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A review by kyriannaj
The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It wasn’t bad, I just wanted to like it more than I did. Most of the characters felt flat and one dimension, relationships felt somehow too honest while so secretive, and there was a lack of building tension within the story. Isla and Bonnie’a friendship has an odd path throughout. Rowan seemed so hot and cold and at times like he was just toying with Bonnie more than teasing her. Combining that with Bonnie’s brazen behavior one moment and scared withdrawal the next and Rowan’s intense secrecy, their relationship just felt off. Bonnie as a character was someone I wanted to relate to, but couldn’t. She’s new to town and everyone is talking about stunning and beautiful she is. She’s incredibly open in conversation, at times to a fault, but also doesn’t read social cues the greatest. She’s supposed to be scared of confrontation with anyone but Isla, yet the whole beginning of her relationship with Rowan was sarcasm, sass, and confrontation? There were also no real stakes. It’s very clear from the beginning how things will end up, which is fine, but I want to feel like there was at least a bit of a fight to get the happily ever after. Everything felt predictable, with the plot moving along until the last 50 pages when everything happened at once. And frankly, Bonnie got the short end of the stick. I wish there was more after the implosion of everything because it felt resolved far too easily.
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy