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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
fast-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:
Yes
What a wonderfully funny and sensitive story. I completely understand the hype and I admire the writing style a lot, so addictive!
This truly is the best example of a good grumpy vs sunshine.
This truly is the best example of a good grumpy vs sunshine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Of all the author's novels in this universe, this is the one that I keep finding myself coming back to again and again. It rips my heart out every time I read it.
I followed along on AO3 when it was originally being written/posted and was so sad to see it finished, then rejoiced when we just kept bugging her into expanding it and pretty much doubling the length, which brought it so much further to life and really expanded upon how we choose love, every day, despite knowing it's going to be hard.
I followed along on AO3 when it was originally being written/posted and was so sad to see it finished, then rejoiced when we just kept bugging her into expanding it and pretty much doubling the length, which brought it so much further to life and really expanded upon how we choose love, every day, despite knowing it's going to be hard.
Turns out this is not the type of a relationship I can enjoy. And after reading some spoilers, the book’s only going downhill from here, for me.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad as hell. i was completely blindsided. i signed up for a romance, specifically sports romance. i signed for good times and bad times. i didn’t sign up for depressing and difficult times with no payoff or reason whatsoever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death
Moderate: Grief
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“That’s just the way it goes,” he said.
But it shouldn’t be.
- Liam Fitzgerald, August 2033
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Grief
One of those kick you in the guts reads, where you know what’s likely to happen (and it does, though in a way it’s done kindly).
At first the style, not sure what it is - first person narrative? - is a bit odd, it is describing whats going on by Mike, but at a remove - however, that becomes the norm quite quickly.
The story of Mike and Liam, grizzled disillusioned enforcer at the tail end of his career and Liam the exuberant rookie, rising star is a love story - thanks to Liam never giving up really and wearing Mike down.
It is a cautionary tale of the effects of repeated brain injury and from the authors words, she has direct experience with her brother so the issues Mike deals with are hard hitting and real.
Liam is portrayed, by Mike, as frivolous etc but he is deeply in love with Mike and willing to do what is needed. His epilogue, eulogy, is the tear jerker and that alone elevates from a v strong 4* to the 5* rating.
At first the style, not sure what it is - first person narrative? - is a bit odd, it is describing whats going on by Mike, but at a remove - however, that becomes the norm quite quickly.
The story of Mike and Liam, grizzled disillusioned enforcer at the tail end of his career and Liam the exuberant rookie, rising star is a love story - thanks to Liam never giving up really and wearing Mike down.
It is a cautionary tale of the effects of repeated brain injury and from the authors words, she has direct experience with her brother so the issues Mike deals with are hard hitting and real.
Liam is portrayed, by Mike, as frivolous etc but he is deeply in love with Mike and willing to do what is needed. His epilogue, eulogy, is the tear jerker and that alone elevates from a v strong 4* to the 5* rating.
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i just really wanna give them a hug.
i think the age gap was there to show the difference in how the queerness/sexuality was experienced and accepted on each character; their thoughts and fears about how that portraited them to others. That’s the reason why i’m not really pissed of about the “fuxking teen” and “kid”
this story was so bittersweet and i’m still crying so i’m gonna stop writing now
okay, i’m back. spoilers ahead.
mostly storytelling and not showing, but i think i fitted great for some reason. the third point of view was also and interesting choice, like mike couldn’t even open up to us, to himself. The fact that liam’s chapter was first pov adds up perfectly.
not a five star because i was really dubious throughout the first half, and i’m afraid i’m getting carried by the emotions the second and third part made me feel. those parts where undoubtably beautiful and so harsh and true. the fact that mike never said i love you made so fucking sense and made him through to himself, but that doesn’t mean that his character didn’t grow.
UPDATED UPDATE: (more spoilers)
his death makes so fuxking sense: he died the same way he lived; some might say privately, other cowardly. but that’s the way mike was. he also died of a fucking concussion for gods sake.
same thing happened with liam; he got to say their story, be open, out, like he always wanted. always following mikes wishes tho
coming back to finally give it 5 stars bc it hasn’t leave my mind since i read it
i think the age gap was there to show the difference in how the queerness/sexuality was experienced and accepted on each character; their thoughts and fears about how that portraited them to others. That’s the reason why i’m not really pissed of about the “fuxking teen” and “kid”
this story was so bittersweet and i’m still crying so i’m gonna stop writing now
okay, i’m back. spoilers ahead.
mostly storytelling and not showing, but i think i fitted great for some reason. the third point of view was also and interesting choice, like mike couldn’t even open up to us, to himself. The fact that liam’s chapter was first pov adds up perfectly.
not a five star because i was really dubious throughout the first half, and i’m afraid i’m getting carried by the emotions the second and third part made me feel. those parts where undoubtably beautiful and so harsh and true. the fact that mike never said i love you made so fucking sense and made him through to himself, but that doesn’t mean that his character didn’t grow.
UPDATED UPDATE: (more spoilers)
his death makes so fuxking sense: he died the same way he lived; some might say privately, other cowardly. but that’s the way mike was. he also died of a fucking concussion for gods sake.
same thing happened with liam; he got to say their story, be open, out, like he always wanted. always following mikes wishes tho
coming back to finally give it 5 stars bc it hasn’t leave my mind since i read it