Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Kiss the Sky

Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Kiss the Sky by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

15 reviews

ipetitdoll's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

i don't find rose and connor an attractive couple generally. i didn't enjoy how connor essentially forced rose to "submit herself" so that she could fulfill one of his fantasies. i also didn't enjoy how connor excused pedophilia by essentially saying, "daisy is mature, so any relationship with anyone older is fine." it's weird and gross.

i didn't like connor in this book at all. he was better when he was a side character with barely any lines.

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breaklikeafish's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.5

I think this might have been the worst book I have ever read. However, I also want to note that reading it was an experiment and an attempt to read outside my comfort zone, so maybe that's not a huge surprise.

The characters were okay, for the most part, excluding all scenes in which the men were seemingly competing for the title of Most Toxically Masculine Alpha Male. Sadly, that was a lot of scenes. There were so many moments where the women had to be saved by some knight in shining armor, and I was decidedly not into it.

Just as an example, there was a bit of a rat problem going on in the house, and this was leading man Connor's reaction:

„Lo, Ryke, and I can set rat traps tomorrow.” But I add this just to rile her, “The perks of having three men living under one roof.“

Is there a specific reason why only men can set up rat traps? Do rats react well to testosterone?

Or is Connor just really that much of a dick? The answer to the last question is definitely yes since he spends a large part of the book fighting for his girlfriend's virginity with a guy she is not even remotely interested in. This is portrayed as cute and honorable. I personally couldn't help but wonder why Rose and Connor agreed to live with the guy when both of them seem to be genuinely scared that he will rape Rose??? Like what? Please go to the police instead. In fact, I'm pretty sure Rose and Scott's first meeting already contains enough sexual harassment to press charges. Needless to say, all interactions with Scott and the insinuations that he might take what he wants without asking made me deeply uncomfortable.

Also, Scott brings Rose food one time, and she immediately wonders whether she's misjudged him?? Is she really that stupid? No, obviously not, but Scott, Connor, and even the narrative itself treat Rose like a prize to be won and not a person.

Staying on the topic of being deeply uncomfortable, why is Daisy, a sixteen-year-old, continuously sexualized?

I appreciate that everyone in the book seems to realize that teenage Daisy dating a adult man in his early twenties is problematic. However, nobody seems to have a problem with Ryke being interested in her?

„It’s okay to like her.” Hell, I like any guy that makes my sister happy and treats her well. Julian does neither.“

What's the message here? Grooming is bad unless the guy is your sister's boyfriend's brother?

Even ignoring all of that, I did not find Rose and Connor's relationship cute at all. One major conflict is that

Rose doesn't want kids, but Connor does, and instead of talking about it and breaking up due to different plans for their respective futures, Connor pressures her until she agrees to have children with him. It would be different if it was Rose's own internal character development. She's in her early twenties, and of course she's allowed to change her mind about things. What bothered me was that Connor never seemed to take her perspective seriously. From their first conversation about it on he seemed absolutely certain that he could change Rose's mind about it. That's not how having children works! You can't change someone else's mind about a topic like that.

But Connor seems to have no problem pressuring people into doing what he wants.

He also pressures his therapist into prescribing him drugs (what kind of therapist would do something like that?! I get that he pays you, but you're the professional in this context, please act like it) and his girlfriend into having sex with him. Yep. It's like that. I hate Connor.

It is by far not my biggest concern with this novel, but I still was annoyed at the incredibly heteronormative mindset with which it was written.

Just as an example, at one point, Rose thinks about how she would be more comfortable having sex with a woman than a man. This thought is not further explored, or even taken as any indication that Rose could identify as anything other than straight. Something similar happens when Daisy explains that she doesn't really enjoy sex, and instead of validating her (very valid!) feelings, Rose says:

“And that’s ridiculous. [...] You can orgasm[.] [...] You just have to find the right person.“

And later:

„Oops. Tact. I lose it sometimes. “You’ll find someone,” I tell her, squeezing her shoulder encouragingly. But I think I squeeze a little too hard because she winces. I let go. “…Just keep dating. And when you find a loser, ditch him quickly. Please.“

That is genuinely such terrible advice.

The only positive thing I have to say is that Lily and Lo were actually kind of cute together.

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toriibrooke33's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

Predictable. Repetitive.

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amanda_mh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Rose and Connor have captured my heart!!!! I love this series. The drama was amped up this book with the unexpected celebrity status! And omg it was everything getting to know rose and Connor and be in the minds of them was so fascinating!

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ecravens's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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salome8512's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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bookbishes's review against another edition

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tense

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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christy_mitten's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring tense 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

4.0

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dlrosebyh's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.5

Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Rose and her five friends are about to be filmed in a Reality TV show.

Rose Calloway believed she had it all under control. She's a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer, and the daughter of a Fortune 500 entrepreneur at the age of twenty-three. But nothing is easy when you have a sex addict for a sister and roommate.

Rose accepts to have her life videotaped for a reality TV show after accepting assistance from a producer. The Hollywood executive is her last opportunity to save her failing fashion business, and when she's forced to make peace with a guy who always gets his way, boundaries begin to blur.

Connor Cobalt, 24, is a bulldozer who bulldozes weak guys. He's self-assured, astute, and lives with Rose Calloway, his similarly ambitious girlfriend. Connor needs to defend Rose without jeopardizing the performance. Otherwise, the producer will obtain Rose's virginity, something Connor has long desired.

Each book in this series gets better and better. This is my current favorite in the series, and it could as well be one of my all-time favorite romance novels. The combination of drama, comedy, and romance is just what I look for in my books.

The only issue I have is that the French translations are inaccurate. It's rather evident that the authors employed Google Translate instead of researching the format used by the French. They only talked French a few times, but that irritated me; otherwise, it's a fantastic novel.

Pride Month Book 5: Unlabeled Rep

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chris_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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