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bookswithbront's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did feel that the incredible story was held back at times by the writing. It’s not that the writing was ever bad, it’s just that the author tended to over-communicate certain feelings the main characters were clearly having. The story explores some really profound ideas about identity, family, trauma, and love, but the writing leaned toward spelling everything out clearly and sometimes boringly. I also wish Delilah’s clear alcohol dependency had been addressed as a problem, or else not been included at all. It didn’t really add anything to the story as it was.
That said, I’m still giving this four stars because I so deeply enjoyed the story and the characters from start to finish, and I’m excited to read Astrid’s story in the next book!
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief
zoeolivia1199's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
mitrosec's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, and Alcoholism
a_libra_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
strawberrycasualreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism and Abandonment
ecn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A lot of parts of the story needed more time spent on it and some parts dragged on. Maybe that’s to be expected in a book centered on romance, but it would be nice to have rounded characters and stories.
I also really hated the way it was written. Nothing wrapped me in - it felt more like I was being talked at rather than drawn into the story. Additionally, there was a lottttttt of writing about “cis straight white man,” which, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan. However, all main characters and most side characters? Were? Cis white people, and *two* trans+ characters, all presumably white? It felt like the author was just throwing around girl boss feminist phrases. Additionally, to always include “women and nonbinary” people as a monolith felt gross. I know it wasn’t the intent, and YES you can be a lesbian and be attracted to women and non-men, but as a non-cis person, the phrasing (always saying “women and nonbinary people” or “women and femmes” felt washy, shallow/careless, and white feminism. Just say non-men.
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Homophobia
librarianbeks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism
ourxstorybegins's review against another edition
5.0
Some Highlights:
- This book focuses on so much more than Delilah and Claire. It involves a lot of healing figuring out relationships involving Astrid (Delilah’s sister), Iris (Astrid’s other best friend), Josh (Claire’s ex), and Ruby (Claire’s daughter) are also essential to the plot and, most of the time, feel just as important as Astrid’s budding relationship with Claire.
- Speaking of Claire’s daughter, I absolutely adore Ruby! I had so much fun with every scene that she was in. I have yet to read a romance with a single parent that I didn’t enjoy, but Ruby is definitely one of my favorite rom com children. She feels very much like a realistic pre-teen, and the fact that we get time to see her relationships with Delilah, Claire, and Josh is really lovely.
- The chemistry between Delilah and Claire is absolutely off-the-charts. From the first chapter that they meet, the author does a great job with showing that there is a ton of physical chemistry between the two (real talk, the spice is fantastic), and once things start to get more real, the emotional chemistry is very much present between these two women, as well.
I really loved this book. Delilah as a character felt like she could connect with so many different people — even though I would say I have nothing in common with her, I still related to her in so many smaller ways. I’m really looking forward to the next book of the Bright Falls series!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
marareading's review against another edition
- 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
Delilah Green gives the attitude of not caring. An artist, living in New York, but from Oregon. When she was young her father passed away leaving her alone with her stepsister & stepmother who she instantly felt distant. The moment she turned 18 she fled to New York to start a life she could thrive in. Now her stepsister is getting married, and she is being paid to be the wedding photographer. If she didn't need the money she wouldn't go.
The antics, the relationships, the character development. This was a fun and soul filling read. I laughed at the beginning and cried happy tears at the end, and I never cry. I LOVED seeing myself in Claire. A bisexual mother as one of the main characters in a story. That alone is absolutely wonderful.
Thank you Berkley for sending me this advanced copy. It is a new favorite. Highly recommend.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, and Alcoholism