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pm_reads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I listened to the audiobook of this because I was impatient and that's what I had access to, but I really struggled with the narrator. I did finish the book, but I think I would like it better if I had been able to read it. I am going to give this one another shot when I can get my hands on the book, because I think my rating will change.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
dani794's review against another edition
4.0
i liked how sweet but sad this all was. but is it toxic of me to say i wanted it messier?? 😳
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Grief
litavalentine's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Minor: Racism
auri_underthing's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.75
Such a gorgeous story. I would read 20 more like this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
stormeno's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, and Alcohol
kaydee_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
I really wanted to love this book. I loved the first one - we could be so good - and Andy and Nick’s story so much that I dove right into this one afterwards, and I think it suffers in comparison.
Mark Bailey is grieving the loss of his partner in secret. This is probably the bit of the book that worked best for me - his loss and his grief and how he’s dealing with it felt very raw and real, and his hesitance to fall in love again or be a secret lover again was understandable and sad. I teared up a few times - the cherries scene got me!
I found Eddie a lot more inaccessible as a character, however, and I also found it difficult to imagine the two of them living happily ever after. They’re just so different and they have almost nothing in common - which, sure, can work for a bit, but I could easily see this relationship falling apart in the near future.
I also found the lack of plot maddening in a way it wasn’t in We Could Be So Good. Maybe that’s because I just went on a very similar/same emotional journey in that book, which was a meditative exploration of queer identity during this time period, with one character who has long since accepted his queerness and the other only just beginning his journey, but through his exploration of his own identity, pulls out new facets for the other person. And this book… did exactly the same thing, same formula, same long meditations and inner narration. Since these books exist in the same universe, I think it is fair to compare them and I think this one should have differentiated itself more - perhaps by having a little more plot? Or just a different emotional arc.
I did love the last quarter of the book quite a bit, which pulled it up from a 3 to a 3.75, but found the first three quarters uninspiring compared to Andy and Nick’s book.
Mark Bailey is grieving the loss of his partner in secret. This is probably the bit of the book that worked best for me - his loss and his grief and how he’s dealing with it felt very raw and real, and his hesitance to fall in love again or be a secret lover again was understandable and sad. I teared up a few times - the cherries scene got me!
I found Eddie a lot more inaccessible as a character, however, and I also found it difficult to imagine the two of them living happily ever after. They’re just so different and they have almost nothing in common - which, sure, can work for a bit, but I could easily see this relationship falling apart in the near future.
I also found the lack of plot maddening in a way it wasn’t in We Could Be So Good. Maybe that’s because I just went on a very similar/same emotional journey in that book, which was a meditative exploration of queer identity during this time period, with one character who has long since accepted his queerness and the other only just beginning his journey, but through his exploration of his own identity, pulls out new facets for the other person. And this book… did exactly the same thing, same formula, same long meditations and inner narration. Since these books exist in the same universe, I think it is fair to compare them and I think this one should have differentiated itself more - perhaps by having a little more plot? Or just a different emotional arc.
I did love the last quarter of the book quite a bit, which pulled it up from a 3 to a 3.75, but found the first three quarters uninspiring compared to Andy and Nick’s book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, and Outing
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
nickywheeler's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
if you like 3rd person you’ll love this! also, in my print at least, the text is too small for me personally! otherwise, really good detail in every sentence and i loved it. :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and War
the_vegan_bookworm's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism
pgt's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death and Terminal illness
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
yulia's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
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? No
4.0
A perfectly good romance, but it was a bit of a miss for me. It felt a bit flat, there was no suspense or conflict that didn't resolve very fast.
I really liked the characters though, they had very distinct and interesting personalities.
I really liked the characters though, they had very distinct and interesting personalities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual content