art3m1sxx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
There are time jumps that could seem annoying to most, but in my opinion I found it helped the story. I had an inkling about a few things, but was still surprised at all of the twists!
I’m giving it a 4/5 as in my opinion, there should definitely be trigger warnings in the beginning of the book — but overall I really enjoyed it!!!
Graphic: Sexual content, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Suicide, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Incest
Moderate: Bullying
amberlinanderson'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Child abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Suicide, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Car accident
fink1129's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Incest, Rape, Suicide, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
the_readingfox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Kidnapping, Bullying, Suicide, and Homophobia
hannibanani29's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug use, and Hate crime
issibelle's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Grief, Incest, Death of parent, Death, Kidnapping, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence
angiedcardenas's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Bullying
adrianna_0623's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
katelynmill2'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? It's complicated
4.5
I think this one of the better Colleen Hoover books I’ve read but it didn’t sweep me off my feet the way some of her other books have. It was sad at times, but I didn’t cry (even though I sure wanted to and at times I had a couple tears working their way up). I think the main reason it’s not a 5 star read for me is because it was just kinda.. predictable? I kind of knew a lot of the big “reveals” because of the foreshadowing. For example,
Spoiler
Sky doesn’t really ever want sex and disassociates when men kiss and touch her. Was definitely a red flag and confirmed my later suspicions. In the first flashback chapter, it says how as a child she was afraid of the doorknob turning at night. I put two and two together.The first third of the book is spent building up Sky’s life and watching her make friends with Breckin and Holder. But once things speed up, Breckin and Six aren’t mentioned again until the last like 40 pages (this is a 406 page book, btw).
There were some problematic things in this book, like how Holder (and Sky) didn’t like crying because it was weak. I know this is realistic and toxic masculinity and all that but I just felt like it was such a useless theme to hold onto throughout the book (especially when both of the main characters went through a lot and really needed to feel their emotions.) It felt like it was used to connect the characters, too. Like Sky would try not to cry and then Holder would be like “it’s ok to be weak in front of me.”
Not to mention how Holder practically demanded she get on birth control and Sky had nothing more to say than “ok, I’ll get on it but you could ask nicely?”
Some people think this book felt far fetched but I didn’t. Things like this happen all the time in real life, as sad as it is to say.
However, I did really love the themes in this book. The idea that three people can experience the same thing and react in completely different ways (and I appreciated how none of the ways were judged.) I also loved how it indirectly talked about having an inner child, and how your experiences don’t define you, the way you react does. I liked how it talked about still finding the courage to smile even after everything you’ve been through and how important it is.
I think it’s hard to read about but I think it a real look on trauma and the many ways someone can handle trauma. It alludes to PTSD and disassociating, even though those two things are never specifically named.
Overall, I really did like this book and I actually do love the main characters, regardless of the fact that it doesn’t seem like I do.
Graphic: Suicide and Bullying
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Rape
Minor: Sexism, Addiction, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
ilovegilmoregirls'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
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Pedophilia, Incest, Bullying, and Sexual assault