Reviews

A False Start (Special Edition) by Elsie Silver

Only show reviews with written explanations

plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition

emotional

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

I know that age-gap romance is a fantasy thing, but when it is in such a realistic setting it just makes me feel uncomfortable.

But only because of how it is portrayed...
With her being 19 and him being 33 when they made out and

him telling her how in that moment he knew he wanted her to be his when they are intimate for the first time.

Because that did not need to happen this way.

I also dislike how the mMC and the fMCs older brother are supposed to be "best buds" but when it comes to showing their relationship the author decided to skip the parts as in every time they interact your only being told about how "mMC and fMCs brother are now sharing inside jokes"...

The book kind of started to bore me as the trauma and drama is there but any plot is missing (and romance books can have a- if not more - plotlines apart from the MCs getting together) just give me something, like getting to know the characters apart from each other.

Spice(quantity&quality):
3.25/5
The spice helped the book...
There was variety, the scenes were detailled and fit the characters.

Content Warnings

maciedrew's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I think this was my favorite one, the fact that they separated because they both wanted the other to thrive is so cute, his dedication to her is so bold. He went to rehab to better himself and make himself worth of her. The "grand gesture" wasn't like in most books. He went so above and beyond and didn't even know if she was going to take him back. He knew so early that he was a goner for her and it's the cutest thing.

probablyalovestory's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I may have read this series entirely backwards, starting with a False Start (book #4), but I have zero regrets!

katthekittkat's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.5

I want to give it 1⭐️ just because she left him and he still had to be the one to make the big grand gesture/grovel. Yet imma still be fair. Can only take the “strong, independent” heroine trope so far before you alienate the FMC. Not a great sign that I was lowkey rooting for her to still say no at the end bc he fixed himself and she treated herself which are two very very different objectives for “needing to do it on your own” and deserving of different responses. He deserved more. She deserved a reality check. Felt this way about most of the women in this series. All the FMCs are perfect, all the MMCs are “assholes” even though the opposite seems to be true? Since when is seeking therapy for PTSD, removing yourself from toxicity and getting sober yourself, looking to protect your family’s stability and reputation bad characteristics? I was excited to explore the Elsie silver and I liked the Chestnut Ridge books a lot. These fell flat in infuriating ways and I will likely be moving on to other authors.