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bookish_meli's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
beebowbabe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity
sarasreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed the dialogue in this book. The banter, both between love interests and friends, was great. It had some found family elements which I love, and a small town, which I didn't know I loved but it charmed me. My favorite character was a side, and not main character. I know they have their own book, which is what I'm most interested in reading if I continue with this series.
My main complaint, which is why the rating is a bit low, is that it's just too long. Certain plot points take a long time to develop and resolve. I couldn't believe I still had a quarter of the book left, when most of the main plot points were finished. There were some scenes that definitely could have been consolidated and tightened up. I don't love when I'm enjoying a book in the beginning, just to end up waiting for it to finally end. Leave me wanting more lol
My main complaint, which is why the rating is a bit low, is that it's just too long. Certain plot points take a long time to develop and resolve. I couldn't believe I still had a quarter of the book left, when most of the main plot points were finished. There were some scenes that definitely could have been consolidated and tightened up. I don't love when I'm enjoying a book in the beginning, just to end up waiting for it to finally end. Leave me wanting more lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
lunar_moths's review against another edition
funny
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
It was good, got a little slow in some parts, then it felt like all the drama was shoved into the last 100 pages, great body positivity, it’s more borderline second chance love than enemies to lovers, it’s light on that trope, beautiful emotional spicy scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
ttorisaurus's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
idk_indigo's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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
What a wonderful debut! The writing was a bit clunky ("the other woman" made a few too many cameos) but I loved the character development! I also loved the sister storyline, it made me want to go talk to my family!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
crystalisreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- 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
Really enjoyable story. loved the Sapphic energy in this book. The normalcy. WLW get to have their small town fantasy too. And it's nice to see friendship be such an integral part of the storyline....but...
Iris acted like a bully when they were kids and is still making people uncomfortable and being rude even as an adult. It was difficult for me to see her portrayed as a good friend, with no criticism of or consequences for her behalf. even physical assault seems to be okay if she's the one who does it.
Also these characters are freaking alcoholics! There is not a task aside from their jobs that they can do without something alcoholic to drink in their hands. it's nice to see women be able to drink without criticism, but this level of constant, automatic alcohol consumption is seriously unhealthy. Therapy would work better and be easier on their livers.
And as far as representation goes, the Sapphic rep is great, but that's it. This is a glaringly white small town (perhaps accurate in a former sundown state but still annoying), full of conventionally attractive, vigorously healthy ablebodied cis white folks. Unrealistic and grosss.
Part of me wants to read the next 2 books, but I don't know if I can get past the drinking and representation issues, not to mention Iris. So probably not. Back to more diverse romances
Iris acted like a bully when they were kids and is still making people uncomfortable and being rude even as an adult. It was difficult for me to see her portrayed as a good friend, with no criticism of or consequences for her behalf. even physical assault seems to be okay if she's the one who does it.
Also these characters are freaking alcoholics! There is not a task aside from their jobs that they can do without something alcoholic to drink in their hands. it's nice to see women be able to drink without criticism, but this level of constant, automatic alcohol consumption is seriously unhealthy. Therapy would work better and be easier on their livers.
And as far as representation goes, the Sapphic rep is great, but that's it. This is a glaringly white small town (perhaps accurate in a former sundown state but still annoying), full of conventionally attractive, vigorously healthy ablebodied cis white folks. Unrealistic and grosss.
Part of me wants to read the next 2 books, but I don't know if I can get past the drinking and representation issues, not to mention Iris. So probably not. Back to more diverse romances
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy
Death by aneurysmgabthebookworm's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship
kylosten's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I ended up loving this book way more than I thought I would.
I don't often read contemporary romance because it's predictable, usually full of tropes I'm not crazy about, and often has me sitting there wishing I could shake the characters into being less stupid or selfish.
All of those things were true with this one, too, but it was written in a way I still found enjoyable. The characters had me simultaneously wishing I could shake them, while still being endearing and sometimes relatable. Each character was fleshed out with their own voices, which I loved. Even characters with similar personalities didn't feel like copy and paste versions of each other.
The relationships between everyone were messy, sometimes dramatic, and complicated but it gave the characters depth and felt believable instead of just feeling like it was there to add meaningless tension.
This book had me laughing, occasionally choked up, shaking my head, while still rooting for everyone to get their happily ever afters.
I don't often read contemporary romance because it's predictable, usually full of tropes I'm not crazy about, and often has me sitting there wishing I could shake the characters into being less stupid or selfish.
All of those things were true with this one, too, but it was written in a way I still found enjoyable. The characters had me simultaneously wishing I could shake them, while still being endearing and sometimes relatable. Each character was fleshed out with their own voices, which I loved. Even characters with similar personalities didn't feel like copy and paste versions of each other.
The relationships between everyone were messy, sometimes dramatic, and complicated but it gave the characters depth and felt believable instead of just feeling like it was there to add meaningless tension.
This book had me laughing, occasionally choked up, shaking my head, while still rooting for everyone to get their happily ever afters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment