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jen1804's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I also personally felt that the descriptions at times were lacking to the point where I found I was getting confused about where they were and what was happening and the logistics of it all.
The scenes of Martin abusing Emory were so graphic and so excruciating to read. I felt so sad for Em. I think Penelope Douglas did a good job of making us despise Martin and portraying the mind of a domestic abuse victim. Harrowing.
The friendship that blossomed between Em and Damon was so endearing, understanding each other’s pain and keeping each other’s secrets, though I feel robbed of not getting to witness Will’s reaction to Em telling him about Natalya and why they were in the school showers together that night. I love that Damon gave Em the carfax room from one abused child to another, and I love that Damon and Emory now have a design and building business together, plus him rebuilding the gazebo using her blueprints was just beautiful.
So glad Martin fucking died. But I so badly wanted Damon to dive off the cliff after Will and be the one to pull him out of the water as a kinda full circle moment.
I loved the romantic scenes between Will and Emory so much, they were so cute, I bookmarked so many of their lines, especially their flashbacks from when they were in school. I liked seeing the female play a more dominant part too. There was not enough romance content though! And the ‘present’ scenes seemed too rushed. Like woah that marriage proposal did not have enough of a present day romantic foundation behind it after all the spiteful Blackchurch behaviour for it to make sense.
As much as I thought the marriage was quick though I can forgive it, because the four way wedding was everything and I adored that so much!
If I’m being honest Will’s Blackchurch agenda kinda doesn’t really make a great deal of sense to me, like whatever, and the whole Aydin/Alex sub plot is just a big nope. But I’m glad Will’s grandpa was a double crossing legend and seeing their relationship with each other was lush.
I did however really like that Will discovered Coldfield and the tunnels and I loved the idea of their own private access to all these places around Thunder Bay and Meridian City including tunnels to each other’s houses.
I wasn’t very happy about how angry Will was about the whole Em being ‘the reason they went to prison’ thing, because let’s be clear it was NOT her fault and she did not in fact owe any one of them an apology. This series is basically full of the guys holding grudges over miscommunication, lol.
The train carriage scene was weird but I guess also not unexpected from this bunch of characters! Pahahhh.
Overall I enjoyed it, and really loved the insight into their kids ten years later that we got in the epilogue. I love that these four guys who were basically entitled assholes in high school let’s be real, have all found a strong woman who’s their match and equal. I really enjoyed the context of found family throughout this series and the love that is woven through all of them.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Domestic abuse, Blood, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic relationship, Suicide, Police brutality, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
coligmueller's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Drug abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Stalking, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
tristaesque's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Death of parent
noveltay's review
- 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
This book was a good way to end the series, although this one personally was the “least realistic”. Will is hard to love for me, but the flashbacks were making me fall in love with him. Emory is very hard to love but for the wrong reasons for me.. she clearly is a victim in MANY ways, but I feel like she prolonged a lot of communication the entire book (NOT in the flashbacks though- that was reasonable given her situation).
This book did have me fall in love with Damon even more, Kill Switch being my favorite of the series.
Graphic: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Death of parent
mc10's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved seeing the kids, even if I don't understand why they have to go from not being together to 100% domesticity. I liked seeing that from them but not right away, especially because they're younger than me and I can't see myself there yet.
It wasn't until Damon's book that I really got interested in Will. I understand why that was like that and I enjoyed finally finding out what the hell happened.
I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought because of the whole Blackchurch plot and finding out how unnecessary it was made it worse.
I loved the story of Will and Emmy, I liked how normal it started, just high school sweethearts getting a second chance. I didn't enjoy the miscommunication and Emmy's stubbornness.
Like every book with Penelope, some of it feels unnecessary, some of it forced, but all drama is good drama when I'm in the mood for it.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Violence