lottie2424's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
4.0
annadsinger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.5
This was sooo gooood! I’m so pleasantly surprised. Very much for me also :) v relatable.
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
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
(Reread on audio) MY GOD THIS BOOK!!!! Helen Hoang I am in your walls.
This is not a lighthearted romance (jail to anyone using that tag here???). Anna deals with a LOT of really hard things throughout the book. But everything that happens, while difficult to read, is handled with such raw realness. Quan is everything and I will protect him bodily forever.
This is not a lighthearted romance (jail to anyone using that tag here???). Anna deals with a LOT of really hard things throughout the book. But everything that happens, while difficult to read, is handled with such raw realness. Quan is everything and I will protect him bodily forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical trauma, Grief, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Racism
I really don't know why 'cancer' has been tagged because Anna's father is unwell due toSpoiler
a stroke... There is a lot of caretaker exhaustion. Anna is diagnosed as autistic which especially her sister responds poorly to (telling her she's not). She struggles with masking and the diagnosis due to that response. Anna eventually spirals into a severe depression.gnatie's review against another edition
4.5
I'm not gonna lie, parts of this were unbearable and I wanted to throw the book across the room. Theres a very dark section of the book in which it's like one of the characters is drowning in a room full of people, but none of them notice that their drowning. The character is mentally and emotionally exhausted, which makes it exhausting to read, since you come to feel for the characters. It's written in first person, which just exacerbates the point.
The writing, as always with Helen Hoang, is really good. As are the sex scenes, of which there are many. I also really loved the character growth of Quan and Anna, they both had struggles, and they learned to work through them, both separately and as a couple.
So while it was frustrating to read for a bit, that also just made this book incredibly real. Life has ups and downs, and this book included some trenches of downs. So I'd say to def check the trigger warnings and read this if you're in a good place mentally to receive it, because it's a lot. (But it's also so good).
The writing, as always with Helen Hoang, is really good. As are the sex scenes, of which there are many. I also really loved the character growth of Quan and Anna, they both had struggles, and they learned to work through them, both separately and as a couple.
So while it was frustrating to read for a bit, that also just made this book incredibly real. Life has ups and downs, and this book included some trenches of downs. So I'd say to def check the trigger warnings and read this if you're in a good place mentally to receive it, because it's a lot. (But it's also so good).
ajdiaguila's review against another edition
3.0
The third in a series of books about love on the spectrum. Anna is a woman who is burnt out and struggling with finding her own self and self worth. She plays violin but can't seem to finish songs without making mistakes -- so she stops playing. Her boyfriend decides he wants an open relationship before deciding to propose marriage. Anna decides that maybe she should look for a one night stand on an app -- and finds Quan. Anna struggles with trying to fulfill her family's expectations of her - professionally and personally. Quan is finally ready to find love -- or at last find out if the plumbing still works - after recovering from testicular cancer. He meets Anna and both end up more attracted to each other than they had planned -- and maybe a one night stand just isn't in their future.
There are a lot of layers of this story for Anna. She goes through loss, sibling fights about roles, and ultimately has to decide who she is living for.
Overall a good book, some steamy moments, but a lot of depth.
There are a lot of layers of this story for Anna. She goes through loss, sibling fights about roles, and ultimately has to decide who she is living for.
Overall a good book, some steamy moments, but a lot of depth.
celbell's review against another edition
4.0
I am stuck between not giving this a rating at all and giving it 5 stars…so 4 seems fair.
I just really wish the audiobook had a trigger warning list…this was the hardest book I’ve literally ever had to read/listen to and I feel like I need a mafia romance to lighten my mood and lift my spirits.
This book is definitely still absolutely worth reading but please be mindful of your mental health, emotional state, and triggers before picking it up.
I just really wish the audiobook had a trigger warning list…this was the hardest book I’ve literally ever had to read/listen to and I feel like I need a mafia romance to lighten my mood and lift my spirits.
This book is definitely still absolutely worth reading but please be mindful of your mental health, emotional state, and triggers before picking it up.
mlovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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: Injury/Injury detail and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death of parent and Classism