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bien's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Read this book for a book cub I'm a part off, and went into it without knowing much about this. I quite honestly I have to say it was not for me. The age gap was too big, and that. made me quite uncomfortable reading about them. Ultimately they were both adults, but it still felt kind of wrong.
Also the fact that Solene kept going back and forth between staying or going drove me kind of crazy. Like she really wasn't able to make up her mind at all, and what she wanted for her and how that would potentially affect her daughter. Then he literally quits the band and she then sends him off ??
Also the fact that Solene kept going back and forth between staying or going drove me kind of crazy. Like she really wasn't able to make up her mind at all, and what she wanted for her and how that would potentially affect her daughter. Then he literally quits the band and she then sends him off ??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
triple_m's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The beginning of this book definitely grossed me out, with how often Solene thought of Hayes as a “little boy.” The age gap is pretty extreme and I don’t really think the gender roles being reversed makes it any less inappropriate.
This book was way too slow. While Solene did have valid concerns, all she did was wallow in them and ultimately never made a damn decision about anything. So much of this book was spent inside her head battling the same issues over and over and over again.
I never really felt like they fell in love, nothing seemed that special about their connection besides great sex.
And then, the ending…what’s the point of reading a romance where the characters end up utterly heartbroken and alone? And the complete lack of epilogue was crazy.
I think with some edits this could’ve been a compelling literary fiction novel. Robinne Lee has talent as a writer, but this book is not romantic.
This book was way too slow. While Solene did have valid concerns, all she did was wallow in them and ultimately never made a damn decision about anything. So much of this book was spent inside her head battling the same issues over and over and over again.
I never really felt like they fell in love, nothing seemed that special about their connection besides great sex.
And then, the ending…
I think with some edits this could’ve been a compelling literary fiction novel. Robinne Lee has talent as a writer, but this book is not romantic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying and Stalking
sassper17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking and Sexual harassment
antidietleah's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
melist6's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Grief
jamie_rich's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide attempt
cavallonee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content
shamelesslyash's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
katiejohns's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Stalking
Moderate: Bullying
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
Solène is almost 40, a successful art gallery owner, and a single mother of a 13 year old daughter. When her ex bails on taking their daughter and friends to an August Moon concert, Solène takes his place. Her world is shifted upside down as she falls for Hayes, a 20 year old member of the band.
Let's just start right with the age gap. I really wish that Hayes had been slightly older, even like 24. I have no qualms with the age gap. I don't care who is older, but 20 is VERY young. I think for that reason, there was always this foreboding cloud over their relationship.
There are so many complex themes that run through this book. Society's attitude toward aging (especially women), feminism, downsides of fame, and expectations of men and women in relationships.
You can tell right away that they were both in way over their heads. You could feel that they had so much love and admiration for one another. Sometimes love isn't enough and that is heartbreaking and soul crushing, but it's the real world. Sometimes our lives don't mesh well with another's and Solène and Hayes are a perfect example of that.
Hayes is very young and naive when it comes to Solène's life. Yes, he loves her and he is willing to sacrifice everything for her, but his age and the different places they are in their lives is an insurmountable barrier. He doesn't understand the chaos that their relationship has brought to her and her daughter's lives. He thinks that is it something she can learn to accept in time, she knows that it isn't.
Solène is a very successful, hardworking, level headed woman. Falling for Hayes was not in her plans. She allows herself to get swept up in the romance of the relationship, but deep down she knows that there can never be a real future for them. She is torn between wanting to protect her daughter and wanting to follow her heart. I think that the relationship goes too long, if she had been really honest with herself, she would have ended it sooner. Yes, that shouldn't fall just on her, but we are constantly reminded (by her inner monologue) that she knows that this has an expiration date.
I think that we all were cheering for a happy ending, but it was a reacurring theme throughout the entire book. The ending is heartbreaking, but incredibly realistic.
Tropes: age gap, rockstar, single parent, taboo
Let's just start right with the age gap. I really wish that Hayes had been slightly older, even like 24. I have no qualms with the age gap. I don't care who is older, but 20 is VERY young. I think for that reason, there was always this foreboding cloud over their relationship.
There are so many complex themes that run through this book. Society's attitude toward aging (especially women), feminism, downsides of fame, and expectations of men and women in relationships.
You can tell right away that they were both in way over their heads. You could feel that they had so much love and admiration for one another. Sometimes love isn't enough and that is heartbreaking and soul crushing, but it's the real world. Sometimes our lives don't mesh well with another's and Solène and Hayes are a perfect example of that.
Hayes is very young and naive when it comes to Solène's life. Yes, he loves her and he is willing to sacrifice everything for her, but his age and the different places they are in their lives is an insurmountable barrier. He doesn't understand the chaos that their relationship has brought to her and her daughter's lives. He thinks that is it something she can learn to accept in time, she knows that it isn't.
Solène is a very successful, hardworking, level headed woman. Falling for Hayes was not in her plans. She allows herself to get swept up in the romance of the relationship, but deep down she knows that there can never be a real future for them. She is torn between wanting to protect her daughter and wanting to follow her heart. I think that the relationship goes too long, if she had been really honest with herself, she would have ended it sooner. Yes, that shouldn't fall just on her, but we are constantly reminded (by her inner monologue) that she knows that this has an expiration date.
I think that we all were cheering for a happy ending, but it was a reacurring theme throughout the entire book. The ending is heartbreaking, but incredibly realistic.
Tropes: age gap, rockstar, single parent, taboo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Grief, and Gaslighting