Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Say You Swear

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy

6 reviews

abidavisf's review against another edition

funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Books about college are also so wild to me because what do you mean these 18-year-olds know how to function as fully-fledged adults? I guess that’s why they call it fiction.

Say You Swear was a rollercoaster. I almost DNF’d it at the beginning, confused by the abundance of characters and how they relate to each other, as well as the chaotic storylines. A LOT happened at the beginning, and not a lot of it, looking back, was necessary. It felt slightly like an idea dump that was intended to be edited and removed from later but was forgotten, or that all of the ideas are there as Easter eggs for later books which was just too much. It also felt like I’d stepped into the middle of a series and was supposed to instantly know who each character is, how they know one another and all of their past traumas. It was a lot. Much of the plot was predictable too.

That being said, as the story progressed, particularly as Arianna and Noah grew closer and the story revolved more around them than everybody else, the book really improved. It was easier to focus, and I was consequently more invested in the story, mostly Noah’s storyline in all honesty. Though I love Ari, there is only so much Chase I can read about.

I love Cameron and wish she’d had more of her own plot as the book progressed. What happened with Trey? How does she feel about Mason etc? I’m assuming Mason and Brady will get their own books but I would have also liked to have seen more of them. Mason had a lot of page time but as Ari’s brother, so it would be interesting to see him as an individual. Clearly, he is a bit of a womaniser and also in love with Payton so that could be intriguing to observe.

Noah’s storyline was tragic and beautiful. That was very well-thought out. I still have a lot of questions about him, but I think it was evident as we got through the book that we knew what we needed too I understand him fully, and I hope that anybody with even an ounce of Noah’s heart in this world gets their happy ending.

Content Warnings

sinnybuns's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

If I could give this book more than five stars I genuinely would. This book BROKE me. Like absolutely SHATTERED my heart, and then it pieced it back together in the most delicious way. I legit cried while reading it, and I very, very rarely cry over books. I highly recommend reading it.

Content Warnings

xabbeylongx's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad slow-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

~~SPOILERS AHEAD~~

Book Review:

This was the first book of Brandy’s that I read, and I must say, it certainly won’t be the last.

It was such a fantastic read, but I felt such physical heartache throughout the entirety of this book. Because of the slow-burn relationship between Arianna and Noah, I felt things so deeply between them. In some sort of way, as Ari was falling in love with Noah, so was I? Both of them are amazing characters. In fact, all of them are amazing, so well thought out and so well articulated - even Chase, who I despise! He’s lower than a bit of shit on my shoe, but that’s enough about him. Every time they had an argument, or a disagreement, or something went wrong for them, a little bit of my died inside. I genuinely felt sick at multiple points. I know I’m not really selling the book by saying this, but if you want a really emotional, really encompassing type of read, one that may or may not take over your life for a bit, then this is definitely a fantastic recommendation. I must say, even as I’m writing this review, I wish I could go back and read it again.

For me, the worst part of this book was the amnesia - I think that’s a fate, arguably, quite possibly worse than death. The thought of being so in love with someone, and they were with you, but then they forget everything, even if through no fault of their own, it must be so awfully heartbreaking. Well, I was heartbroken, and it didn’t even happen to me. The fact she thought she was still in love with Chase, is even more upsetting.

This book is quite a long read, but it’s such a good slow burn, from strangers to friends to lovers, and it’s filled with so much love, but so much heartbreak also. Encompassing is the only way I can describe it. It has amazing friendships throughout, really tight relationships between families, which you don’t see a lot of in the books I normally read, personally, and I’m definitely going to read the next book in the series as soon as I can!

BTW: Noah is *the* ultimate book boyfriend, omg????

Book Summary:

We follow Arianna, the main character but not the only POV in this book. Arianna has had the same group of friends for ages, consisting of; Cam, the only other girl, and her best friend in the whole world; Mason, her over-protective twin brother; Brady, an overly flirtatious big guy; and Chase, the person whom she has loved for years. She had a crush on him all throughout her childhood, as he was so gentle and had smiles reserved for her. However, because of Mason, who wouldn’t let anyone touch his ‘baby’ sister, he never made a move on her, even though she was in love with him. She has to endure him sleeping with lots of other girls during their friendship, and she just has to bite the bullet, just to keep the peace.

It was their dream to go off to college together, so they end up going to Avix, at Avix U. They get drunk, and so other things that college students love, like partying, before their semester starts. Unfortunately, she gets drunk one night, just like everyone else, and she loses her virginity to Chase. Immediately afterwards, he regrets it, just like she knew he would, and he says that nothing can happen from it. She knew this would happen, so tries to let him off the hook, but it becomes too difficult.

She starts to distance herself from him, and, therefore, the friendship group. She misses out on lots of things her friends are doing, because she doesn’t want to be around Chase. She keeps everyone at a distance, just so as not to see him. She doesn’t let anyone know what’s going on, because she doesn’t want their entire friendship dynamic to change. But when she’s hit by a ball at one of their parties, she doesn’t expect her whole life to change around.

She meets Noah, who is also on the team with Mason, Brady and Chase. Immediately, he is smitten with her. It takes her a while to get over Chase, someone who she’s loved for ages, but Noah is so patient with her. He listens to her, he doesn’t push her, he stands up for her, both with his words and his silence, and he’s exactly what she needs. Well, she’s also exactly what he needs, also. They both need each other. Noah, who grew up mostly alone, trying to work hard to give his mother, who’s in hospital after a couple of strokes, everything, finally has a friend, and Arianna finally has someone that can give her all the love she needs. Chase couldn’t give her that; he was too worried about upsetting Mason, when he should have known that getting with her and then leaving her would have hurt him more.

Slowly, Arianna starts to get over Chase, and she falls for Noah, and he’s besotted with her. They meet each other’s parents - and Noah’s mum is very smitten - and start spending every minute they can with each other. However, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, unfortunately; one night, when Chase is wasted, he confesses his love for Ari. He wanted to do it for a while, and was always angry when her and Noah would hang out, but it’s then that he chooses to say something. She goes after Chase when he runs off, and Chase kisses her. She quickly realises it isn’t something that she wants. Noah understands, although is hurt by it, but forgives her.

Everything is better after that. They spend more time with each other, become closer, and, again, everything is going well until Ari decides to use a moment with Noah as a way to hurt Chase. Noah tells her to think about Chase, really think about him, and see whether he’s something that she wants.

She’s miserable without him. Morbidly depressed, won’t leave her house, barely eats, barely washes. Avoids everyone. Desperately tries to call him, but he doesn’t answer. She goes everywhere, trying to search for him. Then, at another party, she decides to get really drunk. And that’s when Chase tries to get handsy with her, telling her he always loved her. Naturally, everyone finds out that he hurt her and took her virginity, and, naturally, Mason beats him up. She messages Noah, who immediately comes to collect her, but as they are about to meet up and he is going to confess his love for her, she is knocked down by a car.

Days go by, and she loses a lot of blood, has to be put in a medically-induced coma whilst they wait for her brain to stop swelling, and when she wakes up, everyone is so thankful. Her friends have barely left her side since the start, and Noah hasn’t even bothered to go home. They think that Mason - Mr. Johnson - is Arianna’s husband, and that’s when they find out that she was pregnant. But, because of the blood loss, she lost her baby.

And that’s not all. With comas like hers, it normally ends with a certain type of amnesia.

She wakes up, not knowing that she’s in love with Noah, and thinking she’s in love with Chase. And that he’s the father of her child.

Noah has to escape. He drives out of town, and he gets black-out drunk. No one knows where he is. And then his mum dies, so, essentially, he’s lost the two most important people in his life. He’s depressed, and sees no point in continuing. He tries not to give up on Ari, but she’s pursuing Chase, and he has to sit back and watch it happen.

She gets snippets of her memories back, and it’s only when she receives a message from Noah’s deceased mother that she realises why. And then she sees her calendar, all the things she was supposed to do with Noah, and all the things she did, and she knows all along that this feeling of safety she gets with Noah and the feeling of apprehension that comes with Chase, she knows exactly where she has gone wrong.

She had a recipe book made for Noah, who’s a fabulous cook - thanks to his mum - and he has all the recipes inside from her that he loves.

They manage to make it up, as now Ari has her memories back there’s no chance they won’t make it, and soon after, Noah asks Ari to marry him. They are doing all the holidays that they missed, Christmas and New Years, and suddenly, it has been a year since they met each other. Ari, of course, says yes. And they live happily ever after - corny ending, but it’s needed!

Content Warnings

readwithkel's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

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? No

1.0

This is, without question, the worst book I have ever read.

The dialogue was laughably cringy, there were probably 15 completely different plots, tons of unresolved storylines, and a plethora of pointless side characters with unnecessarily elaborate backstories.

If I wasn’t reading this for my book club, this would’ve been a DNF for me.

Honestly, who wants a romance with a side of

amnesia, 2 tragic car accident storylines, the love interest being orphaned, and characters that mostly only have sex when they’re heartbroken

This was literally just such a bizarre and horrible read. I don’t understand how it has so many positive reviews.

Content Warnings

bookswithbethx's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

Content Warnings

laylareadsthings's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is the true definition of an emotional roller coaster. I went from almost DNFing (sometimes reading the 18ish age range is tough for me, and you’re introduced to A LOT of characters and places very quickly) to literally finishing in one sitting. Noah Riley officially tops the list of book boyfriends, I don’t see him ever being dethroned. Ari is written so beautifully, I absolutely loved her development and emotions, and how she processed everything. I’m not usually one for contemporary sports romances but I found this to be a truly beautiful book that I think anyone who finds themself in a space needing to heal process will truly love. Some really wonderful side characters that I’d love to revisit in the future if they have their own books. Spoilers ahead, but if you want to know why this isn’t a perfect five stars:

I think Chase might just be the most awful character I’ve read in recent memory, and for some reason I could NOT get over his friends not calling him on his absolute disgusting behavior. He was predatory and disturbing throughout, but especially towards the end of the book. And I felt it was disguised with the frequent “but he really is a good guy I swear!” excuse, even though he has not a single redeeming moment or quality. This took me out of the plot flow at times but was resolved in a way that made sense and was true to the story.

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