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elleisntabell's review
3.5
It was cute. A little longer than it needed to be maybe, but I also thought the length was kind of on purpose. It worked a bit, and then towards the end, it felt rushed almost. Not the best, not the worst.
zombiezami's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Bullying, Infidelity, and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Blood
txsweetheart's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
areadingrosekc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
blovell5's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Was a good story, I think the idea of the book and story was great, however I felt as though it was too long to not give me enough umph at the end. Like it should have had an epilog to tell us more after they graduated and were in college. Some things I was over hearing/reading. Some phrases became repetitive. I like the best friends and definitely would enjoy a story on them. Zyla & Kai could definitely go further with Kristina Forest YA style. I would have definitely liked the book better had it been written in 1st person with multiple POVs. I think the 3rd person caused the story to be so long and drawn out. A ton of characters but it was easy to place and remember them. I hope these characters get picked back up or come across again like in her other books.
jaydionne's review
4.0
4.5⭐️ This was cute. Young love is always an adventure. I started this story while having a day with my son, and he was so invested we sat in his room and finished it until he had to go to bed. Definitely recommend
dbuchheister's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jotheblackbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"I didn't understand love at all, or how it makes you feel and what it makes you do."
Zyla is a 17 year old student with a keen eye for fashion, she hopes that she will be able to travel overseas to continue her education. She also hopes that she'll be able to put some miles between her love sick mother. Over the years Zyla has internalised her mom & dads dysfunctional relationship with mum & she wants nothing to do with it. Until she meets Kai Johnson.
Kai Johnson is a ladies man, with a bright future ahead of him. He has a total of 9 ex girlfriends, which to his adoring aunt & uncle seems to be a distraction to his education, and ultimately leads to his ban of dating. Until he meets Zyla Matthews.
Following a school trip, Zyla & Kai run off, with everyone presuming they have run away to be together.
Narrated in both the past & present, Zyla & Kai's story explores the naivety & innocence of adolescent love; the beauty of love; and essentially how love is able to flourish in the face of adversity - Camille I see you, messy a*s!
Forest does a great job to include themes such as; Grief; Anxiety; Therapy; Toxic Parenting within this YA novel. I didn't find the topics overwhelming as they were balanced well with all the lovey dovey scenes 🥰
This book really took me back to my teenage years & early relationships, I thought my relationships & love was invincible - I was humbled quicklyyyy boy 🤣😆 Some of the choices that Zyla & Kai made during the course of their relationship made me chuckle, the things we do for love are wild sometimes 👀🫣
Overall, I really loved Zyla & Kai's story despite it being extremely long winded. I loved how well the author handled each characters trauma, it felt honest & realistic. I'd recommend this to fans of Love Radio, Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry & Chaos Theory.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - It dropped a star because of the length of the book! 470 pages Ladies & Gentlemen! For a YA romance I don't think it requires this length, unless there is an inclusion of mixed media.
Zyla is a 17 year old student with a keen eye for fashion, she hopes that she will be able to travel overseas to continue her education. She also hopes that she'll be able to put some miles between her love sick mother. Over the years Zyla has internalised her mom & dads dysfunctional relationship with mum & she wants nothing to do with it. Until she meets Kai Johnson.
Kai Johnson is a ladies man, with a bright future ahead of him. He has a total of 9 ex girlfriends, which to his adoring aunt & uncle seems to be a distraction to his education, and ultimately leads to his ban of dating. Until he meets Zyla Matthews.
Following a school trip, Zyla & Kai run off, with everyone presuming they have run away to be together.
Narrated in both the past & present, Zyla & Kai's story explores the naivety & innocence of adolescent love; the beauty of love; and essentially how love is able to flourish in the face of adversity - Camille I see you, messy a*s!
Forest does a great job to include themes such as; Grief; Anxiety; Therapy; Toxic Parenting within this YA novel. I didn't find the topics overwhelming as they were balanced well with all the lovey dovey scenes 🥰
This book really took me back to my teenage years & early relationships, I thought my relationships & love was invincible - I was humbled quicklyyyy boy 🤣😆 Some of the choices that Zyla & Kai made during the course of their relationship made me chuckle, the things we do for love are wild sometimes 👀🫣
Overall, I really loved Zyla & Kai's story despite it being extremely long winded. I loved how well the author handled each characters trauma, it felt honest & realistic. I'd recommend this to fans of Love Radio, Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry & Chaos Theory.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - It dropped a star because of the length of the book! 470 pages Ladies & Gentlemen! For a YA romance I don't think it requires this length, unless there is an inclusion of mixed media.
shawnie_s's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
poetic_bella's review
5.0
A twist of Romeo and Juliet
A love they tried to fight, but in the end they couldn’t fight it anymore. Zyla and Kai dealing with family issues that make love hard for them find each other and the passion is undeniable.
A love they tried to fight, but in the end they couldn’t fight it anymore. Zyla and Kai dealing with family issues that make love hard for them find each other and the passion is undeniable.