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jadesarah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sage comes from a family of gifted women, she has been fired and now has to go back home to live with her great aunt and sister who hates her while she's being haunted by her other sister. Oh and also Tenn Reyes is back in town. The guy she's been in love with since she was 15.
Between the very pretty cover and the synopsis, this book gives off the idea of a sorta cozy second chance romance and ehhh... It's not cozy lol. Unless death, grief, decade long grudges, generational trauma, colonisation and domestic violence are considered cozy. Also I'd be wary of the second chance angle because... Tenn has no idea that Sage is who he was messaging on AOL over a decade ago and they were never together. Look, speaking, as a very sentimental and emotionally driven person and who knows even as an adult that crushes are hell, the fact sage built up this "heartbreak" and "hated the man who broke her heart" like it was all dramatic for nothing. It gave me so much second hand embarrassment. So it depends on your meaning of second chance but it was flimsy for me personally.
In the end I found the romance mostly mature and lovely but lacking. The blue rose scene was so out of character especially for Tenn. It seemed incredibly forced.
The biggest issue overall for me was the author was doing too much all at once and took quickly. Often, it felt she wasn't allowing the reader to experience what was happening and make judgement of certain situations which I would have! But instead it felt like being rushed there. Sage also comes across as smug and knowledgeable it all considering her life is a mess. Even when it comes to her best friend's situation and again this felt a consequence of the author doing too much and rushing us to certain conclusions. Like please let me experience this. Let it unfold. Sigh. Also the author was making it obvious with certain things that they were set ups for future books and again this came under doing too much. Some things could have been developed over the next books. Now maybe this comes down to a publishing thing with the hopes of getting more books.
There's a particular twist in this story but I did stumble across it in a review so I wasn't surprised but it didn't ruin my reading experience and also it becomes clear that's where we're heading quick enough.
There's also a beautiful exploration of nature because of Sage's gift and our relationship with it as humans. I think the best thing about this book is Sage's friendship with Laurel, along with her family dynamics. This is because they are messy and flawed and fuck up and honestly at times are annoying and frustrating and hypocritical and yes even though it's conflicting because it would genuinely annoy me at times there is something so refreshing about that. Give me all of that even if it makes me on the verge of disliking the characters lol. I don't need the big OTT villainous characters, I want the messy and flawed and annoying and angry and who fuck up. The generational dysfunction here and the cycles that have informed their relationship with each other is so well done. In an ideal world we would all just communicate but I personally know that's not how it works. So I hope the author continues to explore those themes within family dynamics and friendships.
Between the very pretty cover and the synopsis, this book gives off the idea of a sorta cozy second chance romance and ehhh... It's not cozy lol. Unless death, grief, decade long grudges, generational trauma, colonisation and domestic violence are considered cozy. Also I'd be wary of the second chance angle because... Tenn has no idea that Sage is who he was messaging on AOL over a decade ago and they were never together. Look, speaking, as a very sentimental and emotionally driven person and who knows even as an adult that crushes are hell, the fact sage built up this "heartbreak" and "hated the man who broke her heart" like it was all dramatic for nothing. It gave me so much second hand embarrassment. So it depends on your meaning of second chance but it was flimsy for me personally.
In the end I found the romance mostly mature and lovely but lacking. The blue rose scene was so out of character especially for Tenn. It seemed incredibly forced.
The biggest issue overall for me was the author was doing too much all at once and took quickly. Often, it felt she wasn't allowing the reader to experience what was happening and make judgement of certain situations which I would have! But instead it felt like being rushed there. Sage also comes across as smug and knowledgeable it all considering her life is a mess. Even when it comes to her best friend's situation and again this felt a consequence of the author doing too much and rushing us to certain conclusions. Like please let me experience this. Let it unfold. Sigh. Also the author was making it obvious with certain things that they were set ups for future books and again this came under doing too much. Some things could have been developed over the next books. Now maybe this comes down to a publishing thing with the hopes of getting more books.
There's a particular twist in this story but I did stumble across it in a review so I wasn't surprised but it didn't ruin my reading experience and also it becomes clear that's where we're heading quick enough.
There's also a beautiful exploration of nature because of Sage's gift and our relationship with it as humans. I think the best thing about this book is Sage's friendship with Laurel, along with her family dynamics. This is because they are messy and flawed and fuck up and honestly at times are annoying and frustrating and hypocritical and yes even though it's conflicting because it would genuinely annoy me at times there is something so refreshing about that. Give me all of that even if it makes me on the verge of disliking the characters lol. I don't need the big OTT villainous characters, I want the messy and flawed and annoying and angry and who fuck up. The generational dysfunction here and the cycles that have informed their relationship with each other is so well done. In an ideal world we would all just communicate but I personally know that's not how it works. So I hope the author continues to explore those themes within family dynamics and friendships.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Colonisation
owlmanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
More YA than I expected. Easy read, but sloppy and immature characters. Felt more like I was reading about teenagers than late 20s adults. Though I loved the diversity and witchy plant magic
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was an unexpected delight. The characters are great and it flows really well and is just so enjoyable in all the elements. I will say there is a lot going on and some convenient narritive elements but it's so charming that I can't bring myself to mind it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment
crownoflaurel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity and Abandonment
samanthachen's review against another edition
I love witchy content, and this author must be a green witch with how easily that information flowed. The storyline is intriguing, and the characters are believable. However, for me, it’s difficult reading about intense family conflict, so I needed to put this book down. I kept pushing myself to read further, but the conflicts got more intense. It just wasn’t for me. I also understand that most of that will likely see resolution, but I just couldn’t push through that much conflict to get to it.
Having said all of that, this is definitely someone else’s perfect book. Please give it go after looking into the content warnings
Having said all of that, this is definitely someone else’s perfect book. Please give it go after looking into the content warnings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death and Infidelity
Trigger warnings that needed tags I couldn’t findbstephens0515's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
kaneebli's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse and Car accident
gondorgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
hellsbellsbeepbeep's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
This book has my heart. I loved the way the main character talks about her connection with plants because I relate so much. It felt beautiful to take a ride on her journey to having more self love and the romance she finds. It was nice getting to really chew on realistic family problems in an accurate way, and highlighting everyone’s experiences while holding each character accountable for their actions. Despite anything the characters do wrong you really come to love them and how human their are.
The plot feels really casual at first but by the end that shit picks UP and takes a turn I really didn’t expect to. Like my hunch was way off overall but I wish I had more time with these characters since I love them so much.
The plot feels really casual at first but by the end that shit picks UP and takes a turn I really didn’t expect to. Like my hunch was way off overall but I wish I had more time with these characters since I love them so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Okay this book wasn't my usual cup of tea but I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it despite that fact! It is narrated in the first person which typically I really can't stand, especially in a romance, but in this case it made sense bc Sage is experiencing things (her sisters haunting) that no other characters are experiencing. However, it does put us in a difficult position with Tennessee where a lot of time I felt like his motivations weren't super clear, or maybe felt like they didn't make much sense? He is so vulnerable with Sage, which is the only way to give readers insight into his emotions and inner world, but it makes it extremely to watch Sage lie and withhold from him while he is choosing to be open with her because.....he likes her? I guess? I also found it kind of hard to watch Sage hold a grudge against Tenn for something that happened when they were IN HIGH SCHOOL at the big age of 30. At least Sage can admit to herself that it's stupid. The author did a great job of making you root for Sage despite that, because her family and friends treat her SO unfairly??? Watching her learn how to stand up for herself, to break things so they can grow back together better, is gratifying.
This book is actually quite heavy and deals with a lot of different kinds of trauma that both MCs hold. However, I think this book is a real testament to my belief that romance can handle those topics, and handle them with nuance, depth, and sensitivity. I also rly enjoyed the elements of magical realism and felt they were deployed effectively. The twist at the beginning of the 3rd act felt a bit rushed - we could have spent maybe a bit more time building to it? - but overall I rly enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author.
This book is actually quite heavy and deals with a lot of different kinds of trauma that both MCs hold. However, I think this book is a real testament to my belief that romance can handle those topics, and handle them with nuance, depth, and sensitivity. I also rly enjoyed the elements of magical realism and felt they were deployed effectively. The twist at the beginning of the 3rd act felt a bit rushed - we could have spent maybe a bit more time building to it? - but overall I rly enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment