Reviews

I just had to write a review for this book. This book completely destroyed me. I don't normally read books that centre around addiction, there is just something in me and them that I can't handle. It may have to do with my job, because I've never personally dealt with the effects of addiction but it is a major trigger for me. BUT, this book was incredible. The story was heart wrenching and soul crushing but I needed to see it through. It will crush you and i'll be honest it'll only uplift you briefly to crush you again. Have faith though, I had to or I didn't know how I was going to recover, Alma's story isn't all heartbreak.
Leo is....god how do I explain him, he's imperfectly perfect. Jeez just writing about him brings tears to my eyes. This man is Broken, with a capital B, he has gone through so much in his young life and hardly any of it is good. Until Alma. This man loves Alma and it is beautiful, it's incredible that a man who was shown no love in his life has the power to show Alma the amount that he does. Alma didn't have much in the way of goodness in her life either but where Leo was destroyed irrevocably by his trauma, Alma embraced it and didn't allow it to define her, she tried that much harder to be better and never let it drag her down. This is by no way a judgement on Leo, he had no one growing up, no one. Alma had her soulmate Amos, without him she would not have survived, I fully believe that.
But the passion and love between Alma and Leo is otherworldly, just reading about it sparks envy. To experience just a fraction of that love in your lifetime would be completely life changing. I'm glad it exists for some people out there.
Just to note, you have to read the second book in the Beautiful Souls series, you have to read Alma's conclusion. It will sew your heart up with only minimal scarring.
Thank you for writing such a beautiful book Ellie. It was truly a work of art, even with all the tears I shed.

emwillems's review

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emotional sad 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

4.5

crysrose0527's review

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

5.0

Content Warnings

grovess's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

booktrovertedmom's review against another edition

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5.0

Holy emotional rollercoaster. This book was filled with so many forms of different emotions to deal with; addiction, child abuse/painful childhood & loss of a loved one. It definitely was heavy on the heart but also such a great read, showing that no matter the past you come from, you are worthy of redemption and love and that miracles can happen. I just loved Leo & Alma, their story was filled with heartbreak and struggles but it was also beautiful & amazing.

"I can face whatever tomorrow brings because I had today. One day of your love is enough. You are my everything."

"True love, like ours, transcends time and space."

martideno's review

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dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.5

staubitz1025's review

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5.0

Okay so I hate her for writing this, but I also love her for writing this. I didn’t know I needed this story until I read it. It was so sad and so happy and showed that we can hide a whole lot from others but those who truly know us, know us. Did I wish he didn’t die yes, do I love that they had a kid yes. Am I gonna go buy the other books most definitely. I love her writing style, I love that this wasn’t fluff (I love me some fluff), but this was raw and filled with more love than any other book. This is legit my favorite book. It beats coho in my opinion, yes I still love coho may she for ever rain as queen, but the thrown is big enough for 2 and Ellie Wade is my number 2. I’m shook like genuinely shook, I love hockey romance, but I think this story just tops everything. She did an amazing job at showing everyone’s emotions and grief and all that fun stuff. I love how it was done. I can’t wait to get the others.

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