bookobsessedmommy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
There is a lot going on in this book, so please be sure to check trigger warnings. Jude and Lauren are bestfriends who decide to move in together after being dealt a garbage hand by life. Jude is a social media influencer with manipulative mom, and Lauren is a single mom with manipulative Ex. Together, they try to rebuild their lives, but things do not go as planned. This book is relatively lighthearted, so it sounds strange when I say it ripped my heart out. The things Lauren is struggling with in regards to her Ex (I would love to punch him in the face!), and has struggled with in the past as a pregnant black woman (My stomach turned and I nearly cried) are so freaking real. Jude's experience with her mom and her reaction is so devastatingly authentic. There is a small romance sub-plot, but the friendship is truly central. Alexa Martin has managed to write a slice of life book that is captivating and meaningful, and is exactly the kind of book I want to write one day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Cursing, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Gosh did I want to love this book. I don't know what it is about books with moms as protagonists but it is so hit or miss for me! With this book specifically, I wanted to SHAKE Lauren multiple times and tell her to grow a backbone. I wanted her to realize what was happening with Jude because it's obvious. I wanted to slap some sense into Jude as well! I also didn't really like that Lauren was the "does it all" mom because it's simply not realistic and sets high standards that are impossible to reach for many and lead to burnout for so many more. I wanted more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gaslighting and Death of parent
mlottermoser's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, and Toxic relationship
d0505's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Cursing
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Infidelity
jamielibrary's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Alcohol
paperangel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism
sdupont's review
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
4.0
Alexa Martin writes great stories around female friendship. While I enjoyed reading this standalone, I would say the book could have been shorter. At times I felt the storylines were dragged out longer than needed. The conflict also resolved pretty quickly with minimal discussion, which was surprising. Despite that I would still recommend this read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism and Infidelity
sleeson's review against another edition
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
3.0
Cute audiobook about two best friends. It’s nice to have a book on just friendship. No falling in love with each other or fighting over a guy. This book is 90% friendship and 10% romance. The two women are complete opposite of one another but have great fun together. Mild swearing. No sexual content. I hope the author continues to share Jude and Lauren’s life adventures.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death of parent, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
kdailyreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really loved this book! I had a feeling I would, because I loved Martin’s previous books, too. Martin writes romantic relationships so well, but her Playbook series made it clear she is also gifted at writing female friendships. So when I learned she was writing a book where the female friendship was the central focus, I preordered. This book did not disappoint! Similar to other books of hers, I stayed up way too late reading.
I loved the main characters. I want to be best friends with Lauren and Jude. They have very different personalities, but they are both loyal, supportive, creative, organized, fun, and loving and clearly have a family-strong bond. Addy is adorable and was described multiple times as “magical,” a perfect description. I liked the subplot of Hudson and Lauren’s relationship as well, and I enjoyed all the scenes that had details about Lauren and Jude’s podcast and newsletter.
I enjoyed the many mother-daughter relationships portrayed in this novel: Lauren and Addy, Jude and her mom, Lauren and her mom, even Addy and Jude as a “bonus mom” or fun aunt and Addy and Stephanie as a stepmom. I could relate so much to Lauren’s feelings as a mom, wondering if she is doing a good job and trying so hard to make everything fun and magical while also making sure Addy was safe and had strong role models (also the shoe struggle. The shoe struggle is REAL). My relationship with my own mom isn’t particularly similar to Lauren’s or Jude’s relationships with their moms, but I did relate to the overall theme of family expectations. It’s often a challenge to let go of perceived or real expectations, accept people and yourself for who they/you are, and to set boundaries. This book explores this aspect of familial relationships really well.
The ending of this book really hit me strongly. I’m not going to discuss it here because of spoilers. I will say it was very emotional and I was very satisfied with how Martin ended the story.
Overall, this was an entertaining, engaging, and moving read. I’m glad it’s on my shelf to reread in the future!
I loved the main characters. I want to be best friends with Lauren and Jude. They have very different personalities, but they are both loyal, supportive, creative, organized, fun, and loving and clearly have a family-strong bond. Addy is adorable and was described multiple times as “magical,” a perfect description. I liked the subplot of Hudson and Lauren’s relationship as well, and I enjoyed all the scenes that had details about Lauren and Jude’s podcast and newsletter.
I enjoyed the many mother-daughter relationships portrayed in this novel: Lauren and Addy, Jude and her mom, Lauren and her mom, even Addy and Jude as a “bonus mom” or fun aunt and Addy and Stephanie as a stepmom. I could relate so much to Lauren’s feelings as a mom, wondering if she is doing a good job and trying so hard to make everything fun and magical while also making sure Addy was safe and had strong role models (also the shoe struggle. The shoe struggle is REAL). My relationship with my own mom isn’t particularly similar to Lauren’s or Jude’s relationships with their moms, but I did relate to the overall theme of family expectations. It’s often a challenge to let go of perceived or real expectations, accept people and yourself for who they/you are, and to set boundaries. This book explores this aspect of familial relationships really well.
The ending of this book really hit me strongly. I’m not going to discuss it here because of spoilers. I will say it was very emotional and I was very satisfied with how Martin ended the story.
Overall, this was an entertaining, engaging, and moving read. I’m glad it’s on my shelf to reread in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
mrsr_reads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Racism