dlberglund's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet romance about reconnecting with your first love/first broken heart.....and it has puppies!
This is marked as part of a series, but the location is the connection, not the characters, so there is nothing missing by reading this as a stand alone.
This is marked as part of a series, but the location is the connection, not the characters, so there is nothing missing by reading this as a stand alone.
gayanyway's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
iggyebab's review against another edition
2.0
2nd chance romance.
Neither of the main characters were clear to me. I was told who they were but there was nothing she wing me that they cared about one another.
The writing was fine but I won’t remember either of them.
Neither of the main characters were clear to me. I was told who they were but there was nothing she wing me that they cared about one another.
The writing was fine but I won’t remember either of them.
jamietherebelliousreader's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars. This was fine. Much, much better than Flipcup but that’s not saying a whole lot honestly. The characters of Phoebe and Taylor were cool, I liked Phoebe more than Taylor though as Taylor was a bit selfish in the end. The romance between them is a second chance as they were high school sweethearts and I thought that they had good chemistry. There’s cute dogs in this and the writing is good but there was nothing all that great about it unfortunately. I’ll read something else from this writer though but this series is not for me and I’m glad this is the last of the two sapphic books because I have no interest in the rest of the books.
cammiixy's review
It was alright I fell asleep listening to this and couldn’t be bothered to go back and finish it.
jadesarah's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“So I’m asking you for a fresh start. Let’s just enjoy our time here together, and if we have something worth fighting for when it’s time for me to leave, then let’s fight for it.”
Taylor and Phoebe were friends in their teens and also had a summer of love when they were 16 until Phoebe got scared and essentially ran away. Around a decade later, Phoebe is back in the small town that Taylor lives in. There's a second chance story of friendship and love. Both women are more comfortable in who they are now.
I can't lie, I struggled with this one. The second half definitely was much better for me. In the beginning I struggled. The writing felt awkward and stilted and I was struggling to connect with it. I kind of felt meh. I almost gave up but I think the audio helped - although with the audio I didn't like the "voice" of Phoebe from Taylor's perspective, it came across as constantly whispery/breathy/high pitched.
Here's what didn't work for me:
- The second chance. It just didn't ring true for me. I am not saying what they had in their teens wasn't important or valid but the fact that there was such an importance on it but it felt more like "told not shown" so it didn't work for me. Also the fact that Taylor never truly moved on even though she wanted to find someone. I just don't think their teenage love was THAT strong.
- There's repetitive mention of chemistry and honestly I didn't feel much of that until the second half of the book. There was little to no feeling/chemistry for me. Same with their friendship as adults. Felt awkward. The dogs brought them together but felt forced. There were times I just didn't buy into them as friends or as a couple.
- I understood Taylor's caution but omg. In the beginning she's pushy with the dogs and the cabin. Then even at the end she's unfair to Phoebe who is trying to make it work. She apologises but it was still Taylor being an asshole honestly. I didn't like it.
- The easy out of the point of conflict they had. I feel like Taylor was putting all the responsibility on Phoebe to sacrifice and that wasn't fair.
What I liked:
-There are lighthearted/funny moments. I genuinely laughed out loud a time or two.
-Puppies!! Dogs!! Although a warning that there is a touch and go situation for one of the pups (but it works out)
- Where I struggled with Taylor, I really liked Phoebe!
- The balance of sweet and steamy was good.
- Later in the book, when Phoebe and Taylor are falling back into each other, the little bit of relationship development we see is enjoyable.
- The communication. There end up being an easy out but it did feel like Phoebe didn't give everything up all of a sudden for her relationship with Taylor, she was trying to balance her life before and her life now.
This book is a romance which is mostly contained to a small town, it's about Phoebe and Taylor getting to know each other as adults. Figuring out if they should be together while looking after dogs. I guess for me the development wasn't truly there and there's a lack of connection. I'm glad I stuck with it though.
Taylor and Phoebe were friends in their teens and also had a summer of love when they were 16 until Phoebe got scared and essentially ran away. Around a decade later, Phoebe is back in the small town that Taylor lives in. There's a second chance story of friendship and love. Both women are more comfortable in who they are now.
I can't lie, I struggled with this one. The second half definitely was much better for me. In the beginning I struggled. The writing felt awkward and stilted and I was struggling to connect with it. I kind of felt meh. I almost gave up but I think the audio helped - although with the audio I didn't like the "voice" of Phoebe from Taylor's perspective, it came across as constantly whispery/breathy/high pitched.
Here's what didn't work for me:
- The second chance. It just didn't ring true for me. I am not saying what they had in their teens wasn't important or valid but the fact that there was such an importance on it but it felt more like "told not shown" so it didn't work for me. Also the fact that Taylor never truly moved on even though she wanted to find someone. I just don't think their teenage love was THAT strong.
- There's repetitive mention of chemistry and honestly I didn't feel much of that until the second half of the book. There was little to no feeling/chemistry for me. Same with their friendship as adults. Felt awkward. The dogs brought them together but felt forced. There were times I just didn't buy into them as friends or as a couple.
- I understood Taylor's caution but omg. In the beginning she's pushy with the dogs and the cabin. Then even at the end she's unfair to Phoebe who is trying to make it work. She apologises but it was still Taylor being an asshole honestly. I didn't like it.
- The easy out of the point of conflict they had. I feel like Taylor was putting all the responsibility on Phoebe to sacrifice and that wasn't fair.
What I liked:
-There are lighthearted/funny moments. I genuinely laughed out loud a time or two.
-Puppies!! Dogs!! Although a warning that there is a touch and go situation for one of the pups (but it works out)
- Where I struggled with Taylor, I really liked Phoebe!
- The balance of sweet and steamy was good.
- Later in the book, when Phoebe and Taylor are falling back into each other, the little bit of relationship development we see is enjoyable.
- The communication. There end up being an easy out but it did feel like Phoebe didn't give everything up all of a sudden for her relationship with Taylor, she was trying to balance her life before and her life now.
This book is a romance which is mostly contained to a small town, it's about Phoebe and Taylor getting to know each other as adults. Figuring out if they should be together while looking after dogs. I guess for me the development wasn't truly there and there's a lack of connection. I'm glad I stuck with it though.
happilyeveramy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.5
nathandre's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
claudia_fosca's review
5.0
I loved Hideaway by Rachel Lacey. It’s such a beautiful story. It’s a second chance, first love, childhood friends to lovers, F/F romance that will melt your heart. It’s romantic and emotional, heartfelt and heartwarming, but at the same time so charged with tension and longing that it will keep you turning the pages without stopping. I just couldn’t put it down. It’s so freaking awesome that I just wanted to finish it, but at the same time I didn’t want it to end.
Phoebe and Taylor were best friends growing up, and more than friends when they turned sixteen. It didn’t end well. Thirteen years later, when her life is falling appart, Phoebe goes to Vermont to hide and runs into Taylor. Let me just say that their chemistry is off the charts. The tension between them is so intense and sizzling, that I was smiling like a lunatic. I could feel the longing and the anticipation in my blood, and it was killing me. It’s just so good!
I just loved everything about Hideaway. It is beautifully written for starters. I really enjoyed reading it. The story flows naturally and it’s emotional without being too angsty. The characters are really likable and have depth, and there are puppies! I also loved how Vermont came alive in my mind, it really shines. It is a different side of it, but it fits perfectly in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. It’s definitely a great addition to the Vino and Veritas series.
Phoebe and Taylor were best friends growing up, and more than friends when they turned sixteen. It didn’t end well. Thirteen years later, when her life is falling appart, Phoebe goes to Vermont to hide and runs into Taylor. Let me just say that their chemistry is off the charts. The tension between them is so intense and sizzling, that I was smiling like a lunatic. I could feel the longing and the anticipation in my blood, and it was killing me. It’s just so good!
I just loved everything about Hideaway. It is beautifully written for starters. I really enjoyed reading it. The story flows naturally and it’s emotional without being too angsty. The characters are really likable and have depth, and there are puppies! I also loved how Vermont came alive in my mind, it really shines. It is a different side of it, but it fits perfectly in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. It’s definitely a great addition to the Vino and Veritas series.