen plot och det funkade utmärkt.
greatestheights's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.75
This was so lovely in many ways, and Nina LaCour is as skilled a writer as always, but something felt a little lacking here. There were elements of the story I needed more of for everything to fully resonate and come together for me — but the characters were beautifully rendered, and I want nothing but good things for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Death, Addiction, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent
mollyq18's review against another edition
4.0
I liked Yerba Buena!
I really enjoyed the delicate descriptions of the flavor combinations for the cocktails Sara made as well as those for Emilie’s floral arrangements.
the beginning of this book was shockingly violent. what I thought was going to be a sapphic love story started out as a tale of violence and fleeing. I didn’t love that. I don’t read a lot of romance because I find it too sweepingly positive, but this stark negativity to start a story I knew was going to be a queer romance was really frustrating.
I appreciated the modern and unique ways Sara and Emilie circled each other and searched for their own distinct purpose. I appreciated the changing perspectives and did enjoy both stories, though it was challenging at time to reconcile the two stories into the same universe at times. I wanted this to be more of a story of these two coming together, but instead it felt like it was as much about them breaking apart as it was them coming together.
I also felt like the middle to end section of the book really dragged on? it felt a bit repetitive in there to me. this wasn’t the stand out book I was anticipating, but a good change of pace for me compared to my other recent reads.
please do research on the potential triggers in this book before reading. it is very violent, especially in the beginning, and could be triggering for some audiences.
overall I give this book 3.5 stars (rounded up for goodreads). i’m glad I read it!
I really enjoyed the delicate descriptions of the flavor combinations for the cocktails Sara made as well as those for Emilie’s floral arrangements.
the beginning of this book was shockingly violent. what I thought was going to be a sapphic love story started out as a tale of violence and fleeing. I didn’t love that. I don’t read a lot of romance because I find it too sweepingly positive, but this stark negativity to start a story I knew was going to be a queer romance was really frustrating.
I appreciated the modern and unique ways Sara and Emilie circled each other and searched for their own distinct purpose. I appreciated the changing perspectives and did enjoy both stories, though it was challenging at time to reconcile the two stories into the same universe at times. I wanted this to be more of a story of these two coming together, but instead it felt like it was as much about them breaking apart as it was them coming together.
I also felt like the middle to end section of the book really dragged on? it felt a bit repetitive in there to me. this wasn’t the stand out book I was anticipating, but a good change of pace for me compared to my other recent reads.
please do research on the potential triggers in this book before reading. it is very violent, especially in the beginning, and could be triggering for some audiences.
overall I give this book 3.5 stars (rounded up for goodreads). i’m glad I read it!
koxendine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0