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readswithkae's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
thereadinghammock's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another wonderful Hutchinson family romance! Jenna and long time best friend Marcus set out on the road trip they've always dreamed of doing together to work at Yellowstone National Park in hopes of securing a dream research position for scientists like them. Oh, and they both have had feeling for each other FOR EVER but the fear of changing the status quo of their rock solid friendship has kept them both scared to take that next step.
I don't think I realized how much I could love a friends-to-lovers story as much as I loved The Changeup. Everything about the dynamic between Jenna and Marcus just made so much sense. Her fear of telling him about her arthritis and not wanting it to change how he saw her. His fear of his relationship turning into that of his parents and turning sour. The dread of possibly losing a friendship if the romantic relationship doesn't work out. And there were a few times I just wanted to shake them both for being so oblivious to the other's signals and ask them "How could you not know???"
I can't wait to get to James's book next, but I'm definitely going to need to be in the right headspace for that one, as I can already tell it's going to a heavier read.
I was FURIOUS with Jenna's lab supervisor, Aiden, for all the bullshit he kept pulling. Not only harping on "you could be replaced" vibes, but then asking her to stay behind for more samples ALONE???? SIR?!? ARE YOU DAFT?!!? When she laid into him after everything she and Monica went through after his asinine request, I was nearly shouting with "YES! YOU TELL THAT DUCK SNORT WHAT FOR!!"
I don't think I realized how much I could love a friends-to-lovers story as much as I loved The Changeup. Everything about the dynamic between Jenna and Marcus just made so much sense. Her fear of telling him about her arthritis and not wanting it to change how he saw her. His fear of his relationship turning into that of his parents and turning sour. The dread of possibly losing a friendship if the romantic relationship doesn't work out. And there were a few times I just wanted to shake them both for being so oblivious to the other's signals and ask them "How could you not know???"
I can't wait to get to James's book next, but I'm definitely going to need to be in the right headspace for that one, as I can already tell it's going to a heavier read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Ableism
gem_reads_too's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
britanielanea's review
4.0
What a sweet natured,light read. The characters are very charming and likeable. I loved the arthritis representation in this book. The story is way more than a love story. The reader gets to see Jenna adjust with her arthritis and using mobility aids to help her enjoy every aspect of her job,hobbies,and relationships. Everything was so relatable to me (a woman with a disability.) Kudos to Megan Cousins for highlighting the struggles and achievements of a disability so efficiently.
A must read for wonderful disability representation. You are never alone.
A must read for wonderful disability representation. You are never alone.
theanachronismreads's review
5.0
love letter to friends who become loves and Yellowstone
Jenna and Marcus knew and liked each other from their first early morning lab and this book takes place almost half their lives later- and we find them on an adventure.
There’s a road trip. There are snacks. There’s chronic pain and it’s handled beautifully. There are insecurities and differences in upbringing. It’s not all smooth sailing but these two manage to love one another out loud, and the whole thing is set against the backdrop of Yellowstone and that makes me want to explore this place even more than I already did.
Love this book, can’t wait for more Hutchinsons!!
Jenna and Marcus knew and liked each other from their first early morning lab and this book takes place almost half their lives later- and we find them on an adventure.
There’s a road trip. There are snacks. There’s chronic pain and it’s handled beautifully. There are insecurities and differences in upbringing. It’s not all smooth sailing but these two manage to love one another out loud, and the whole thing is set against the backdrop of Yellowstone and that makes me want to explore this place even more than I already did.
Love this book, can’t wait for more Hutchinsons!!
kcwreads's review
lighthearted
slow-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
kb33's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Correction needed for this app: this isn’t a sports romance. Watching baseball on tv sometimes doesn’t make it a sports romance.
Second book in the series, and just as focused on the mfc’s chronic illness as the first book. This is not a lighthearted romance. There was nothing lighthearted about it. The primary focus is Jenna’s osteoarthritis, how she deals with it on a minute to minute basis, and how Marcus does things to help her. This series seems to be very much about how men support women with chronic illnesses and the women don’t have to support the men at all, feeling very imbalanced. The women cry CONSTANTLY, and I’m not exaggerating. It’s so ubiquitous throughout the first two books that I can’t continue this series. It wasn’t a happy book, balancing the struggles with the happy times. The struggles are the entire book, and it was depressing.
Also, 18 years of two adults not making a move? And the way it happened was so odd, in starts and stops. There’s very little chemistry between Jenna and Marcus, and it didn’t really feel believable. This romance is so clean they don’t even make out on their wedding night. You can’t call it “closed door” if they fall asleep without doing anything at all. I’m giving it two stars because it took place in Yellowstone, even though the author doesn’t know that Yellowstone is huge and nobody is going to spend two or three hours driving to pick up pizza on a weeknight on the regular.
Second book in the series, and just as focused on the mfc’s chronic illness as the first book. This is not a lighthearted romance. There was nothing lighthearted about it. The primary focus is Jenna’s osteoarthritis, how she deals with it on a minute to minute basis, and how Marcus does things to help her. This series seems to be very much about how men support women with chronic illnesses and the women don’t have to support the men at all, feeling very imbalanced. The women cry CONSTANTLY, and I’m not exaggerating. It’s so ubiquitous throughout the first two books that I can’t continue this series. It wasn’t a happy book, balancing the struggles with the happy times. The struggles are the entire book, and it was depressing.
Also, 18 years of two adults not making a move? And the way it happened was so odd, in starts and stops. There’s very little chemistry between Jenna and Marcus, and it didn’t really feel believable. This romance is so clean they don’t even make out on their wedding night. You can’t call it “closed door” if they fall asleep without doing anything at all. I’m giving it two stars because it took place in Yellowstone, even though the author doesn’t know that Yellowstone is huge and nobody is going to spend two or three hours driving to pick up pizza on a weeknight on the regular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
shesgotstories's review
5.0
Once again Megan's characters are out here setting the bar way too high for real-life love interests!
We revisit the Hutchinson family, except this time the story focuses on the sister. I loved the STEM representation (one main character is an ecologist while the other is a geologist) and the Own Voices chronic illness representation. Also, the setting being at Yellowstone National Park? Yes, please!
Jenna is such a fun and passionate character with her love for the environment and determination to overcome the challenges that her arthritis pose. As a fellow arthritis sufferer (although rheumatoid as opposed to Jenna's osteoarthritis), it's so refreshing to read a book where the main character perfectly captures the experiences. The good days, the bad days, and the little things like losing grip strength or the ability to use certain motor skills at the most random moments. Being young with arthritis isn't easy and Jenna shows readers how living with it can be complicated, but doable.
As for Marcus, I love how complex his story is and how Jenna brings out the best in him. Even when they had their disagreements, they resolved things quickly and maturely. I loved Marcus and his love language of acts of service and how he's yet another swoony love interest in this book series. The family reconciliation was heartbreaking yet heartwarming at the same time and in the end, came together well. Plus the dual POV was once again the best and the slow burn was great!
I adore this book series and can't wait to see the direction the rest of the books go in and highly suggest you go check out the first book, The Curveball, as all the books interconnect through different characters in the same family. This book series really does have everything you could want!
Huge thank you to the author for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
We revisit the Hutchinson family, except this time the story focuses on the sister. I loved the STEM representation (one main character is an ecologist while the other is a geologist) and the Own Voices chronic illness representation. Also, the setting being at Yellowstone National Park? Yes, please!
Jenna is such a fun and passionate character with her love for the environment and determination to overcome the challenges that her arthritis pose. As a fellow arthritis sufferer (although rheumatoid as opposed to Jenna's osteoarthritis), it's so refreshing to read a book where the main character perfectly captures the experiences. The good days, the bad days, and the little things like losing grip strength or the ability to use certain motor skills at the most random moments. Being young with arthritis isn't easy and Jenna shows readers how living with it can be complicated, but doable.
As for Marcus, I love how complex his story is and how Jenna brings out the best in him. Even when they had their disagreements, they resolved things quickly and maturely. I loved Marcus and his love language of acts of service and how he's yet another swoony love interest in this book series. The family reconciliation was heartbreaking yet heartwarming at the same time and in the end, came together well. Plus the dual POV was once again the best and the slow burn was great!
I adore this book series and can't wait to see the direction the rest of the books go in and highly suggest you go check out the first book, The Curveball, as all the books interconnect through different characters in the same family. This book series really does have everything you could want!
Huge thank you to the author for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
katiedermody's review
4.5
Oh my word, if you want a realistic character experience with chronic pain, this is the book for you. In this case the FMC has arthritis, but lots of her pain experience is similar to my own with fibro. I appreciate this author now writing two book with disability rep I relate to and doing it so well. Also, this was the best kind of friends to lovers where they're both pining so hard. that said, similar complaint as the first book: I don't need open door, but this is closed door to the max (one bed trope that wasn't to be because he slept on the pull out couch) and the relationship progressed so quickly to marriage even tho they were best friends for years.
memull17's review against another edition
4.0
What could go wrong on a once in a lifetime road-trip to the dream research job in one of the greatest places in the US with your best friend? A lot; plans change, inconvenience arise, and relationships can change and that’s exactly what happened between Jenna and Marcus. They met the first day of their freshman year in college and have been best friends ever since but they have secretly been in love with each other for as long as they can remember. Now during this summer research fellowship, they share an apartment and navigate the changes of their relationship and career aspirations and decide what they want their future to look like- together or apart.
Jenna is one tough cookie but she doesn’t have to be all the time and finally letting Marcus all the way in to help her was huge. Jenna showed Marcus that he is enough and worthy of fighting for and became his anchor all those years ago. I loved how Marcus was vulnerable with his fears and feelings and told Jenna he didn’t know how to love her out loud and that finally cracked the dam between them and created the complete openness they needed from each other.
The Changeup is book 2 in the Wild Pitches series featuring the Hutchinson siblings and book 3 will be youngest brother James’s story.
Thank you @authormegancousins for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Jenna is one tough cookie but she doesn’t have to be all the time and finally letting Marcus all the way in to help her was huge. Jenna showed Marcus that he is enough and worthy of fighting for and became his anchor all those years ago. I loved how Marcus was vulnerable with his fears and feelings and told Jenna he didn’t know how to love her out loud and that finally cracked the dam between them and created the complete openness they needed from each other.
The Changeup is book 2 in the Wild Pitches series featuring the Hutchinson siblings and book 3 will be youngest brother James’s story.
Thank you @authormegancousins for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.