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
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
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
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
yunsq's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Finished this in the afternoon on a day-off, tucked under my sheets and accompanied by my favourite Taylor swift album...........what more can I ask for
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Racism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Medical trauma
biblio_jordyn's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
While, Berkley typically gives me steam and romance, this was not that and I still LOVED IT. This book is about friendship, balancing single motherhood & yourself, expectations of placed on millennials, what it means to be a black mother surrounded by white counterparts, grief and loss, and letting go of toxic people. OH & MARTIN CALLS OUT THE WHITE TEARS IN THE INFLUENCER WORLD & I AM HERE FOR IT!
This book was hilarious, as all Alexa Martin books are, and had me quickly turning the page.
I loved the friendship of Lauren and Jude so much and how protective they are of each other and how much they love each other. I MAY BE BIASED, because their friendship reminds me so much of my own with @brilikethecheese . She is the first one to scream in someone’s face for me (Jude) and I’m the first one to make her see reason (Lauren) 😂 In college she was the first one to make me go out and dress me up for a date and encourage me to ask boys out to formal (along with Caitlin). And I was the first one to be able to pull her to the library or to hug her when she would refuse to speak to anyone else (Bri you must read this book FYI), it was just so relatable for me (minus the child part).
While, this book shows the two main characters struggle separately with individual issues and there’s a bit of romance thrown in, at It’s core, it’s about people you’d just do anything for. This book is so special because it doesn’t focus on romantic relationships but the relationships of best friends and loving each other unconditionally but also holding each other accountable because they are not mutually exclusive.
This book was hilarious, as all Alexa Martin books are, and had me quickly turning the page.
I loved the friendship of Lauren and Jude so much and how protective they are of each other and how much they love each other. I MAY BE BIASED, because their friendship reminds me so much of my own with @brilikethecheese . She is the first one to scream in someone’s face for me (Jude) and I’m the first one to make her see reason (Lauren) 😂 In college she was the first one to make me go out and dress me up for a date and encourage me to ask boys out to formal (along with Caitlin). And I was the first one to be able to pull her to the library or to hug her when she would refuse to speak to anyone else (Bri you must read this book FYI), it was just so relatable for me (minus the child part).
While, this book shows the two main characters struggle separately with individual issues and there’s a bit of romance thrown in, at It’s core, it’s about people you’d just do anything for. This book is so special because it doesn’t focus on romantic relationships but the relationships of best friends and loving each other unconditionally but also holding each other accountable because they are not mutually exclusive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Alcoholism
jenkneebee's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
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