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chi__'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Violence, Alcohol, and Car accident
hapalyn's review
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'd say this is one of Mariana's best build-ups when it comes to character relationship. The scenes where the FMC and MMC interact have such a nice slow, realistic tension. You clearly see the MMC go from tough to soft, and I'd say there were plenty(!!!) of interactions between the two characters that made the relationship seem realistic and REAL.
The backstories of both characters were so real and raw, I think Mariana did such an excellent job fleshing out realistic characters with real problems/trauma and making them so special to watch grow.
I will say, that if you are a person uncomfortable with age gaps, I'd skip this one. Similar to Kulti's age gap, the FMC is 26 or 27 (can't remember) and MMC is 41. It's not awful, it made me scratch my head a few times, personally, but I think it can be looked past. I think unlike some of her other works, the dynamic didn't seem uncomfortable (No "old man" jokes.. like Hands Down... ick for me personally).
I think all side characters were super interesting and fun when they made appearances. The sisters, Mr. Cooper, and Miguel were all some of my favorites.
For others interested in the Mariana-verse, spoilers in case you want to skip: We had a reference to the Reapers from Under Locke, and the Maio house from Hands Down.
Overall, I'd really recommend this book to those who love these tropes:
-Age gap
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-(Adoptive) father figure
-Independent, successful FMC
The backstories of both characters were so real and raw, I think Mariana did such an excellent job fleshing out realistic characters with real problems/trauma and making them so special to watch grow.
I will say, that if you are a person uncomfortable with age gaps, I'd skip this one. Similar to Kulti's age gap, the FMC is 26 or 27 (can't remember) and MMC is 41. It's not awful, it made me scratch my head a few times, personally, but I think it can be looked past. I think unlike some of her other works, the dynamic didn't seem uncomfortable (No "old man" jokes.. like Hands Down... ick for me personally).
I think all side characters were super interesting and fun when they made appearances. The sisters, Mr. Cooper, and Miguel were all some of my favorites.
For others interested in the Mariana-verse, spoilers in case you want to skip:
Overall, I'd really recommend this book to those who love these tropes:
-Age gap
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-(Adoptive) father figure
-Independent, successful FMC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Alcoholism
Minor: Addiction and Death of parent
cheeches's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
amanda_reads13'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Luna has been working in a body shop for the past 9 years. 3 years of which she has spent harbouring a secret crush on her broody and grumpy new boss.
Zapata is definitely the queen of slow burns. But this was the slowest of slow burn and was veryyyyy long.
Luna is an enigma. How she came out of her family situation the way she is is completely shocking. He family was scum, completely horrible. Her father and her step mother were abusive, neglectful addicts. Yet somehow she became this caring and thoughtful woman. Yes, we see a ton of self-doubt and low confidence, but Luna has suffered 18 years of trauma that has never been dealt with and has definitely left her with PTSD, abandonment, and trust issues.
Luna did whatever she could to protect her sisters. She sacrificed so much to ensure that they had a better life than her. Then her two middle sisters go andforgive their father? Are you kidding me? If my father ever treated my sibling the way that he treated Luna, he would be dead to me.
I loved the found family angle. I loved how Luna was able to find and connect with her own group of people who loved her like their own family.
Rip was just meh for me. He didn't have much of a personality. I wish this had been a dual POV so that we could have got to know him more and his past. He lacks basic communication skills for majority of the book and sometimes he was just plain mean. He thinks that he is too old for Luna and not good enough for her due to his past. But he is always there to protect her and shows his affection in little ways.I figured out his relationship to Mr. C pretty quickly. It wasn't hard to figure that he was his father.
One thing that really bugged me was the constant description of Rip's size. He is a big man. We get it. You don't have to tell us 1000x.
One thing I notice with Zapata's books is that there is so much time spent building up the tension between the characters (like 70%+ of the book), that the ending often feels rushed. That means there are always questions left unanswered. What happened between Luna and their sisters? How was the situation resolved? Did she ever meet her mother's family? What really happened in Rip' past?
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, boss/employee, age/gap, troubled past, roadtrip, found family
Zapata is definitely the queen of slow burns. But this was the slowest of slow burn and was veryyyyy long.
Luna is an enigma. How she came out of her family situation the way she is is completely shocking. He family was scum, completely horrible. Her father and her step mother were abusive, neglectful addicts. Yet somehow she became this caring and thoughtful woman. Yes, we see a ton of self-doubt and low confidence, but Luna has suffered 18 years of trauma that has never been dealt with and has definitely left her with PTSD, abandonment, and trust issues.
Luna did whatever she could to protect her sisters. She sacrificed so much to ensure that they had a better life than her. Then her two middle sisters go and
I loved the found family angle. I loved how Luna was able to find and connect with her own group of people who loved her like their own family.
Rip was just meh for me. He didn't have much of a personality. I wish this had been a dual POV so that we could have got to know him more and his past. He lacks basic communication skills for majority of the book and sometimes he was just plain mean. He thinks that he is too old for Luna and not good enough for her due to his past. But he is always there to protect her and shows his affection in little ways.
One thing that really bugged me was the constant description of Rip's size. He is a big man. We get it. You don't have to tell us 1000x.
One thing I notice with Zapata's books is that there is so much time spent building up the tension between the characters (like 70%+ of the book), that the ending often feels rushed. That means there are always questions left unanswered. What happened between Luna and their sisters? How was the situation resolved? Did she ever meet her mother's family? What really happened in Rip' past?
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, boss/employee, age/gap, troubled past, roadtrip, found family
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Sexual content, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
teardropsonmypaperback's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
amy_sutt's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Violence
Most of the triggers are related to the FMC’s upbringing and some in the behavior of the oldest sister (next oldest to FMC). Occurs mostly off pagekam_be's review
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Gun violence
cariam's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
It’s no secret I love Mariana Zapata books. Ugh.
Of course it was a glorious slow burn, but it was so satisfying because the plot and the characters were necessary to get to know before the love really kicked you in the gut. Rip and Luna were so wonderful!
Definitely a recommend read!
Of course it was a glorious slow burn, but it was so satisfying because the plot and the characters were necessary to get to know before the love really kicked you in the gut. Rip and Luna were so wonderful!
Definitely a recommend read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse, Abandonment, and Death of parent
samixox's review
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
ava_mussell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The saving grace of this book was how good the romance was. Like, that's the whole point, but the plot itself was really stupid at times and I didn't feel like I got closure with so much that was going on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, Abandonment, and Drug use