Scan barcode
A review by lindsaymck
Rootbound by Tarah DeWitt
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was an entertaining audiobook and a nice quick ‘read,’ but at times the family drama got overly complicated and confusing. I’m glad that I listened to this rather than read it. Just when I think I have Tait’s Idaho ranch family figured out, another layer gets added to their drama. I honestly feel like there were new characters coming out of nowhere. Names came up and had me asking myself “who the heck is that?” I knew her grandma, dad/step-mom, step-brother, aunt ?, uncle Dwayne, and obviously Henry, but those other people were more extraneous than necessary.
I couldn’t help comparing this book to both Tarah Dewitt’s “Savor It” and Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series (both recent reads) and both greatly outdo this. I actually thought the best part of the book was the beginning when Tait is describing her heartbreak after her husband leaves her for the mutual friend he “couldn’t help” falling in love with. The stunning language describing what it feels like to be half of a whole mourning a burning love that has faded into being unrequited is heartbreaking and so memorable.
I liked to see Tait become less passive in her own life when it came to Henry. I felt irrationally angry that she just gave her ex-husband the house she bought and designed in the hopes of letting go of the past and moving on - she could easily still do that WITH him buying it from her!!! When Henry started pushing her buttons at Logan Ranch from the moment he picked her up at the airport, it seemed to help her find herself and her passion for life again. Their dislike to friends to lovers was what they both needed and it was easy to root for them. Henry was not my favorite MMC (even though he was described as rancher-Thor and Hemsworth-esque), but he was a grump who eventually grew on me the more he fell for her.
The “Tom Riddle’d” reveal at the end was a nicely dropped bomb that ended the book on a high and comic note.
I couldn’t help comparing this book to both Tarah Dewitt’s “Savor It” and Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series (both recent reads) and both greatly outdo this. I actually thought the best part of the book was the beginning when Tait is describing her heartbreak after her husband leaves her for the mutual friend he “couldn’t help” falling in love with. The stunning language describing what it feels like to be half of a whole mourning a burning love that has faded into being unrequited is heartbreaking and so memorable.
I liked to see Tait become less passive in her own life when it came to Henry. I felt irrationally angry that she just gave her ex-husband the house she bought and designed in the hopes of letting go of the past and moving on - she could easily still do that WITH him buying it from her!!! When Henry started pushing her buttons at Logan Ranch from the moment he picked her up at the airport, it seemed to help her find herself and her passion for life again. Their dislike to friends to lovers was what they both needed and it was easy to root for them. Henry was not my favorite MMC (even though he was described as rancher-Thor and Hemsworth-esque), but he was a grump who eventually grew on me the more he fell for her.
The “Tom Riddle’d” reveal at the end was a nicely dropped bomb that ended the book on a high and comic note.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent