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jack_ash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Confinement
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Minor: Miscarriage
alyssaamrhein's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Death, Dementia, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Torture
Minor: Animal death
allisonmartinezreads's review against another edition
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Murder, and Rape
azhaar's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape
dontbechey20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of my favorite things about this book is how raw and real it is. It's not an insta-love story that works out perfectly. It has glaringly obvious and frustrating bumps along the way, which makes the love between Dean and Cora feel so real and authentic. As a reader, I was THROWN every which way with my emotions. I spent the entirety of this book crying, laughing, swooning, and yelling from pure and utter frustration.
Authors can very quickly and easily fall into a "pit" of trauma and pain. Writing a story stemming from pain, dispair, and trauma can be easy. Jennifer seamlessly joined two timelines together to tell the love (and hate) story between Dean and Cora. She somehow brings awareness to dark, heavy, and deep topics, while simultaneously keeping the book hopeful and hauntingly beautiful. I was honestly worried the entire book was going to be focused on the abduction, so as I got through the first chapters that were utterly disgusting (in the best way possible), I was worried Jennifer was only going to hone in on the ugly. To my surprise, she pivoted the story rather quickly to focus on the part of the story a lot of people avoid - the recovery. That is why this book is so powerful.
This book is not meant for everyone, but if you can find the mental space and capacity to read it, please do. You will not regret it. It will leave you aching, crying, and in love with both characters individually and together. Also, this book is NOT focused on the spice. Expect spice (don't worry, it gets better), but that is not the focus of this story.
Quote from the book: "I know I said you’re holding me underwater but you’re the only thing keeping me afloat." I CAN'T!! How can you read that and not fall in love?!
BRB, going to see if I can find a matching necklace, because I need to torture myself every single day with a reminder of a chef kiss of a book boyfriend.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Sexual content, Rape, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Self harm, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
rose_ndrd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a hard read because of the graphic content because of the explicit scenes because stuff like this actually happens in real life and we don’t know how to move on or how to deal with it.
Graphic: Torture, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Pregnancy and Suicide attempt
rachael_tee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Self harm, Torture, Rape, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Murder, and Confinement
bookishbeanie's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
mamede's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Dementia, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
ancaudle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"..we aren't something meant to be labeled. We transcend titles."
Enemies to 'forced' lovers
Kidnapping
Captive/prisoner
Abuse
rape
miscarriage
Attempted suicide
I don't even know how to describe how I felt reading this book. My heart simultaneously filled and broke at every page. I loved it from the start and this is one of those books that I will think about for a long time. What they went through down there was just as tormenting as what they went through later. Dean and Cora were put in an impossible situation watching (reading) it unfold tore my heart out.
And they clutched to each other like they're each others lifeline and I loved it so much, even though, on paper, it was wrong. But in reality, it was so so right.
Such a brutal story and the best relationship arc. I was crying at times and giddy at others!
I plan to go buy the rest of Jennifer Hartmann's books now.
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Miscarriage