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abidavisf's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
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
2.75
I love Vera and Mateo as characters but, sadly, for me, Sable Peak fell flat. Both characters gave so much in the previous books: mystery and heartache from Vera, humour and kindness from Mateo.
I expected Mateo in this book to be fast-paced and cheeky. Instead, he felt slow and unimpassioned, even in the scenes where he was doing something he really loved.
Each of Mateo’s siblings, in their own books, painted such mystery about him, and yet the real Mateo was bland. I doubt that he actually would be bland. We just didn’t get to see anything from him. How were his first two years as a single dad? What kind of life did he live before (besides working for his siblings)? What was he like in school? Griffin had said in his book that Mateo was similar to him but… how? He’d seemed really close to Eloise in her book but where was she during Sable Peak? He’d always been the quiet one in his siblings’ tales and, in his moment in the limelight, he stayed that way. The more I think about it as I write this review, the more disappointed I am.
Vera, as much as my heart aches for her, held so much more potential in my mind. Her inner turmoil felt skated over. So much of the book was reserved for her crushing on Mateo that there was very little of her actually processing her life and learning how to fit back into society, even though that was a much larger part of her life than a crush. It felt like the strength and bravery she showed for going back to the ‘real world’ was glossed over in place of a man and was, frankly, disappointing.
After such a strong series in terms of original plots and heart-wrenching twists, what should have been the most emotional of them all felt muted. All of Vera’s story was told in Crimson River. Her story in Sable Peak was just how her life could revolve around a man. After everything she went through, she deserved more. I love Mateo, but this book wasn’t it for me. Allie held the book together by being adorable, but even she deserved more. How did they explain Vera to her? Does she know about Cormac? So much was left unsaid.
I wanted to give this 3 stars because I finished it but, honestly, it was only my hope that the book would improve that kept me going and my fondness for the other characters. A disappointing end to The Edens.
I expected Mateo in this book to be fast-paced and cheeky. Instead, he felt slow and unimpassioned, even in the scenes where he was doing something he really loved.
Each of Mateo’s siblings, in their own books, painted such mystery about him, and yet the real Mateo was bland. I doubt that he actually would be bland. We just didn’t get to see anything from him. How were his first two years as a single dad? What kind of life did he live before (besides working for his siblings)? What was he like in school? Griffin had said in his book that Mateo was similar to him but… how? He’d seemed really close to Eloise in her book but where was she during Sable Peak? He’d always been the quiet one in his siblings’ tales and, in his moment in the limelight, he stayed that way. The more I think about it as I write this review, the more disappointed I am.
Vera, as much as my heart aches for her, held so much more potential in my mind. Her inner turmoil felt skated over. So much of the book was reserved for her crushing on Mateo that there was very little of her actually processing her life and learning how to fit back into society, even though that was a much larger part of her life than a crush. It felt like the strength and bravery she showed for going back to the ‘real world’ was glossed over in place of a man and was, frankly, disappointing.
After such a strong series in terms of original plots and heart-wrenching twists, what should have been the most emotional of them all felt muted. All of Vera’s story was told in Crimson River. Her story in Sable Peak was just how her life could revolve around a man. After everything she went through, she deserved more. I love Mateo, but this book wasn’t it for me. Allie held the book together by being adorable, but even she deserved more. How did they explain Vera to her? Does she know about Cormac? So much was left unsaid.
I wanted to give this 3 stars because I finished it but, honestly, it was only my hope that the book would improve that kept me going and my fondness for the other characters. A disappointing end to The Edens.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Abandonment
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Rating: 5/5 stars
Vera Gallagher has been in love with Mateo Eden from the moment she saw him…but are the feelings returned?
I’ll be totally honest—I never had strong feelings about Mateo in any of the earlier books, and when I learned who his FMC was I was even more skeptical, so I went in with basically no expectations. But…it turns out this is, without a doubt, my favorite book in the entire series. I absolutely loved it—Vera’s journey, Mateo’s….everything about Mateo, honestly, the single parenting and the pining and the nods to Anne and Harrison’s relationship and the found family and the true family and just ALL OF IT. I teared up so many times, especially in the final third or so. I will truly miss this family and this series so very much, but I’m so glad it was able to close out in such a perfect way.
And finally, my Official Series Rating: SABLE PEAK > JUNIPER HILL > THE EDENS: A LEGACY (short story) > JASPER VALE > CRIMSON RIVER > INDIGO RIDGE > CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY (novella) > GARNET FLATS.
CW: Death/death of parent/child death; addiction/alcoholism/drug abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
megankyle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Abandonment
grimminthegarden's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder
alyse_turns_pages's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
THIS. Is my favorite of the Eden Series and for some reason I thought it was going to be my least. I love Vera. I love Mateo. I LOVE THE EDENS. This story had me not even caring about the spicy scenes. This story had me hooked and I loved how the theme and plot of this book was a continuation from another in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Grief, and Murder
ecravens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
sarahgeorge's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
hapalyn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent
fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Single dad, she falls first but he falls harder
3rd Act Breakup?: Nope
Final Thoughts: I loved this. It’s up there with Juniper Hill for my favorite Edens book, which is saying something since Juniper Hill is one of my favorite books in general. Mateo was so sweet and the moments with Vera & Allie were adorable. I also really loved Vera’s relationship with Harrison & Anne and how they took her in as their own 🥹 The lack of a third act breakup was also great. Overall, it kept me glued to the page, giggling and crying and I loved every minute of it.
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Single dad, she falls first but he falls harder
3rd Act Breakup?: Nope
Final Thoughts: I loved this. It’s up there with Juniper Hill for my favorite Edens book, which is saying something since Juniper Hill is one of my favorite books in general. Mateo was so sweet and the moments with Vera & Allie were adorable. I also really loved Vera’s relationship with Harrison & Anne and how they took her in as their own 🥹 The lack of a third act breakup was also great. Overall, it kept me glued to the page, giggling and crying and I loved every minute of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Dementia and Pregnancy
amylferg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders