jbquinn's review
1.0
This book was a DNF for me. I hate that I couldn't bring myself to finish this book because I really like the author of this book & loved every other book she's written. In fact I've read pretty much all her books & this was the 1st book of hers that I didn't like. I know I'm in the minority about this book but, sadly it just wasn't for me :(
breadedbookpages's review
5.0
I'm adding this to my favorites because it was just so incredibly intense. The sex stuff was amazing.
content warning: attempted suicide, anxiety, description of a plane crash.
representation: agoraphobic heroine
trope: insta-love, movie star hero, recluse heroine, both are pretttty damaged but softest people you'd ever meet.
content warning: attempted suicide, anxiety, description of a plane crash.
representation: agoraphobic heroine
trope: insta-love, movie star hero, recluse heroine, both are pretttty damaged but softest people you'd ever meet.
leelah's review
4.0
You know that fantasy about big movie star falling for regular girl?
It's not my fantasy and it never was; I am really not into it. I can't exactly explain why nor I gave it some serious thought, but some clumsy, murmured reason would be that I find this premise the most fantastical of all contemporary novel tropes because it's set on an idea of romantic relationship wrapped around the "miracle" - two people are starting from two so monumentally different positions it's a miracle they even met, not to mention fall in love. It's not that I dislike famous characters, but I like some balance thrown in: Disgraced athlete? Bring it on. Ex-junky rock star? Oh yeah. Gorgeous movie star lead in latest superhero flick millions of people around the world are lusting after? :crickets:
I know- this is pretty warped, but hey, it's the thing with me and I won't even entertain myself with the idea that my reading choices re always based on common sense and logic, but it's probably why I always skip reading [b:Just the Sexiest Man Alive|3863861|Just the Sexiest Man Alive|Julie James|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342552584s/3863861.jpg|3909033] or hate Notting Hill.
Well, Beyond Repair is not that fantasy. If anything, it's distorted, skewed view of, since while I was reading, I had a feeling Stein went with it backward and made it a fantasy scenario for movie star in question.
Alice finds Holden Stark passed out in her house. Every person in her situation would call an ambulance, but as you read her thoughts...you are slowly realizing that there is something not quite normal with Alice. If her thoughts are train then that train derails and detours many times before it comes to destination. She recognized what he did as quick as she recognized his face, but even touching to check his pulse is equal to approaching sleeping tiger to her. So, yeah...she is weird. She put him to bed and just kind of let him to work everything on his own. Holden is just tired and wants to go away from his fame and his life and he ended up in the most unreal situation he could think of: with the nerdy, weird person who couldn't care less he is famous and who isn't expecting anything from him. Like I said- backward fantasy where Alice is from another planet, one she is the star of, a mysterious creature he can just look at and can't figure out. So, they live in this limbo for few weeks, where they eat cheetos with milk, wear torn clothes and have exchanges like they are less-articulate Chuck Wendig while the entire world thinks Holden is dead. Imagine another version of Misery, but where Paul Sheldon wanted to stay with Annie Wilkes because they bonded over Misery Chastaine, and yes, I came to this analogy myself before Alice and Holden did, which is just a point made to weirdness of both of these characters. They are nerdy and geeky and awkward, but they are also fucked up by events in their life,so they are not handling it very well. If I need to guess, then real life for them is like neverending panic attack and weird circumstances brought them together and oh, they have so many issues, but they clicked.
Which brings me to romance. Ok, the first thing I noticed and liked about their romance is the fact that Alice's initial reactions to Holden weren't about his looks- if anything, she was scared of his gorgeous face, great physic and amazing body and muscles. But she swooned over words he said. There is this scene in the book where he's taking a bath and she is literally scared to look at him, but then he says something completely geeky and she is charmed. It's usually the other way around and especially with a hero whose look is the first thing anyone comment about him. Only after she falls for Berny, Alice starts noticing that his abs make her tingly all over. So, Alice and Holden have this dance, where they are both attracted to each other but have no idea what to do and it's sweet and funny and so damn right because they do just the right thing. I don't know, Holden and Alice can probably write this entire review using movie references, because they are not perfect- not at all, but they are perfect for each other.
Sex scenes are incredibly hot and sensual and smart, which is the reason Stein, McKenna and Hart are my trifecta when it comes to erotica. There is also some kink. :wink, wink:
The reason I chucked a star off is the perfect, white picket fence ending. I don't know if it's publishing line demand or necessity due to novella format, but Alice's issues were too severe for me to buy she suddenly overcame it.So, I was kind of mad author went with "Love is cure for everything" easy way out. I love to read messed up characters, fucked up people and weird creatures,because I want the ending to tell me: yeah, we are fucked up, we are nor functioning so well in real life, but it doesn't mean we can't have a functioning relationship. "
*Thanks for rec, Karla!
chichio's review
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
“One of the biggest lies out there is the one that says you have to be whole to be loved—that if you’re not it’s a miracle anyone would. But my love for you is not some flimsy miracle based on whether you’re okay or not. Love is something you deserve. More than anything, Enid, you deserve love. You deserve it so much I sometimes ache to give it to you.”
Guys. CHARLOTTE I NEED U TO GET BETTER COVERS SO THAT THE GIRLS WONT FEEL EMBARRASSED READING THIS EXCELLENCE PLEASE HIRE SOMEONE NEW UR MAKING THIS DIFFICULT FOR ME
Guys. CHARLOTTE I NEED U TO GET BETTER COVERS SO THAT THE GIRLS WONT FEEL EMBARRASSED READING THIS EXCELLENCE PLEASE HIRE SOMEONE NEW UR MAKING THIS DIFFICULT FOR ME
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death