Reviews

Waste My Time by Kelsey Clayton

aliyahccoulson's review against another edition

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1.0

45% dnf after he tried to propose to her I just started skimming the pages I couldnā€™t do it anymore I find him extremely insufferable this man understands nothing about women like how does one person make that many mistakes in a row and learn nothing from them this is a man that needs therapy and not from his ex girlfriend who is still in college.

kfriend's review against another edition

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5.0

Kelsey has undoubtedly saved her best North Haven story for the last! Deliciously angsty, emotionally riveting, and addictively dramatic, Waste My Time is a beautiful story about forgiveness, acceptance, and healing- and the perfect, full circle conclusion to a world full of characters I won't ever let go.

Of all the characters Kelsey has written, Easton was the one whose story I wanted the most. Weā€™ve seen this character at his worst and at his best- loved him and hated him, watched him do amazing and horrible things, have seen the tragic beauty of his demise and recovery. But we only got to see it from afar- through others eyes, and I wanted to be inside his heart. I wanted to understand just what made Easton who he is, how he was coping- the REAL Easton, not the Easton he let others see. He was the character who most needed, most deserved, the opportunity to redeem himself and grow. Weā€™ve seen him for two series now, the impact heā€™s had on others in multiple books, and NOW we get his book- and Iā€™m so grateful that Kelsey decided to give us his journey, because his is the most compelling of all, because heā€™s had to fight himself from the bring of self destruction more than once. Heā€™s come the farthest, changed the most of anyone.

North Haven has been about growing up- about the teens we loved become adults we start to admire. It is about responsibility, self-acceptance, persona; growth- and what better way to thrust these baby adults into true maturity than giving them the most adult life change of all- making them parents. As if that isnā€™t challenging enough for two college students, Easton and Kennedy who were once pretty solid are now on rocky ground. The sweet and patient Kennedy has had enough of waiting for Easton to invest in her the way sheā€™s invested in him- after multiple years of loving him, supporting him, giving her all, sheā€™s forcing them to finally confront their baggage- both Eastonā€™s with Tessa, and her own insecurities as it relates to his seeming fixation with his first love. Their relationship is already crumbling, they make mistakes big and small, and now theyā€™re trying to figure out how to move forward. But they just canā€™t seem to get on the same page at the same time- so much angst, so much push pull. And loads of expected and unexpected drama.

I LOVED Easton so hard. While I wanted to dig a bit more into past Easton, I realized that we didnā€™t need to- because what he needs to do is confront PRESENT Easton, the man hurting the girl he needs, all because he has unresolved trauma with the girl he once wanted. I loved watching him own up to his mistakes, doing the real emotional and relational work he needed to heal himself and heal his fragile relationship with Kennedy. He was so endearing, so lovable, so vulnerable - and his character journey from when we first met him to now? Well this is exactly what this series is about. Easton has grown up- heā€™s maturing. Learning that to be worthy, he has to believe in his worth. And Kennedy is a beautiful soul- a quieter and less ā€œflashyā€ heroine, which is probably why I like her the best- sheā€™s grounded, loving, gentle and kind. But she also finds her backbone in this book, and while I wanted her to forgive Easton faster, I recognized that that was HER journey- learning to demand what she needs.

What I loved most about this finale is that for the most part the conflict was internal. We had some unexpected (and perhaps not even needed) external drama, but in the end- this is all about a manā€™s battle with himself. And the woman who is patient enough to let him fight that fight, even if she has to step away from him to make him do it. I loved how emotionally introspective this was, how intimate it felt- this didnā€™t feel circumstantial, it felt existential. The best and most poignant demonstration of this seriesā€™ themes.

This whole series has been about identity and maturity- and the soapy teenagers we've grown to love are all grown up now, secure in themselves and finally finding their way. Watching them grow up has been such a beautiful and complicated journey, but watching them grow together has been the most rewarding. Because this has also been a series about the formation of the most unexpected but unbreakable chosen family unit- the unlikely friendships that have solidified and deepened despite challenging beginnings and unimaginable adversity. Not only have they learned to stand on their own two feet, proud in who they are as individuals, but they've also learned to stand with and care for each other. I could not love this family more- and as sad as I am to see them go, Kelsey gave them the most beautiful conclusion. I cried multiple times at the ending with the sweet and heartfelt nostalgic touches that Kelsey incorporated to give multiple characters closure and a chance to shine.

And that epilogue?! COME ON KELSEY- how could you do that to us?!!! Needless to say, I am desperate to know more.

violetwillreign's review against another edition

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1.0

DNF: 15%

This reads like poorly written fanfiction.

pages4reel's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.0

hate the main mc so much

luckysread's review against another edition

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emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

coghlankirsty's review

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challenging emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bookslovereaders's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

felecia113's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced

3.0

emolgaard's review against another edition

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5.0

Great end to the series

Easton and Kennedyā€™s story is a great way to end the North Haven University series. Their story was in all the other books so it was great getting their story. All the ups and downs. I did think the kidnapping was a little dramatic but the rest of the book was fantastic. And that epilogue. Itā€™s just not fair leaving people hanging like that. 2023 is a long ways away.