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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Putting this on the DNF pile at the halfway point. This was one of my BOTM picks, and I thought the premise sounded good. Seeing how someone sober navigated her world sounded like it was going to be compelling. There were times when it definitely was, but all the office romance stuff made me so angry I had to eventually close the book. Maybe other people can get past that, but not me.
First, I'm going to touch on an extremely nitpick complaint I have. Right before I quit the book, Emma (FMC) and Ben (MMC) are talking. Earlier Emma told him she was doing creative writing on her computer, and in this conversation he say he thought she meant fanfiction and she was embarrassed. Then it goes on with him assuming it was just porn. As a fanfic writer, I really did not like this. I write plenty of fanfic that has no smut at all. Sure I write romance, but I've also done drama and even dabbled in some horror. The generalization of "Oh it's fanfic, it must be porn" just bugged me on a personal level.
On to the bulk of my problem with this book. I'll admit that I've never been a part of an office environment, so I don't actually know how an office romance would work. But the complete lack of professionalism from everyone NOT involved drove me insane. They see two people talking and immediately assume something's going on and gossip about it behind their backs; they see two people going to lunch and immediately send them an email asking them to define the relationship. And this was the HR lady doing this! Can they even do that without the actual people involved going to them and telling them about the relationship? How can they jump to these conclusions based on rumors and the word of one single person? What's even worse is that Emma and Ben just roll over and accept this, rather than going to the HR lady and complaining. The whole office acted like they were still in high school.
As a side note, the opening of the book confused me. This is supposed to be taking place in modern times and this office apparently has enough money to blow 50k on a party. So why are their computers absolute crap? If they didn't mention cell phones, I would've assumed this story took place in the 80's or early 90's at the latest.
To touch on the romance, I'm kind of ambivalent about it. Mitchell didn't seem to exist for any other purpose than to make Ben look good, and to emphasize that Emma has no spine. Not every romance needs to be a love triangle, guys. The number of times Ben stands up for Emma or speaks on her behalf really screamed "white knight." Which isn't always terrible, and I honestly wish more guys would stand up for women, but I don't see how basic human decency is all it takes to be a romantic partner. Maybe we can raise the bar a little. He seemed okay as a person, and I would probably go for a nerdy boy myself, but I just didn't sense that much chemistry between them. The book started that with them talking about gardening or watching a documentary together, but I would've liked more. Let's not ignore the fact that he was the obvious love interest because he was the first character that was given a detailed physical description. (Now that I type this, I can't recall if that many other characters were given any descriptions at all.)
On the whole, the best part was in dealing with Emma's sobriety. How she felt awkward going to bars and not getting a drink hit especially hard with me. I don't drink, either, and the insane amount of peer pressure I get even from my own family is awful. Almost everyone in this book who hears Emma isn't a drinker acts like it's something horrible, or she's depriving herself somehow, or that she's punishing herself. I felt like that was true to life, though I would've liked the book calling people out on this at least once.
There were some promising moments with her and her father, as well as a pretty nice scene between her and an old roommate. Personally, I liked how that concluded. I also liked the sponsor, Lola. She talked a lot more like a therapist than I assumed sponsors spoke, but it was still a nice bit of support. The sobriety stuff, as far as I could tell, read like there was care and attention given to researching it.
I would've been fine reading about a woman struggling with her sobriety while the chaos of life continues around her. It was just all the weird high school-esque office romance stuff that got to me.
First, I'm going to touch on an extremely nitpick complaint I have. Right before I quit the book, Emma (FMC) and Ben (MMC) are talking. Earlier Emma told him she was doing creative writing on her computer, and in this conversation he say he thought she meant fanfiction and she was embarrassed. Then it goes on with him assuming it was just porn. As a fanfic writer, I really did not like this. I write plenty of fanfic that has no smut at all. Sure I write romance, but I've also done drama and even dabbled in some horror. The generalization of "Oh it's fanfic, it must be porn" just bugged me on a personal level.
On to the bulk of my problem with this book. I'll admit that I've never been a part of an office environment, so I don't actually know how an office romance would work. But the complete lack of professionalism from everyone NOT involved drove me insane. They see two people talking and immediately assume something's going on and gossip about it behind their backs; they see two people going to lunch and immediately send them an email asking them to define the relationship. And this was the HR lady doing this! Can they even do that without the actual people involved going to them and telling them about the relationship? How can they jump to these conclusions based on rumors and the word of one single person? What's even worse is that Emma and Ben just roll over and accept this, rather than going to the HR lady and complaining. The whole office acted like they were still in high school.
As a side note, the opening of the book confused me. This is supposed to be taking place in modern times and this office apparently has enough money to blow 50k on a party. So why are their computers absolute crap? If they didn't mention cell phones, I would've assumed this story took place in the 80's or early 90's at the latest.
To touch on the romance, I'm kind of ambivalent about it. Mitchell didn't seem to exist for any other purpose than to make Ben look good, and to emphasize that Emma has no spine. Not every romance needs to be a love triangle, guys. The number of times Ben stands up for Emma or speaks on her behalf really screamed "white knight." Which isn't always terrible, and I honestly wish more guys would stand up for women, but I don't see how basic human decency is all it takes to be a romantic partner. Maybe we can raise the bar a little. He seemed okay as a person, and I would probably go for a nerdy boy myself, but I just didn't sense that much chemistry between them. The book started that with them talking about gardening or watching a documentary together, but I would've liked more. Let's not ignore the fact that he was the obvious love interest because he was the first character that was given a detailed physical description. (Now that I type this, I can't recall if that many other characters were given any descriptions at all.)
On the whole, the best part was in dealing with Emma's sobriety. How she felt awkward going to bars and not getting a drink hit especially hard with me. I don't drink, either, and the insane amount of peer pressure I get even from my own family is awful. Almost everyone in this book who hears Emma isn't a drinker acts like it's something horrible, or she's depriving herself somehow, or that she's punishing herself. I felt like that was true to life, though I would've liked the book calling people out on this at least once.
There were some promising moments with her and her father, as well as a pretty nice scene between her and an old roommate. Personally, I liked how that concluded. I also liked the sponsor, Lola. She talked a lot more like a therapist than I assumed sponsors spoke, but it was still a nice bit of support. The sobriety stuff, as far as I could tell, read like there was care and attention given to researching it.
I would've been fine reading about a woman struggling with her sobriety while the chaos of life continues around her. It was just all the weird high school-esque office romance stuff that got to me.
challenging
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:
Complicated
I enjoyed this. The first half of the book I was a bit bored and I almost gave up but then I was invested and I started to truly feel for Emma! This is the one time I pushed through a book and it was worth it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent
Bestow my social working heart I absolutely loved this so so much. Told from the POV of Emma, who begins the book celebrating one full year of sobriety, and thinks things will start to turn around now with such a major milestone under her belt. It’s true that statistically she made it through the toughest point in recovery, but there’s still plenty of work to be done. I felt like the author did such a well done job of creating Emma’s vulnerabilities doing so many “firsts” while sober, but also tackled the stigma that being in recovery brings alongside it, and how building new relationships, platonic or romantic, can be perceived by that individual and the struggles they endure. Plus, it was all done with some tactful, and at times, darkish humor, which we love in the substance use/social work field.
Emma’s journey brought out just as many emotions in me as it did in her and I’m so happy I picked this one up!!
TW: substance use & abuse, death of a parent, cancer, discussion of overdose (off page character).
Emma’s journey brought out just as many emotions in me as it did in her and I’m so happy I picked this one up!!
TW: substance use & abuse, death of a parent, cancer, discussion of overdose (off page character).
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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:
Yes
In short this is an office romance on the heels of new sobriety. It engages with topics about drinking and drug use and how to engage socially after leaving it behind. It talks about the addiction of a parent and death of a parent. Overall it was cute and they romance was strung out long enough to be sweet, not sultry.
“Your worst fear is suddenly funny when someone is holding your hand.” (Page 29)
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Death of parent