Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - From the Start

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

From the Start by Katie Duggan

10 reviews

aromanticreadsromance's review

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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

love that there's no redemption arc for a homophobic relative!!!

full rtc

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mcrosby11's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

This book had a slow start, but once it picked up, I couldn't put it down. The characters are endearing, lovable, and relatable, making it a delightful one-sitting read. I'm eagerly anticipating more from this author, as the emotional rollercoaster and the slow burn kept me hooked. The first kiss even gave me butterflies, and I couldn't help but audibly squeal. It's a heartfelt story that strikes the perfect balance between cheesy and genuinely touching.

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ravenk28's review

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emotional funny inspiring 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

5.0

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kaitlynkenny's review

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3.5

3.5 rounded up

Nic and Josh are childhood enemies turned enemies with benefits in Duggan's debut novel. Nic, a bisexual autistic psychologist struggles with intimacy and knowing her body. Enter Josh, a queer fat English professor who is more than happy to give her lessons. Over time the two learn about themselves, one another, and fall in love. Nic starts to take a stand for herself professionally and personally. Josh starts to accept his trauma and realizes help is available in different ways.

Things that didn't work for me:
- the overwriting, especially with dialogue tags. there was too much action in the dialogue tags, let them speak and then follow with action if needed. something I almost always expect in debut novels.
- not enough of Nic and Josh as professionals or people outside their relationship with one another. given how long the novel is, I would've loved to see more of the two interacting with the outside world
- unclear on Nic's profession but seems to hint out experience with being a therapist but I can't imagine a therapist resenting someone who was a child and didn't stand up to your bullies when they themselves were also a child then holding on to that resentment for 20 years. the deep-rooted hatred felt surface level and I really wanted more - I wanted to understand the complexity of Nic hating Josh and begrudgingly accepting she now loves him.
*These are all common things I see in debut novels. this is not to say this is a bad book, because it is not. I am eager to see more by Duggan because I can tell she will do amazing things.

Things that worked for me:
-the representation. Duggan really said I am giving you queer/bi, neurodivergent, PTSD, fat rep, and MORE. It's so hard tackling so much but Duggan did a great job. None of the representation aspects felt like they were just added for "points," they all fit the characters and Duggan did a great job of respecting and writing different types of representation.
-the spice was fun and fitting. a book about lessons is going to be spicy and although there are multiple (I mean MULTIPLE) chapters of it, it didn't feel like it was there to be there - it had a purpose.
- the spice was well-written and fun, but it also wasn't required reading if anyone wanted to skip it. Duggan does a great job with their pacing; I think you can read this while skipping over the spice (for the most part) and still understanding the emotional impact Nic and Josh have on one another.
- the banter was by far my favorite part. I loved the back-and-forth, Nic gave and Josh took then Josh gave and Nic gave right back. it was beautiful, funny, and well-written.

Overall, very much enjoyed this book. Super proud of Duggan for this debut - it's been so fun to watch the journey on Instagram. Definitely recommend and I cannot wait to see more.

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thefatpaperback's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

“But I’d do it all again if it meant that it would lead to where it did. If it would lead to us.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On April 3, 2023, I was in Katie’s DMs talking about nerdy book boyfriends, our anticipation for BETTER HATE THAN NEVER by Chloe Liese, and our love of childhood enemies to lovers. Katie said it was a trope she wanted to write and before we knew it, she was abandoning her WIP to plan, outline, and write this book I adore so very much.

I say all this so you know I’m biased. I’ve been with FROM THE START from its very start. But I truly believe y’all are going to fall in love with this story too. It offers readers a chance to feel so many different emotions—amusement, vulnerability, grief—and most of all, hope.

When Nic Quinn runs into her childhood enemy, Josh Henry, on a late night train headed back to the city, she’s pissed. When she accidentally and unknowingly crashes his birthday party after a tinder date gone wrong, she’s furious. When she hears his guests talking about the Good Time they’ve had with Josh in the past…she’s curious. And that ounce of intrigue grows until she’s asking him to help her find out what she likes from a partner. Josh agrees, but he can’t figure out why. Between teaching and caring for his grandmother, Josh doesn’t have the time—and certainly not the patience—to spend with Nic. What unfolds is a story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and a love that heals.

🌼 Childhood Enemies to Lovers
🌼 Grumpy/Sunshine
🌼 Intimacy/Seduction Lessons
🌼 Fat MMC Rep
🌼 Queer Rep
🌼 Autistic FMC Rep
🌼 Quinn Family Shenanigans

⚠️ CW: death of family members, autistic meltdowns, fatphobia, PTSD, cancer, bullying, ableism, and religious trauma.

FROM THE START releases in 1 week! Pre-order now on Kindle Unlimited 🫶

Katie, thank you for letting me be such a vital part of Nic and Josh’s story. Your friendship and your care for stories like theirs means the world to me.

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sarahsbookstacks's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

I can’t believe this is a debut! I loved every bit of Nic and Josh’s story. This book is such a gift.

For the folks like me that love queer and neurodivergent romcoms a la Chloe Liese and Mazey Eddings, this is for us!!!!

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rickireadss's review

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5.0

OMFG!!!! i had a really good feeling i was going to enjoy this, and baby, i was right!

i am, first and foremost, an absolute *slut* for sex and/or intimacy lessons in contemporary romances and katie executed it SO WELL in this. the way my boy josh made a syllabus for the lessons between him and nic?!?!?!? BONER ALERT, like that is just so hot (*cue my competency kink*).

i just loved everything about this book. nic and josh are just such real characters, that are relatable and loveable. i honestly could not pick who i love more [read: this book is bi panic in its finest form] because i LOVE a grumpy fmc as i can relate to them faaaaaar more than a sunshine fmc, but i also DEVOUR a sunshine, golden retreiver mmc - like they are my bread and butter, i love them so much.

outside of their character dynamic, i loved seeing the representation in this book!! it was handled with such care, and made me tear up more than once. not only do we get disability rep (nic's autistic and josh has PTSD) and queer rep (nic's bisexual and josh is queer) BUT WE ALSO GOT A FAT MMC!!!!!!!! fat rep is so important to me, and i am always actively searching for it in books - but the fact that the MMC is fat just made me so happy. we see a lot of fat FMCs in stories but i've only read 1 or 2 others with fat MMCs.

and the way that josh being fat is like the perfect balance for nic because he is able to regulate her after they f*ck is just so hot and cute and made me cry ngl

ANYWAYS.... i could talk about this book all day i think, but it is just so good and a new favorite of mine. one last thing, the side characters in this are amazing!!!!! i love the quinn family and their group chat and cannot wait for each of their books!! okay bye, go pick this book up pls & ty!

thank you katie for sending me an ARC!! <3

⚠️: cancer, death of family member, death of parents (drunk driving accident), PTSD symptoms (nightmares), autistic meltdowns, fatphobia, bullying, ableism, religious trauma

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