gwensreading's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am happy to give my honest review.
I have read all of this series and I am in love with this author's writing. I was so happy to be given this advanced copy and it did not disappoint.
Patrice is an immigrant from Haiti and a recent PhD grad. He accepts a position in Ithaca at Cornell University, the same town that his best friend Nesto (from the first book) lives and works. The summer before this book Patrice has a short affair with assistant district attorney Easton but doesn't really pursue more when he moves back full time.
Easton wants to continue a relationship with Patrice and struggles with the guilt of feeling entitled. He is white and his family has money but all he wants to do is to fairly represent the judicial branch as an ADA. He is under major stress covering for his DA boss who is on medical leave but still meddling.
Patrice is very involved on Black Twitter and as an advocate in his community. Tensions come to a head as young men of color are being pulled over by law enforcement at an alarming rate in Ithaca. Patrice and Easton know that something needs to be done but they are at odds because of their beliefs and jobs. The angst was realistic and I was rooting for them to work together to find a solution.
I identified a lot with Easton as someone who wants to do good work at the expense of my energy levels. He worked long hours and hard to fight for his underrepresented clients. He owned his mistakes and tried never to take advantage of the money/status his family afforded him. I really liked him with Patrice who was grumpy, closed in, and passionate for his community. I'm glad they got through their differences and made leaning on each other a priority. That epilogue was great too.
I have read all of this series and I am in love with this author's writing. I was so happy to be given this advanced copy and it did not disappoint.
Patrice is an immigrant from Haiti and a recent PhD grad. He accepts a position in Ithaca at Cornell University, the same town that his best friend Nesto (from the first book) lives and works. The summer before this book Patrice has a short affair with assistant district attorney Easton but doesn't really pursue more when he moves back full time.
Easton wants to continue a relationship with Patrice and struggles with the guilt of feeling entitled. He is white and his family has money but all he wants to do is to fairly represent the judicial branch as an ADA. He is under major stress covering for his DA boss who is on medical leave but still meddling.
Patrice is very involved on Black Twitter and as an advocate in his community. Tensions come to a head as young men of color are being pulled over by law enforcement at an alarming rate in Ithaca. Patrice and Easton know that something needs to be done but they are at odds because of their beliefs and jobs. The angst was realistic and I was rooting for them to work together to find a solution.
I identified a lot with Easton as someone who wants to do good work at the expense of my energy levels. He worked long hours and hard to fight for his underrepresented clients. He owned his mistakes and tried never to take advantage of the money/status his family afforded him. I really liked him with Patrice who was grumpy, closed in, and passionate for his community. I'm glad they got through their differences and made leaning on each other a priority. That epilogue was great too.
a_wishman's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. The heart connection these characters had and the work they did to be together was so beautiful.
lauconn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
megfang315's review against another edition
really wanted to like it (and was hoping that i could stick it out long enough for easton to start to radicalize) but it's a really slow and plodding book (and i swear it felt like nothing happened in the first 1/3)
regencyfan93's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
cammiixy's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
ruthiedr89's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Homophobia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Xenophobia, Deportation, Hate crime, Confinement, and Domestic abuse
loveseatreads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
vivifriend's review against another edition
5.0
It made me think. And that's a good thing. It didn't feel forced; and the romance felt good. I Loved. Absolutely loved that Patrice and Easton are in couples therapy together. Some folks might say that having to have therapy that early in a relationship is a bad sign but why? If you Love someone and Want to learn how to communicate then why not use couples therapy to find out if you Can? I think more people would benefit from it honestly.
I knew; from pretty early on; that Patrice would get pulled over. And I love how that was handled. All of how it was handled. It was an excellent point about something so damn important. I can understand Patrice's frustration that Easton didn't seem to take it seriously when a kid ended up in the hospital with an asthma attack but did when he was the one in trouble. And I do like that he accepted that no one person can fix it all. But. He logically would not have accepted being with Easton if Easton hadn't also realized that he was truly being an ally in word but not action. That I think was the point where I figured that the relationship would work as a plausible, could exist in the real world, relationship. Which is one of my preferred romance types to read.
I like it when people can be adults about fucking up and things don't get swept under the rug. You get that with both Patrice and Easton in American Love Story and I think that's wonderful.
I knew; from pretty early on; that Patrice would get pulled over. And I love how that was handled. All of how it was handled. It was an excellent point about something so damn important. I can understand Patrice's frustration that Easton didn't seem to take it seriously when a kid ended up in the hospital with an asthma attack but did when he was the one in trouble. And I do like that he accepted that no one person can fix it all. But. He logically would not have accepted being with Easton if Easton hadn't also realized that he was truly being an ally in word but not action. That I think was the point where I figured that the relationship would work as a plausible, could exist in the real world, relationship. Which is one of my preferred romance types to read.
I like it when people can be adults about fucking up and things don't get swept under the rug. You get that with both Patrice and Easton in American Love Story and I think that's wonderful.