Scan barcode
A review by downtown_kb
Grim and Bear It by Juliette Cross
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
What the hell did I just read? This book is problematic.
A spoilery rant to follow.
I do not do book rants hardly ever for 2 reasons:
1. If I am hating a book, I just DNF and if I DNF I'm not going to leave a rating because I DNF.
2. People like what they like and just because I hate something doesn't mean everyone will so I can just calm down and walk away. Plus, I didn't write the book so I can just f*ck right off with my opinions.
However, I will rant if I find something that is problematic af. And that is the case here.
I was very excited for this book, the final in the series, and this couple was teased the entire series. So this, combined with the fact that I spent some money on it (not KU or library), compelled me to finish this book. I regret.
SPOILERS BELOW
It started out decently, Henry was a total simp for Clara but then this went too insta-love. (I am not an insta-love hater) These two went from pining for each other from a distance in all of the other books, I mean they rarely spoke words, to banging soulmates by 25%. Ok fine but there wasn't even any romance. In fact, we were told about how they got to know each other on one date and that was it. It started out cute and became cringy and sickeningly sweet really fast. UM, that bracelet with their couple name?!? Secondhand embarrassment.
So we find out Henry is a virgin – to the point he has never even kissed a girl before Clara - but he goes from a kiss on date one, to deep throating & dirty talk by date two and proudly proclaims he learned everything from p*rn….!?! No, thank you. Not hot.
Henry’s story had a lot of potential, as well as his cool grim reaper/necromancer magic. But there were plot canyons. His childhood trauma was vaguely explained. His strained relationship with his father was swept away with a few sentences. As the reader, we just had to disregard the years of silence between them because the man asked nicely this time, I guess? Also, he suppressed his magic his whole life but then when he had to wing it at the scene of his childhood trauma, basically in hell with lots of demons, he was like an ultra badass. Just like that.
Clara made me rage. She went from my favorite to I hate her. She was obnoxious as a narrator. She needs to learn boundaries and consent. She got Henry to call her dead friend's soul back form the dead so she could tell her she missed her and feel better, that way the rain caused by her tears didn't flood New Orleans? Maybe too soon to joke about New Orleans flooding. Also, who even was this lady she was so upset about? No one apparently bc as soon as she got to say her peace she was all better! She outed her sister’s pregnancy to the group before they wanted to tell. She basically made up Henry’s mind for him about helping his dad and revisiting his childhood trauma (regardless of if it was the right thing to do, she just told Silas Henry would do it in the moment without talking to Henry.)
and then the most toxic:
PSA: if stealthing is considered r*pe, then a partner claiming to take birth control and then not doing so responsibly, should be considered the same level of f*cked-up.
After having s*x several times Henry says (paraphrasing) “omg I’m such a jerk we didn’t use a condom!” Clara says, “It’s totally fine Henry, I’m on the pill.” And Henry says “oh thank you bc I don’t want any kids right now.” Fair enough, my dude, you have been dating this girl for maybe a week! Fast forward to the surprise pregnancy reveal that this set us up for…..ok, Clara tells Henry she’s pregnant (and by my calculations he’s about the 5th person to find out) She says (and this is direct quote from the book):
“And before you get mad..." she snapped when I hadn't made any response whatsoever. I was still frozen in place, blinking down at her.
"It's your responsibility too. I mean, yes, I know I told you I was on the pill, and that wasn't a lie. But I'm also not always good about taking them. Mostly, I am, but I forgot once or twice in the past month or so. I was distracted. You were distracting. Very distracting. Still, even if I hadn't forgotten, they're not one hundred percent effective.”
Hoooly sh*t….that is so toxic, hypocritical, and an abhorrent breaking of trust between partners.
Lets unpack: yes, birth control isn’t 100% effective and if they did not want kids and were still having s*x the ultra safe (but still not 100% effective) thing to do was condoms and birth control. HOWEVER, this assumes that the woman is taking her pill AS INSTRUCTED and if she isn’t then she is open with her partner about the increased risk of pregnancy from this slip. In this situation, as the reader, we can assume that Henry is assuming when she says “don’t worry I got you” that means “I take my pill responsibly and will let you know if that changes.” Because that is the right way to handle the situation. But she isn’t and she doesn’t and she treats it like it’s no big deal. And then tells Henry "dude, it's not my fault bc birth control isn't 100% effective". Yeah, Clara you're right, it's not (99% if taken as directed) but it's NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THAT IF YOU DON'T EVEN TAKE IT.
Yes, Henry has a right to be mad. But don’t worry romance friends, this is a romance book so Henry responds with a “yay, I am so happy.” I died inside.
Oh and then that epilogue was just…..SEVEN kids? I mean, because he wanted seven kids too or did she just keep forgetting her birth control?
Yep, no. this book was not good AND problematic.
A spoilery rant to follow.
I do not do book rants hardly ever for 2 reasons:
1. If I am hating a book, I just DNF and if I DNF I'm not going to leave a rating because I DNF.
2. People like what they like and just because I hate something doesn't mean everyone will so I can just calm down and walk away. Plus, I didn't write the book so I can just f*ck right off with my opinions.
However, I will rant if I find something that is problematic af. And that is the case here.
I was very excited for this book, the final in the series, and this couple was teased the entire series. So this, combined with the fact that I spent some money on it (not KU or library), compelled me to finish this book. I regret.
SPOILERS BELOW
So we find out Henry is a virgin – to the point he has never even kissed a girl before Clara - but he goes from a kiss on date one, to deep throating & dirty talk by date two and proudly proclaims he learned everything from p*rn….!?! No, thank you. Not hot.
Henry’s story had a lot of potential, as well as his cool grim reaper/necromancer magic. But there were plot canyons. His childhood trauma was vaguely explained. His strained relationship with his father was swept away with a few sentences. As the reader, we just had to disregard the years of silence between them because the man asked nicely this time, I guess? Also, he suppressed his magic his whole life but then when he had to wing it at the scene of his childhood trauma, basically in hell with lots of demons, he was like an ultra badass. Just like that.
Clara made me rage. She went from my favorite to I hate her. She was obnoxious as a narrator. She needs to learn boundaries and consent. She got Henry to call her dead friend's soul back form the dead so she could tell her she missed her and feel better, that way the rain caused by her tears didn't flood New Orleans? Maybe too soon to joke about New Orleans flooding. Also, who even was this lady she was so upset about? No one apparently bc as soon as she got to say her peace she was all better! She outed her sister’s pregnancy to the group before they wanted to tell. She basically made up Henry’s mind for him about helping his dad and revisiting his childhood trauma (regardless of if it was the right thing to do, she just told Silas Henry would do it in the moment without talking to Henry.)
and then the most toxic:
PSA: if stealthing is considered r*pe, then a partner claiming to take birth control and then not doing so responsibly, should be considered the same level of f*cked-up.
After having s*x several times Henry says (paraphrasing) “omg I’m such a jerk we didn’t use a condom!” Clara says, “It’s totally fine Henry, I’m on the pill.” And Henry says “oh thank you bc I don’t want any kids right now.” Fair enough, my dude, you have been dating this girl for maybe a week! Fast forward to the surprise pregnancy reveal that this set us up for…..ok, Clara tells Henry she’s pregnant (and by my calculations he’s about the 5th person to find out) She says (and this is direct quote from the book):
“And before you get mad..." she snapped when I hadn't made any response whatsoever. I was still frozen in place, blinking down at her.
"It's your responsibility too. I mean, yes, I know I told you I was on the pill, and that wasn't a lie. But I'm also not always good about taking them. Mostly, I am, but I forgot once or twice in the past month or so. I was distracted. You were distracting. Very distracting. Still, even if I hadn't forgotten, they're not one hundred percent effective.”
Hoooly sh*t….that is so toxic, hypocritical, and an abhorrent breaking of trust between partners.
Lets unpack: yes, birth control isn’t 100% effective and if they did not want kids and were still having s*x the ultra safe (but still not 100% effective) thing to do was condoms and birth control. HOWEVER, this assumes that the woman is taking her pill AS INSTRUCTED and if she isn’t then she is open with her partner about the increased risk of pregnancy from this slip. In this situation, as the reader, we can assume that Henry is assuming when she says “don’t worry I got you” that means “I take my pill responsibly and will let you know if that changes.” Because that is the right way to handle the situation. But she isn’t and she doesn’t and she treats it like it’s no big deal. And then tells Henry "dude, it's not my fault bc birth control isn't 100% effective". Yeah, Clara you're right, it's not (99% if taken as directed) but it's NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THAT IF YOU DON'T EVEN TAKE IT.
Yes, Henry has a right to be mad. But don’t worry romance friends, this is a romance book so Henry responds with a “yay, I am so happy.” I died inside.
Oh and then that epilogue was just…..SEVEN kids? I mean, because he wanted seven kids too or did she just keep forgetting her birth control?
Yep, no. this book was not good AND problematic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Grief and Pregnancy