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hiddenfallacies's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Putting into words what I liked about this book is difficult. A lot of it is simply to die for - the writing style, the accuracy of the historical setting, the way each character feels like a real human being (flaws and all). This story, in the end, is about having the courage to keep trying even when life goes wrong. It manages to make that message not feel superficial, which is a monumental accomplishment in and of itself.
The only thing holding me back from rating it higher is that I was much more endeared to Mark's POV than I was to Eddie's. Which isn't to say that Eddie's chapters were lacking, exactly, moreso that Mark's journey through grief was more captivating to me than Eddie's slow process of self-discovery.
The only thing holding me back from rating it higher is that I was much more endeared to Mark's POV than I was to Eddie's. Which isn't to say that Eddie's chapters were lacking, exactly, moreso that Mark's journey through grief was more captivating to me than Eddie's slow process of self-discovery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Antisemitism, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Medical content, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kaneebli's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Outing, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism, and Classism
imstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Grief
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Antisemitism, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a perfect follow-up to We Could Be So Good, and I know Mark and Eddie will be cozied up in a corner of my heart for a very long time. Like We Could Be So Good, this story excels in the small moments and tiniest gestures. A wide smile, a bowl of cereal with sliced banana, a long-distance phone call, a gifted apartment key all feel as profound as public declarations of love. While this handles heavier themes, like grief and family abandonment, it does so with a gentle touch, a fair amount of humor, and a refreshing amount of emotional maturity (truly, seeing two people assume the best of each other EVEN in arguments is so lovely!).
I also felt this was less stressful than Nick and Andy's story, simply because we don't have a sub-plot where we're attempting to bust bad cops and there isn't the same looming threat of arrest. While there is still the very real possibility that Mark and Eddie might be discovered and that Eddie's career could be a casualty of that discovery, it is Eddie's frank consideration of this possibility throughout that makes it feel less ominous. I loved how deftly Sebastian shows the push-and-pull for a character like Mark, who was turned out of his home when he came out, has lived without family support since, and lost his partner of seven years without any member of his partner's family even knowing they were together, and now has to find a way to live openly and accept that he deserves someone will love him openly. Eddie's emotional intelligence as he navigates Mark's grief and need for assurance is so moving, and it made the HEA feel secure all the way through.
Once again, Sebastian bakes a five-star trope lasagna, layered with buddy-readers-to-lovers, grumpy x sunshine, slow burn (Mark, please... lives rent-free in my head baby!) and on-page declarations of fidelity (my FAVORITE!).
I want more books in this universe, pretty please, Cat Sebastian!
I also felt this was less stressful than Nick and Andy's story, simply because we don't have a sub-plot where we're attempting to bust bad cops and there isn't the same looming threat of arrest. While there is still the very real possibility that Mark and Eddie might be discovered and that Eddie's career could be a casualty of that discovery, it is Eddie's frank consideration of this possibility throughout that makes it feel less ominous. I loved how deftly Sebastian shows the push-and-pull for a character like Mark, who was turned out of his home when he came out, has lived without family support since, and lost his partner of seven years without any member of his partner's family even knowing they were together, and now has to find a way to live openly and accept that he deserves someone will love him openly. Eddie's emotional intelligence as he navigates Mark's grief and need for assurance is so moving, and it made the HEA feel secure all the way through.
Once again, Sebastian bakes a five-star trope lasagna, layered with buddy-readers-to-lovers, grumpy x sunshine, slow burn (Mark, please... lives rent-free in my head baby!) and on-page declarations of fidelity (my FAVORITE!).
I want more books in this universe, pretty please, Cat Sebastian!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Racism