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trademark's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
LOOOOVED the chronic illness rep, it slayed so hard. The whole cast of characters being so unique and distinct is just one of the beautiful parts of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Gun violence and Forced institutionalization
evelewin's review against another edition
It was trying to be too many things and unfortunately I couldn’t really even understand what it was aiming for. I was more intrigued by my TBR list than finishing this book that I had no connection with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, and Abandonment
doodeedoda's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Blood
smod's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
LOVE! So much to love and joy in this book but also tragic and emotional. Great representation, the range of sub-plots and world building while not being unnecessary and staying true to the characters- really impressive!! Definitely read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
valeriedittrich's review against another edition
funny
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
the writing style at first wasn’t for me but i got into it as i read. such a good read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Grief, and Abandonment
adamagoesit_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
I have so many words for how much I loved this book. It has taken me awhile to spring some words together because my thoughts were all over the place. This is my first Tia Williams book and my God, this woman has such a way with words. Her pen is breathingly beautiful and she has made a fan out of me.
You have Eva Mercy who has terrible migraines and a pen vicious enough to write a 15 book series while having amazing powerhouse of a daughter, Audre. When she rekindles with her high-school love, Shane, we are taken back to their past and what made them who they are today. This story is so heartbreaking and the relationship dynamics that were put into these characters make them so relatable. It feels very real and gives a realistic view of how children are treated because of parental neglect while putting their personal agendas at the forefront rather than taking care of their children. Every adult in their past that was involved actually deserves jail time. It sheds light to sometimes, rekindling relationships can come just as much as they can go.
There was so much care and thought being done throughout this book and I appreciated it more than anything. Seeing how Shane is battling his addiction while trying to avenge his past and Eva coping with her chronic illness. You see the depiction of how debilitating it is to constantly show up for yourself everyday while trying to heal from your past and the present. It also shows how love can help you realize that you are worthy of being alive and being loved. Eva and Shane are meant to be and I will stand on that.
Now, go read the book (:
You have Eva Mercy who has terrible migraines and a pen vicious enough to write a 15 book series while having amazing powerhouse of a daughter, Audre. When she rekindles with her high-school love, Shane, we are taken back to their past and what made them who they are today. This story is so heartbreaking and the relationship dynamics that were put into these characters make them so relatable. It feels very real and gives a realistic view of how children are treated because of parental neglect while putting their personal agendas at the forefront rather than taking care of their children. Every adult in their past that was involved actually deserves jail time. It sheds light to sometimes, rekindling relationships can come just as much as they can go.
There was so much care and thought being done throughout this book and I appreciated it more than anything. Seeing how Shane is battling his addiction while trying to avenge his past and Eva coping with her chronic illness. You see the depiction of how debilitating it is to constantly show up for yourself everyday while trying to heal from your past and the present. It also shows how love can help you realize that you are worthy of being alive and being loved. Eva and Shane are meant to be and I will stand on that.
Now, go read the book (:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
dkh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
tessroth's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Shoutout to Abby for letting me borrow this book like 2 summers ago. Really loved it - need to read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Gun violence
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Car accident
pamshenanigans's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
“You burst into my solitude, demanding to be seen. You were overwhelming. Just wild and weird and brilliant, and I never had a choice.”
An evocative romance book about two kindred spirits who bonded over their flaws but lost touch with each other for 15 years. Throughout this 15 years they’ve written about and to each other, both too scared to face the reality: the pull they have towards each other is palpable and inescapable.
I had high expectations for this book and was absolutely FLOORED by how amazing this was. The writing, the subtle but impactful plot, and the flawed yet darkly hilarious and genuine characters were meshed together to create a perfect balance in this literary romance novel.
It was so addicting and compelling to read with gritty lines that you’d think about for days on end. The writing was almost lyrical at times that didn’t require to be lyrical but it was still beautiful and made sense to the way the characters behaved. (in short: it wasn’t too cringey sweet just for the sake of keeping up the romance plot)
At the heart of the novel as well were mothers of different generations and showed how you can be doing your definition of best as a parent which doesn’t necessarily mean that that was what’s best for your child. ”Women are expected to absorb traumas both subtle and loud and move on. Shoulder the weight of the world. But when the world fucks with us, the worst thing we can do is bury it. Embracing it makes us strong enough to fuck the world right back.”
Eva and Audre’s relationship as mother-daughter was so refreshing to read. “Mother and daughter mirrored each other in the most striking of ways.”
I like how it may seem to work out in the end but it was vaguely concluded in a way that as a reader, it implies the start of something new; that their future bears challenges still along the way, but this time, they’ve fully embraced their flawed selves and just face things head on together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Death
isabelboswinkel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol