You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This book is the latest release in the Carina Adores series - LGBTQ contemporary romance books!
⠀
Although this book takes place within the world set in The Love Study, this one stands very well on its own. I love the inclusion and diverse rep - NB, lesbian, trans, and gay rep.
⠀
And I especially think that how anxiety was portrayed and handled was just so well done. Oscar isn’t magically fixed, one pill doesn’t make the anxiety disappear - it’s messy, unpredictable, and real. And I really loved that about this book.
Thank you to Harlequin and the insta Harlequin Promotional Team for the early copy!
⠀
Although this book takes place within the world set in The Love Study, this one stands very well on its own. I love the inclusion and diverse rep - NB, lesbian, trans, and gay rep.
⠀
And I especially think that how anxiety was portrayed and handled was just so well done. Oscar isn’t magically fixed, one pill doesn’t make the anxiety disappear - it’s messy, unpredictable, and real. And I really loved that about this book.
Thank you to Harlequin and the insta Harlequin Promotional Team for the early copy!
Listened to this as an audiobook. It’s difficult to judge because I found the main characters insufferable but also I deeply related to Oscar’s struggles with depression and anxiety. I think it may be one of those things where we dislike things in other people that we dislike about ourselves. Some of the sex scenes were kind of cringey to listen to (a few times consent for certain actions seemed dubious at best). In particular, I felt deeply uncomfortable by Jack saying it turned him on that he was making Oscar uncomfortable. Big yikes. But I did enjoy the arc with Oscar and Jack and Evelyn (she was my favorite character). I also liked hearing a story about a fat person who someone else found attractive even if he didn’t see himself as such (though at times it’s described a bit in a fat fetishizing way). As a caveat, of all three audiobooks in this series, the narrator of this book was my least favorite. I may have more positive feelings about this book overall if the narration had been different.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was off to a rocky start for me, but I decided to stick with it. I'm glad I did. It was endearing to see that Oscar had created a family for himself and I enjoyed watching him realize that no matter how grumpy or grouchy he was, they would stick with him because they cared.
Liked it even more than the first (which was a tough act to follow!). The characters, their own issues and insecurities...all is completely fleshed out and realized in a wonderful way.
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Less compelling than "Settle the Score" but relatable. I liked the complexity of the characters and especially the depicting of depression and anxiety were good without making it a crippling disorder disabling an independant life. What bothers me, after devouring the novel in one go, is that the main characters were kind of dull people. The narration was very good.