Scan barcode
emmahe's review
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
alyssagurklis's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Torture
mallorypen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'll be honest - I picked this audiobook while in transit and didn't have much time to read the description. So it's totally on me that this is one of a series, and much of the helpful backstory I would have appreciated appeared in previous books. Even though there were some holes in my understanding, this novel was much more of a character study than something plotty and I found myself figuring out the gaps quickly.
Having read a number of Cat Sebastian novels at this point, I do think her strength is in character studies vs. an involved plot. Case in point, Martin's character was delightfully complex: from dealing with his chronic illness (his feeling like a burden on the people he loves/it being better that he dies alone; his chafing at being cosseted and deprived of choice; his acceptance of his limitations while also understanding his own strength and power within those physical limits) to his familial shame (trying not to follow his father's horrible example by denying himself his own needs and being uncomfortable asking for what he wants; trying to reconcile what he'd do to keep Will safe and healthy; his discomfort with his title and his perceptions of uselessness). I also got the sense that Martin was demisexual insofar that the only person he'd ever wanted to have sex with was also the only person he'd ever loved.
Will was also complex, though perhaps not quite as much so as Martin, but the relationship that deepened between them was so stinkin' cute and sweet and lovely. Their desire to take care of one another was so lovely and soft. Their happiness at a simple country life together was so sweet. And then, the transition from good friends who happen to kiss one another on the forehead and call one another sweetheart and love to actual lovers in love with each other was also toothache-inducingly sweet. This was also the best banter writing I think I've seen from this author, and the fond exasperation definitely lent credence to the backstory that they were childhood friends who were and continue to be obsessed with each other.
AND THE TATTOO REVEAL. Absolutely giggle and kick-your-feet worthy.
That said, one of the main issues/sources of conflict in their relationship was a lack of communication. Yes, it made sense based off of Martin's baggage and Will's desire to give Martin all the comforts he thinks he needs based on his birthright, but it did boil down to the fact that had they had a slightly more frank conversation, the last quarter of the book wouldn't have happened.
Was this a Book of Substance? Not particularly. Did it drag a little in parts? Sure. Was it sweet and enjoyable? Absolutely! Do I need to read the other books in the series? ... Time, and available Audible credits, will tell.
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
clarabooksit's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
fran's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse and Chronic illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Physical abuse
buttermellow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse
writewithapendragon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Outing, and Classism
A lot of the content warnings are genre-typical and/or occur off the page. Sexual content gets explicit but never lasts more than a couple pages.cardaisy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think part of it is that for a significant portion of the book there was no real conflict pushing the plot along so it's really just them working through their feelings and developing their relationship, which was tender and sweet and all that, but also wasn't really enough imo. And then when there was a bit of conflict introduced it just didn't feel very compelling. Like the back and forth and miscommunication and all that just didn't work for me, and, I'm ngl, both Will and Martin really frustrated me at times
Also, I skipped over Hartley's book and I feel like there's probably some important context in that book for the start of this one?? You get the gist of it but I spent the first couple of chapters just very confused
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, and Medical trauma
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Torture
- reference made to a previous relationship between a minor and one of the MCs father - one of the MCs was subject to a horrific event/torture that isn't really described at all, but is referenced, and he suffers from PTSD - no drug use happens on the page, but reference is made to one of the MCs being addicted to opium - one of the MCs suffers from chronic illness (TB, but also he's described in general as having a "weak consitution" and that he was sick all throughout his childhood as well)peannlewis's review
- 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
5.0
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
- 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
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug abuse and Torture
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault