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marinaf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Eating disorder
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Grief
kateped's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Grief, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Death of parent, and Death
niftyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Here’s my vote for Joshua Jackson to narrate more audiobooks 🙋🏻♀️
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Car accident, Death, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
bookswithvicky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Grief and Eating disorder
laurocek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Eating disorder and Grief
cheypreston's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Death
grace33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Car accident
jennp28's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Although I’ve never heard someone my age *actually* refer to themselves as a hoser, multiple times. May wanna recheck your Canadianisms on that one. But other than that the Canadiana was pretty well done, eh?
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Car accident, and Emotional abuse
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved how Mike, Rory, and Olivia made a little family! I’ve read a lot of books featuring a single parent, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever felt the connection within the developing family quite like how I felt it in this book! I loved how Jenny Holiday was not afraid to shy away from the effects that change can have on children and their behavior. Families, especially in the wake of tragedy, are complicated and this book did such a great job at conveying that!
My favorite parts of this book were all of Mike’s POVs. He was just perfect! He had so much depth to his character that made him feel so real. I loved watching his growth as he juggled his grief with learning to be a single parent while also continuing his NHL career and finding love again in the wake of his loss. Also, I listened to the audiobook and Joshua Jackson has an amazing narrator voice! I’d listen to him narrate a thousand audiobooks!
I loved the chemistry between Mike and Rory! They felt like a real adult relationship in ways that few books achieve! They also just had the type of chemistry that led me to tell “JUST KISS ALREADY” at my book!
I really appreciated how complex Rory was as a character. It was both heartbreaking and really inspiring to watch her grow and heal from her emotional abuse at the hands of her mother. I also get why she wrote those letters. While they were a little cringey, I really appreciate when books write 18 year olds as dramatic and stupid, which is much more accurate than a lot of portrayals of teenagers in the media. And when you factor in her trauma from dancing, her escapism into the world where “Mike” is her only confidant makes sense.
Now, with that being said, I did still kind of hate the third act conflict. I don’t often like when there’s a big secret (often secret identity) hanging over the head of one of the MCs and this book didn’t really change that opinion. I do completely get why she didn’t tell him, but I will say that (slight spoiler) when she does decide to tell him, she does it in a terrible way and that his reaction is somehow simultaneously justified and way too harsh. I don’t know, I just know that I didn’t like it.
Overall, I do really recommend this book, especially if you love your romance books to feature a lot of emotional depth!
Thank you to Jenny Holiday, NetGalley, and Forever for providing me access to this book.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Sexual content