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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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