Reviews tagging 'Grief'

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

137 reviews

madelinedalton's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'm a bit sick of romance novels at the moment because of their formulaic and trope-y nature, so take this review with several grains of salt.

A lot of this book was actually quite good, but I just wasn't all that invested. My investment peaked in the second half of the book, but the ending kind of ruined it for me. I found the third act conflict to be kind of dumb and unnecessary. I generally hate that the third act conflict has become a requirement of the romance genre because it rarely feels natural or earned, and this book was no exception to that trend. 

While Brendan was a really good and mature guy, certain aspects of his relationship with Piper felt subtly patriarchal and heteronormative, which rubbed me the wrong way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Grief

torrentsofhayl's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Death of parent

h3sthr's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

martapsalvado's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

girlies, I get it, but I also don't

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Grief

ka_ke's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-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

5.0

I understand the hype behind Tessa Bailey’s books now. 

It Happened One Summer is a perfect mix of Schitts Creek and Canadian East Coast culture, as a Canadian thats the best way to describe this lovely book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Grief, Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked this one! It was an enjoyable read. Piper was difficult to like in the beginning but she grew on me! I liked the way their relationship progressed. I think I liked the side characters a little more so I'm curious about their book! 

Minus a star for the million times he called her "baby" because it gives me the ick. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Gaslighting, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

Minor: Medical content

vj_thompson's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-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

4.25

Cute rom-com book. The characters were lovable. I forgot how much I love Tessa Bailey’s writing!! I thought the relationship moved very fast and the small internal battles were resolved quickly. Overall, a cute summer read 💕

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Cursing, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Minor: Child death, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Drug use, and Vomit

dfram's review

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Sexual content

mconroy9137's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Cursing, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Medical content

infectedarea's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Started out entertaining but seemed to go off the rails once the first sex scene occurred. Seemed to descend into light pornography after that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Grief