Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

135 reviews

channiesmexicancandy's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

FULL REVIEW ON MY LEMON8 (@jluzbang)


Seriously the best romance novel I've read! This book is light- hearted but makes me at least SOBB! The connection between Bree and Archer is so beautiful and dynamic. They were lost souls who needed healing and found it in each other. 
I'm telling you will fall in love with Archer! He's just the sweetest. AND HES A BOOK NERD! HELLO?! 
Both characters deserve so much happiness 
This book was sitting on my shelf for a long time and I regret not picking it up sooner! I've found my go to comfort book and can call it my favorite. Kudos to Mia Sheridan for an amazing romance novel that perfectly breaks boundaries of love stories where characters have disabilities.

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nyquillll's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.75

To be honest, this story felt like a bunch of cliches wrapped up in a storyline that was trying to put a unique spin on a love story. Like, I felt there was so much potential, but the way things played out and how the writing style was, it didn't blow me out of the water. I also was pretty annoyed at times with the FMC and her inner dialogue when interacting with Archer the MMC - just...I didn't want her to treat him like a charity project. I know the author was trying to say that wasn't the FMC's angle, but how she spoke of him sometimes or was written to have feelings for him didn't seem super believable. On the flip side, I did like Archer's character and I loved that there was representation of someone who is mute and how they move through the world. Though, I don't know much about the author's experience/expertise in this area, so at times, the way things were described or portrayed, I couldn't tell how accurate and respectful the portrayal was. I would be interested in hearing how someone who is mute felt after reading this book. 

I did like how the book touched on complex themes of (trigger warnings) domestic violence and trauma, the effects of domestic violence on a child, alcoholism, death of a parent/parent-figure, the importance of being able to communicate in more than one language (i.e., not everyone speaks English) - how knowing other languages helps you connect with more people, how people deemed "abnormal" or "different" are often ostracized and ignored, how hard it is to love people when the fear of losing them is so strong, how the world is built for a very specific type of person to be able to navigate it (i.e., able-bodied), how people in power abuse their authority and position to keep that power, and (theoretically) how two people who feel so broken can come together (and separate to learn more about themselves individually) to figure out how they can feel whole again.

I think the most poignant aspect of this book is its attempt to focus on how language is a very important component related to accessing the world around us and participating in social relationships. When we can't communicate ourselves to those around us, it limits our ability to create a sense of self and build community. From this story, we see this theme echoed, and also shows the importance of knowing more than one language. I especially liked that the end of the book didn't end with Archer miraculously regaining speech and deciding to speak again, but that Bree recognized the importance of speaking with people in the language of their hearts, and for Archer, that became sign language. 

**
Also I wish there was more cosmic justice for Travis' asshole, douche-bag, despicable behavior toward Archer AND that his mom got more comeuppance for her hand in orchestrating tragedy.

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mariahlynnpeck's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-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

5.0

Not the typical romance story line. It honestly kept reeling me in and was so hard to put down. The way Bree sees so much potential in Archer. The way they love each other fiercely chefs kiss, even with the tears shed.

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beba_marie's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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folkofthebook's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

And sometimes, that’s all it takes—one person who’s willing to listen to your heart, to the sound no one else has ever tried to hear.

i was in the mood for something romantic, a little dramatic and angsty, with some classic small town vibes, and this delivered.

archer and bree were very sweet. they were patient with each other's needs, were able to bond & comfort each other through their traumas, and seemed to be in sync (for the most part). archer managed to make me chuckle occasionally as well. most of the family drama was a bit predictable for me but still enjoyable. i didn't go in with super high expectations and this gave me what i expected for a contemp/dramatic romance.

It suddenly occurred to me that Archer Hale had taught himself an entire language, but hadn’t had a single person to talk to. Until me.

Loving another person always means opening yourself up for hurt. I don’t want to lose more than I already have, either, but isn’t it worth it? Isn’t it worth giving it a chance?

She asked me the sign for love and I spelled out your name.

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alex_bousquet's review

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challenging emotional lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

It read like a YA book with some added sex scenes. Everyone says this book made them sob but maybe I'm cold as ice because at no point did I cry. I felt bad for what archer went through as a child yes, and bree witnessing her father's death. Insta-love trope. And the ending was so cliche and predictable. 

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cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced
  • 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

3.5


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lindsaymck's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This book is rare in the way it blends romance and mystery.

Bree’s connection to and desire to understand and love Archer is contagious and I credit that to powerful storytelling. The truths behind both Archer and Bree’s traumas are sprinkled throughout the book, but in a way that makes SO much sense. It is as if the reader is being told these painful stories as we gain the trust of the people sharing them. We learn of Bree’s experiences sooner because she is further along on her path to healing and she is able to support Archer in gradually revealing what happened to him and how it forever changed his life. 

Archer experiencing new things for the first time (and Bree’s perspective about how honored and hungry she is for those “firsts”) is really original and incomparable to any other relationship I’ve read about. The way we see these “firsts” and the other pivotal moments of their relationship through both POVs is what I wish every author would do! 

Two parts in particular will stay with me long after I close this book. The first: 

“Bad things don’t happen to people because they deserve for them to happen. It just doesn’t work that way. It’s just… life. And no matter who we are, we have to take the hand we’re dealt, crappy though it may be, and try our very best to move forward anyway, to love anyway, to have hope anyway… to have faith that there’s a purpose to the journey we’re on. And try to believe that maybe more light shines out of those who have the most cracks.” 

The second is when Bree shares with Archer how her mom’s embroidery helped give her perspective when life becomes chaotic. 
“Sometimes I think of those little pieces of fabric whenever life feels messy and difficult to understand. I try to close my eyes and believe that even though I can’t see the other side right then, and the side I’m looking at is ugly and muddled, there’s a masterpiece that’s being woven out of all the knots and loose strings. I try to believe that something beautiful can result from something ugly, and that there will come a time when I’ll get to see what that is.” 

This book is special and one that I know I will think about. The use of sign language and the author showing the difference between speech and sign by italicizing the signing was something I really appreciated and enjoyed. The ending was a TRIP, but no spoilers!

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ellie_girl2929's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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

5.0

This is my new favorite book. The amount of times I laughed, my jaw dropped, and I sobbed. I never cried this much from a book. It was perfect<33

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elisa_atkins's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0


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