A review by mingostudio
Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this book had me in a CHOKEHOLD oml [btw no spoilers, triggers at the bottom]
i started this book and was honestly confused for the first 100 pages bc the story was moving so quickly, but the love interest was bLaNd and i didn't feel any chemistry anywhere. but then it progressed and i understood how Brandy was writing, and things began to make more sense lol. so def give it time before you give up! but alsooo, the style of introducing the story was very original and creative, and i ADORED all of the characters, esp. Noah (ofc what a KING) but also brady lmao and ari and even mason grew on me.
as far as plot, this book was pretty chill and nuetral and just happy vibes for the first 2/3 except for minor plot bumps, which i was good with because it was SO enjoyable to read, but bc of all the amazing reviews i'd seen i knew something was going to happen. and it did. bc let me tell you this author took the story, threw it on its head, and then killed its puppy all within 30 pages. AND I WAS DONE FOR. [reference spoilers at the end.] ntm the writing in this book isn't necessarily lyrical or phenomenal, but it hit SO HARD and the emotional damage in my heart right now is not going to be repaired prob ever.
overall, it's def long and manny could say it's drawn out, but the story is truly very fast paced, supper witty, super emotional, and kept me hooked through all 700 pages of college fun and dRaMa. PLEASE read this, esp. if you're in college or going into it, bc my standards for men just doubled from their already exponential level, and now i need a Mr. Riley to come and cook pot pies for me 😙.
⚠️TRIGGERS⚠️
emotional and sexual abuse and manipulation, car accidents, ptsd, family death and loss, suicidal thoughts, miscarriage, brain damage, explicit sex
🪐SPOILERS🪐
I'M JUST GOING TO WRITE THIS IN ALL CAPS BC IF YOU WERE IN MY HOUSE ON NEW YEARS EVE YOU'D KNOW HOW WRECKED I WAS IN THE LAST 150 PAGES OF THIS BOOK-SO MUCH SO THAT I MISSED HALF OUR FESTIVITIES LMAO. MY HEART BROKEE FOR NOAH BC IK ARI WAS GOING THROUGH SO MUCH WITH CHASE'S MANIPULATION AND HER FIGHT W NOAH AND OFC THE BABY BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT NOAH GOT ALL THAT, PLUS THE FORGOTTEN MEMORIES, PLUS CHASE BEING A DICK TRYING TO MANIPULATE HER INTO GETTING BACK WITH HIM, AND THEN HIS MOM PASSED?!?! LIKE I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO BUT WHY DID BRANDY HAVE TO DO HIM SO DIRTY?!?!? mkay the all caps is getting annoying but truly i was HURTNG for these characters because i literally would not have been able to have the strength either of them had (or their families minus Chase the cock block) to get through what they did. i felt it in my bones that this story was going to have the plot twist of the century, and now that i know i'm just trying to process tbh haha. but everything was perfection in this, can't have asked for anything more (except for maybe a condom Noah that's your one flaw bc it annoys me SO much when authors forgo those) but yeah overall, 5/5, 10/10 and now my standards for the year are through the roof bc i started 2023 with a 5 star. fantabulous.
i started this book and was honestly confused for the first 100 pages bc the story was moving so quickly, but the love interest was bLaNd and i didn't feel any chemistry anywhere. but then it progressed and i understood how Brandy was writing, and things began to make more sense lol. so def give it time before you give up! but alsooo, the style of introducing the story was very original and creative, and i ADORED all of the characters, esp. Noah (ofc what a KING) but also brady lmao and ari and even mason grew on me.
as far as plot, this book was pretty chill and nuetral and just happy vibes for the first 2/3 except for minor plot bumps, which i was good with because it was SO enjoyable to read, but bc of all the amazing reviews i'd seen i knew something was going to happen. and it did. bc let me tell you this author took the story, threw it on its head, and then killed its puppy all within 30 pages. AND I WAS DONE FOR. [reference spoilers at the end.] ntm the writing in this book isn't necessarily lyrical or phenomenal, but it hit SO HARD and the emotional damage in my heart right now is not going to be repaired prob ever.
overall, it's def long and manny could say it's drawn out, but the story is truly very fast paced, supper witty, super emotional, and kept me hooked through all 700 pages of college fun and dRaMa. PLEASE read this, esp. if you're in college or going into it, bc my standards for men just doubled from their already exponential level, and now i need a Mr. Riley to come and cook pot pies for me 😙.
⚠️TRIGGERS⚠️
emotional and sexual abuse and manipulation, car accidents, ptsd, family death and loss, suicidal thoughts, miscarriage, brain damage, explicit sex
🪐SPOILERS🪐
I'M JUST GOING TO WRITE THIS IN ALL CAPS BC IF YOU WERE IN MY HOUSE ON NEW YEARS EVE YOU'D KNOW HOW WRECKED I WAS IN THE LAST 150 PAGES OF THIS BOOK-SO MUCH SO THAT I MISSED HALF OUR FESTIVITIES LMAO. MY HEART BROKEE FOR NOAH BC IK ARI WAS GOING THROUGH SO MUCH WITH CHASE'S MANIPULATION AND HER FIGHT W NOAH AND OFC THE BABY BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT NOAH GOT ALL THAT, PLUS THE FORGOTTEN MEMORIES, PLUS CHASE BEING A DICK TRYING TO MANIPULATE HER INTO GETTING BACK WITH HIM, AND THEN HIS MOM PASSED?!?! LIKE I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO BUT WHY DID BRANDY HAVE TO DO HIM SO DIRTY?!?!? mkay the all caps is getting annoying but truly i was HURTNG for these characters because i literally would not have been able to have the strength either of them had (or their families minus Chase the cock block) to get through what they did. i felt it in my bones that this story was going to have the plot twist of the century, and now that i know i'm just trying to process tbh haha. but everything was perfection in this, can't have asked for anything more (except for maybe a condom Noah that's your one flaw bc it annoys me SO much when authors forgo those) but yeah overall, 5/5, 10/10 and now my standards for the year are through the roof bc i started 2023 with a 5 star. fantabulous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts