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kaydanielsromance's review
5.0
All the Beautiful Things is a beautiful story about family, friendship, and love. It jumps right back in at the continuation of Hudson and Lilly's story, right where we left them swimming through a sea of lies and deception. This is not a standalone as we come to the second part of this duet. Hudson and Lilly now have to navigate through the sea to discover if their relationship is worth fighting for and build trust all over again.
Lilly, who has never had a basis for a loving relationship, doesn't know who to trust or where to turn when she wakes up shattered by the lies the Valentine family have been feeding her. However, are they really lies or just omission of the truths? She doesn't know how to wrap her head around everything she's experienced as the entire time she's spent with Hudson and his family has felt like a falsity. This is just the tip of the iceberg in the second part of this duet.
Lilly really gains a lot of strength and grows exponentially as she comes to trust herself in her decision making, but like I mentioned before those lies are just the tip of a bigger picture. Hudson is the man who stands out more in this book and what we learn about him and his family. The love he had for his sister, the foster kids that came and went, his mother that he lost, and his past relationships. Hudson may seem like a man who has everything, but he's just as broken when it comes to love as Lilly at the end of the day.
Lilly grows exponentially from book one while she makes decisions about her life and truly getting to know the man she originally was falling for in the first book. As they try to repair their relationship and everything in the Valentine family comes to light, she gets to decide if he's truly worth staying in love with the man who was built on smoke and mirrors.
There is a lot of meat yet to uncover between these two, not only between Hudson and Lilly who have a lot to untangle before their story comes to an end and their journey is beautiful to read, but the entire Valentine family. This book is just more and in being more, it's about the family you choose and in the long run, the family you decide to keep by your side forever.
Lilly, who has never had a basis for a loving relationship, doesn't know who to trust or where to turn when she wakes up shattered by the lies the Valentine family have been feeding her. However, are they really lies or just omission of the truths? She doesn't know how to wrap her head around everything she's experienced as the entire time she's spent with Hudson and his family has felt like a falsity. This is just the tip of the iceberg in the second part of this duet.
Lilly really gains a lot of strength and grows exponentially as she comes to trust herself in her decision making, but like I mentioned before those lies are just the tip of a bigger picture. Hudson is the man who stands out more in this book and what we learn about him and his family. The love he had for his sister, the foster kids that came and went, his mother that he lost, and his past relationships. Hudson may seem like a man who has everything, but he's just as broken when it comes to love as Lilly at the end of the day.
Lilly grows exponentially from book one while she makes decisions about her life and truly getting to know the man she originally was falling for in the first book. As they try to repair their relationship and everything in the Valentine family comes to light, she gets to decide if he's truly worth staying in love with the man who was built on smoke and mirrors.
There is a lot of meat yet to uncover between these two, not only between Hudson and Lilly who have a lot to untangle before their story comes to an end and their journey is beautiful to read, but the entire Valentine family. This book is just more and in being more, it's about the family you choose and in the long run, the family you decide to keep by your side forever.
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review
5.0
The continuation of Lilly and Hudson's story will break your heart and by the end it will be mending feeling all the feels. After so much hurt and pain in their relationship ends with so much hope and love. Incredible!!
jennaforeverbooked's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
rhythmofryn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual assault
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review
4.0
Oh lilly and Hudson had my heart with this story. This is a beautifully written ending to this duet.
marie_thereadingotter's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.75
This was such a fantastic continuation. I appreciated that the why they didn't tell Lily everything wasn't drawn out, and I appreciated even more that she didn't instantly forgive and forget. It took her a few weeks, and even then she was still a little wary of letting herself get too close. I didn't mention this in my review for the first book, but I really love that while she was accepting their help with a job and housing, she wasn't willing to take the best of they had, and only the things that she felt she qualified for, as she's was still getting her degree. She wasn't going to accept something that could called a handout and wanted to earn the higher pay.
There was so much that happened in this book in a pretty short amount of time, but it all had a realistic trajectory. Hudson was also wonderful, because he was respectful of her wishes to be given time to process what she learned. I know that's the bare minimum to expect from people, but the number of times in this genre, where the male love interest forces her to forgive him... is uncountable. But that is why this series has made it to my favorites. These characters in their late-20s/early-30s actually behave like adults. It's great to see.
There was one aspect that I had hoped was addressed, that wasn't. But I guess that wasn't the point. The point was Lilly letting her family go, and embracing her new found family and finding happiness. Which she does. This book had a fantastic ending, and I love these characters so much.
There was so much that happened in this book in a pretty short amount of time, but it all had a realistic trajectory. Hudson was also wonderful, because he was respectful of her wishes to be given time to process what she learned. I know that's the bare minimum to expect from people, but the number of times in this genre, where the male love interest forces her to forgive him... is uncountable. But that is why this series has made it to my favorites. These characters in their late-20s/early-30s actually behave like adults. It's great to see.
There was one aspect that I had hoped was addressed, that wasn't. But I guess that wasn't the point. The point was Lilly letting her family go, and embracing her new found family and finding happiness. Which she does. This book had a fantastic ending, and I love these characters so much.
lowkeyreader's review
4.0
This duet has been nothing but beautiful. I fell more in love with Lilly and Hudson in this one. I loved every second of the conclusion to their story. Not ashamed to say that I cried so much in this one too. We learn more about Hudson in this one and that he actually carries more baggage than you would have thought. It is such a beautiful conclusion to their story and I was just sad to see it ended. But Lilly definitely deserves Hudson and a loving family.
megkstyler's review
5.0
This book was just as great as the first in the series. Normally I’m more of a fan of standalones in a series. However I loved this book. You get a great continuation of a story without any unnecessary long drawn out drama. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down. Lilly and Hudson were perfect for each other and so happy to see them get their HEA! I would absolutely recommend this book.
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