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khloereads86's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
If I wasn’t listening to the audiobook this definitely would’ve been a dnf for me. I feel like there was no character development early on, all we learned about them was that Avery is ‘one of the guys’ and decklan has daddy&commitment issues. It feels like the author tried to make cute moments but I never felt smiley or giggly reading it, never really felt the connection between the characters. The end was so drawn out, obviously they needed it but it was a very annoying conflict and the book felt repetitive brining up the same problems over and over again. It annoyed me how introspective they all of a sudden we’re at the end. Glad it’s over
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.75
I love a good besties/roommates that are forced to spend weeks confined together while one takes care of the other. What I don’t love is a whole lot of guilt and one half of the couple meanly accusing the other of things they didn’t do with no room for simple explanations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity
beccaand's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
kfmcf's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Oy.
This book missed the mark in just so many ways. None of the characters had depth or were very likeable. Avery was a pick me. Declan was a caricature and wholly underdeveloped to the point of being so flat and unattractive. Plus WHY have his POV? It was only in like 5/25 or whatever chapters so it just seemed nonsensical.
This book was also REALLY flippant about the car accidents. Like her parents are supposed to have died in one and then she gets in one and she's just like "la dee da I'm recovering"?! No.
Also, this book was not friends to lovers. It was long term roommates. There was no connection beyond "hey we live together and like soccer." And yes it's my favorite trope but that usually means I'm more forgiving. When you biff that trope I get grumpy.
Finally, one of the worst 3rd act breakups on the market. Just full on pointless withheld communication and manipulation. Yick.
This book missed the mark in just so many ways. None of the characters had depth or were very likeable. Avery was a pick me. Declan was a caricature and wholly underdeveloped to the point of being so flat and unattractive. Plus WHY have his POV? It was only in like 5/25 or whatever chapters so it just seemed nonsensical.
This book was also REALLY flippant about the car accidents. Like her parents are supposed to have died in one and then she gets in one and she's just like "la dee da I'm recovering"?! No.
Also, this book was not friends to lovers. It was long term roommates. There was no connection beyond "hey we live together and like soccer." And yes it's my favorite trope but that usually means I'm more forgiving. When you biff that trope I get grumpy.
Finally, one of the worst 3rd act breakups on the market. Just full on pointless withheld communication and manipulation. Yick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Infidelity and Alcohol
prettylightsandcitynights's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Infidelity
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
madsmcw_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Infidelity
lexa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm a huge fan of forced proximity and I loved that aspect in this book. I suppose since they were roommates already in it was a little different. It still entertaining!
Avery goes through quite an ordeal in this book, but truthfully Declan does too - just more emotional than physical. I really appreciated watching him grow throughout this book.
Avery is definitely not perfect, but I was impressed with her resilience.
The sparks in this book were amazing but it was really the last part where they put real work into their relationship that impressed me.
I did find a few parts where it seemed repetitive and unnecessary throughout the book - like what you might see in the second or third book in a series as a reminder. But perhaps I was just sensitive to repetition today
Overall a good read and I look forward to the other books in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Avery goes through quite an ordeal in this book, but truthfully Declan does too - just more emotional than physical. I really appreciated watching him grow throughout this book.
Avery is definitely not perfect, but I was impressed with her resilience.
The sparks in this book were amazing but it was really the last part where they put real work into their relationship that impressed me.
I did find a few parts where it seemed repetitive and unnecessary throughout the book - like what you might see in the second or third book in a series as a reminder. But perhaps I was just sensitive to repetition today
Overall a good read and I look forward to the other books in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
Best friends and roommates Avery and Declan crash-land into something more after a serious car accident leaves Avery in need of extra support at home. Declan feels guilty after some bad decisions led him to not be in the car with her as planned when it happened.
Friends-to-lovers stresses me out for some reason, but I loved the depth of feeling and vulnerability founded on the long familiarity between these characters. I could tell their emotional baggage was fully realized because I was genuinely nervous when it reared its ugly head. Also, the cringey romcom moments made me cower, which is truly a high art form.
The romance comes along with disapproving, or at least wary, friends and family since Declan's a certified fuckboy. His journey was really powerful because in the beginning, I was not impressed (nor, I think, was I meant to be). As a friend, he's excellent, but anything more? The man is made of red flags. Seeing him want something for himself and taking cautious steps towards that romantic bond with Avery was beautifully done, even when his self-sabotaging and jealousy finally come to a head in a major blowup. I appreciated in that moment what a solid character Avery is, trying to not be reactive but to set boundaries and require conversation. I was impressed that no characters vilified him but suggested he has some personal demons to work out, nonetheless. It was a good blend of high expectations and genuine caring that leads to some much needed therapy and personal work.
My only complaint is that I think Avery's baggage got less airtime. I'm ok with her filling a more steady and well-adjusted role, but the car crash plot could have been more of a journey, I think, especially since her parents died in a car accident, too. I could see the attempts to acknowledge Avery's dark emotions and physical struggles, but it had a less satisfying and complete arc for my tastes. I've been known to soak up a "nurse me back to health" plot as much as the next person, but something this traumatic needed a bit more nuance and exploration to not come across as a plot device to further the romance.
A brief note to be responsive to queer critiques of the genre: this book perpetuates the definition of "sex" as a heterosexual, P/V act, exclusive to literally everything else, despite the characters' engaging in all kinds of activities. This definition is harmful for a lot of reasons, especially because it belittles a lot of other identities and experiences to suit a heteronormative schema. So be on alert.
This was my first Helena Hunting read, and I was so taken with the emotions and the standards for a healthy relationship, I would definitely pick up another. I'm especially interested in what the other Spark sisters have in store! Thanks to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Friends-to-lovers stresses me out for some reason, but I loved the depth of feeling and vulnerability founded on the long familiarity between these characters. I could tell their emotional baggage was fully realized because I was genuinely nervous when it reared its ugly head. Also, the cringey romcom moments made me cower, which is truly a high art form.
The romance comes along with disapproving, or at least wary, friends and family since Declan's a certified fuckboy. His journey was really powerful because in the beginning, I was not impressed (nor, I think, was I meant to be). As a friend, he's excellent, but anything more? The man is made of red flags. Seeing him want something for himself and taking cautious steps towards that romantic bond with Avery was beautifully done, even when his self-sabotaging and jealousy finally come to a head in a major blowup. I appreciated in that moment what a solid character Avery is, trying to not be reactive but to set boundaries and require conversation. I was impressed that no characters vilified him but suggested he has some personal demons to work out, nonetheless. It was a good blend of high expectations and genuine caring that leads to some much needed therapy and personal work.
My only complaint is that I think Avery's baggage got less airtime. I'm ok with her filling a more steady and well-adjusted role, but the car crash plot could have been more of a journey, I think, especially since her parents died in a car accident, too. I could see the attempts to acknowledge Avery's dark emotions and physical struggles, but it had a less satisfying and complete arc for my tastes. I've been known to soak up a "nurse me back to health" plot as much as the next person, but something this traumatic needed a bit more nuance and exploration to not come across as a plot device to further the romance.
A brief note to be responsive to queer critiques of the genre: this book perpetuates the definition of "sex" as a heterosexual, P/V act, exclusive to literally everything else, despite the characters' engaging in all kinds of activities. This definition is harmful for a lot of reasons, especially because it belittles a lot of other identities and experiences to suit a heteronormative schema. So be on alert.
This was my first Helena Hunting read, and I was so taken with the emotions and the standards for a healthy relationship, I would definitely pick up another. I'm especially interested in what the other Spark sisters have in store! Thanks to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage and Panic attacks/disorders
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