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liszt91's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.75
robazizo's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up because I wanted to read something light. As it turned out it wasn't light at all, but I really liked it all the same. I'm usually wary of former bully-turned-lover stories, but Riley completely convinced me that Van really was a different person than he was in his youth. His chemistry with Shane was electric and despite it being a very sexy book, it was also very obvious the boys connected on a deeper level as well. Shane's devotion to his mother was admirable (if not entirely good for himself) as was her resolve to take action to give Shane the chance to live his own life. I loved their relationship and the role Annie played later on in Van's life. And somehow it felt quite satisfying that Van's relationship with his mom wasn't magically cured in the end.
mrnnprsns's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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? Yes
4.5
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review against another edition
5.0
First of all whoa momma !!! that cover. Simply stunning. But that wasn't all that drew me to this book. I am a big fan of Riley Harts writing and this book did not disappoint. In fact I think it's right up there with Collide as one of my favorites of her.
This book has moderate angst. Lots and lots of steam and also dealt with serious issues. The story never ventured into too serious itself as there was lots of fun banter between the two MCs Shane and Van.
Speaking of Shane and Van, the two together were hot, their chemistry leaping off the page. I loved them together and like Shane's mom I never stopped rooting for them. There is a message in their relationship and theme in the book of change, more to the point of how drastic some people can change and yet others stay the same. It was a good story and I for one am looking forward to visiting Last Chance again with Caleb's story.
This book has moderate angst. Lots and lots of steam and also dealt with serious issues. The story never ventured into too serious itself as there was lots of fun banter between the two MCs Shane and Van.
Speaking of Shane and Van, the two together were hot, their chemistry leaping off the page. I loved them together and like Shane's mom I never stopped rooting for them. There is a message in their relationship and theme in the book of change, more to the point of how drastic some people can change and yet others stay the same. It was a good story and I for one am looking forward to visiting Last Chance again with Caleb's story.
roryta86reads's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so damn sweet, if not slightly angsty.
Van's mom made my blood boil!!
Van's mom made my blood boil!!
madscientistcat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
artareadsatnight's review
3.0
This was sweet. But a bit repetitive and forgettable. After a few days I had to think about it for a while to actually remember what it was about
loishojmark's review
3.0
2.5 stars. The story is written a bit corny and almost banal. The language fluctuates between being pornographic and sugary. To use the author's own words...
Shane and Van were rather boring and one dimensional. And neither did I feel their pain or their joy and love. I simply wasn't interested in their story or their corny art.
It was pretty obvious that the next book in this series would be Caleb's story. Because for someone not in this book and not terribly important for the plot, he was surely mentioned a lot. Oh but my mistake... I forgot that he was paramount in the epic crisis Van and Shane had... The giant, calamitous cataclysm that derailed their relationship... for approximately 5 minutes. But hey, it hurt!
Well I will not be reading Caleb's probably, almost heartbreaking story, because I think I'll have to give up reading Riley Hart's books. They are just not for me. They are not bad per se, they are just too light and fluffy for me (and I don't mean light/fluffy as in over the top funny, but as in thin and inconsequential). I made that decision before, but I forget or I convince myself that maybe this one... I like the angsty setting, so I get tempted beyond my senses. So no Caleb for me - unless I forget.
“Crazy in love.”
“Crazy cheesy.”
Shane and Van were rather boring and one dimensional. And neither did I feel their pain or their joy and love. I simply wasn't interested in their story or their corny art.
It was pretty obvious that the next book in this series would be Caleb's story. Because for someone not in this book and not terribly important for the plot, he was surely mentioned a lot. Oh but my mistake... I forgot that he was paramount in the epic crisis Van and Shane had... The giant, calamitous cataclysm that derailed their relationship... for approximately 5 minutes. But hey, it hurt!
Well I will not be reading Caleb's probably, almost heartbreaking story, because I think I'll have to give up reading Riley Hart's books. They are just not for me. They are not bad per se, they are just too light and fluffy for me (and I don't mean light/fluffy as in over the top funny, but as in thin and inconsequential). I made that decision before, but I forget or I convince myself that maybe this one... I like the angsty setting, so I get tempted beyond my senses. So no Caleb for me - unless I forget.
cherryblossomreads's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
haletostilinski1's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
This was one of the best, if not the best Riley Hart book I've read. Shane and Van had an amazing connection, that I felt throughout this novel, and there was just something about them together that I loved. Aside from amazing chemistry - between the sheets and out of them - they also understood each other so amazingly well, and they turned what was a bad relationship - when they were younger and Van bullied Shane - into one of the healthiest relationships out there.
Seriously, there's one point where Shane lets his fear get the best of him - and that felt both out of left field and not at the same time, because we could tell Shane was holding back from the start of their relationship, especially once Van goes back to LA (but they keep doing long distance) and looked for the first sign of something going wrong before breaking it off, but it also feels like "Wait, huh?" in the moment because he takes this one issue and blows it up enough to be the end of their relationship (for like two or three weeks, thank god it doesn't last long). And while it definitely isn't a good thing, what Shane finds out Van did, it wasn't enough to end their relationship. Something that needed to be talked about, for sure, which Shane did not allow to happen - but anyway, there is that one part, but for the most part these two communicated - so much so that Van knew right away, during the phone call, what Shane was trying to do, and they were only apart because Van knew that Shane had to work through his shit himself, not for Van and that not even Van loving him could "fix" those issues.
Just Van knowing that made me so happy, and of course Shane shows up pretty soon after and it's all good. Their separation was like the least angst-filled separation I've ever read, just because I knew Shane would come to his senses, I felt that even as he was breaking up with Van, and I knew they would work it out. Usually yes, I know that if they break up near the end, that they will get back together in books, more often than not, but usually I'm still like "oh shit oh shit oh shit, HOW is this going to be fixed?? Crap!" and I didn't feel that dread with these two. They got this ;)
I felt so sad for both Shane and Van, and I was happy at the same time that Shane didn't just excuse Van's behavior away, even though what he was going through was completely understandable (and heartbreaking :( ). Still, Van was a kid and he didn't handle it well, and he did wrong by Shane, and I'm glad he owns up that and he changes and he treats Shane so beautifully as an adult.
Most of the time in real life, a bully won't stop being a bully, or at the very least, they won't be remorseful - or they hide any remorse very well - and I have no sympathy for them. But if a former bully can change, can show how sorry and remorseful they are and actively be better, and show that they want to be a better person, then I love those stories, those characters are interesting. Doesn't excuse what they did in the past, but an understanding can come from them growing, being better, and it can be forgiven. Van did everything possible, while trying and not trying at all at the same time, to redeem himself - owning up to his past bullshit was a really good start and I loved him by the end of this.
Van and Shane just *happy sigh* made my heart melt. Also, the sex scenes in this are super steamy and hot and mhmm. The taking pictures of each other naked/during sex with each other doesn't hurt either ;) Like damnnn. HOT.
I loved these two together, I loved this story, I loved this book. Definitely a Riley Hart favorite of mine, and probably her best work, I think.
Definitely recommend <333
This was one of the best, if not the best Riley Hart book I've read. Shane and Van had an amazing connection, that I felt throughout this novel, and there was just something about them together that I loved. Aside from amazing chemistry - between the sheets and out of them - they also understood each other so amazingly well, and they turned what was a bad relationship - when they were younger and Van bullied Shane - into one of the healthiest relationships out there.
Seriously, there's one point where Shane lets his fear get the best of him - and that felt both out of left field and not at the same time, because we could tell Shane was holding back from the start of their relationship, especially once Van goes back to LA (but they keep doing long distance) and looked for the first sign of something going wrong before breaking it off, but it also feels like "Wait, huh?" in the moment because he takes this one issue and blows it up enough to be the end of their relationship (for like two or three weeks, thank god it doesn't last long). And while it definitely isn't a good thing, what Shane finds out Van did, it wasn't enough to end their relationship. Something that needed to be talked about, for sure, which Shane did not allow to happen - but anyway, there is that one part, but for the most part these two communicated - so much so that Van knew right away, during the phone call, what Shane was trying to do, and they were only apart because Van knew that Shane had to work through his shit himself, not for Van and that not even Van loving him could "fix" those issues.
Just Van knowing that made me so happy, and of course Shane shows up pretty soon after and it's all good. Their separation was like the least angst-filled separation I've ever read, just because I knew Shane would come to his senses, I felt that even as he was breaking up with Van, and I knew they would work it out. Usually yes, I know that if they break up near the end, that they will get back together in books, more often than not, but usually I'm still like "oh shit oh shit oh shit, HOW is this going to be fixed?? Crap!" and I didn't feel that dread with these two. They got this ;)
I felt so sad for both Shane and Van, and I was happy at the same time that Shane didn't just excuse Van's behavior away, even though what he was going through was completely understandable (and heartbreaking :( ). Still, Van was a kid and he didn't handle it well, and he did wrong by Shane, and I'm glad he owns up that and he changes and he treats Shane so beautifully as an adult.
Most of the time in real life, a bully won't stop being a bully, or at the very least, they won't be remorseful - or they hide any remorse very well - and I have no sympathy for them. But if a former bully can change, can show how sorry and remorseful they are and actively be better, and show that they want to be a better person, then I love those stories, those characters are interesting. Doesn't excuse what they did in the past, but an understanding can come from them growing, being better, and it can be forgiven. Van did everything possible, while trying and not trying at all at the same time, to redeem himself - owning up to his past bullshit was a really good start and I loved him by the end of this.
Van and Shane just *happy sigh* made my heart melt. Also, the sex scenes in this are super steamy and hot and mhmm. The taking pictures of each other naked/during sex with each other doesn't hurt either ;) Like damnnn. HOT.
I loved these two together, I loved this story, I loved this book. Definitely a Riley Hart favorite of mine, and probably her best work, I think.
Definitely recommend <333