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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Yes
Something I appreciate when it comes to Mariana's books is the way she does not sugarcoat things or try describing her FMCs as though they're flawless or p💩💩p rainbows. I also LOVE her talent for crafting the most amazing slow burns of all time! And being a sucker for that trope, I know where to go when I'm in the mood for one ❤
Rhodes breathed and exhaled grumpiness 🤣 I kid you not, his grumpiness was OFF THE CHARTS!! I've honestly never read about a character as miserable as he was 😭 what I love most about similar characters is the way they love and give endlessly when they allow themselves to actually live instead of just survive. Tobias was never really taught how to love and be loved, yet he somehow succeeded in being such a caring and protective dad 😭❤
Aurora was such a blabbermouth 🤣 I've never seen a character that talked as much as her!! But I guess that was part of what made her who she was. She couldn't stay silent for more than a second, but she also had pretty much no filter, and people like her are usually the ones you don't have to worry about because they wear their hearts on their sleeves. She was stubborn as a mule too, and when she went on those hikes in homage to her late mother, I couldn't help but think she was NUTS but I certainly admired her determination as well ❤
I love me a good slow burn with a pinch of found family, realistic depictions of human beings' complex emotions, and how they don't actually smell like roses after a long hike or a fishing trip 🤣
Rhodes breathed and exhaled grumpiness 🤣 I kid you not, his grumpiness was OFF THE CHARTS!! I've honestly never read about a character as miserable as he was 😭 what I love most about similar characters is the way they love and give endlessly when they allow themselves to actually live instead of just survive. Tobias was never really taught how to love and be loved, yet he somehow succeeded in being such a caring and protective dad 😭❤
Aurora was such a blabbermouth 🤣 I've never seen a character that talked as much as her!! But I guess that was part of what made her who she was. She couldn't stay silent for more than a second, but she also had pretty much no filter, and people like her are usually the ones you don't have to worry about because they wear their hearts on their sleeves. She was stubborn as a mule too, and when she went on those hikes in homage to her late mother, I couldn't help but think she was NUTS but I certainly admired her determination as well ❤
I love me a good slow burn with a pinch of found family, realistic depictions of human beings' complex emotions, and how they don't actually smell like roses after a long hike or a fishing trip 🤣
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
It was a little too long. It dragged in some places. I really liked how their relationship developed though I didn't care for the nicknames situation - Buddy (the Elf) is a cringey nickname and her thinking angel was him misremembering her name was just goofy. I really liked the pacing as I felt it gave me a lot of room to get to know the characters and be invested when the slow burn paid off but I think it could've cut 10-20% of the telling herself her every thought in real time. Still a big fan and would read again. Also another small criticism While cathartic, the mic drops on the ex and ex-MIL went a little too smoothly. Like.. is this a reliable narrator? levels of smooth lol
Worth the read? Yes
Worth the read? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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
Was fully on board loving this book and all it's profound and healing moments UNTIL 85% in when the two MMCs judge our FMC for something that was completely 100% not her fault and then act like immature judgmental assholes and give her the silent treatment. It's totally emotionally abusive behavior. It's then washed over with lovebombing behavior and all supposedly ends well but that is a major red flag. Left a bad vibe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Minor: Medical trauma