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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
really struggled with this one
On the surface, this book sounded unique and intriguing. Two blue collar older widowed men grieving, one with a teenager, navigating through grief and life while taking solace in each other.
But the first 30% was allll story set up. Their pasts, their relationships with their wives, how their wives died, what it’s been like in the years since their wives died. It was A LOT of internal dialogue/story set up and I just wanted the *current* story to get a move on.
This is a slowwww burn. And once it started, it was still just… agonizingly slow to really get going. There is A LOT of focus on mundane tasks that have nothing to do with the furthering of the plot. It just… dragged.
So I’m still waiting for the story to get a move on AT 85%!!! EVERYTHING was packed into the last 10%. Like…. Tying up everything talked about in the first 90%, was jam packed into the last 10%.
This had potential because the connection between the MC’s was really sweet. But when newly out Delaney is still questioning holding hands in public with Marcus in the dang epilogue…? I just… meh. Wanted the HEA to be satisfying and it really wasn’t. This took forever to get through with no real pay off.
On the surface, this book sounded unique and intriguing. Two blue collar older widowed men grieving, one with a teenager, navigating through grief and life while taking solace in each other.
But the first 30% was allll story set up. Their pasts, their relationships with their wives, how their wives died, what it’s been like in the years since their wives died. It was A LOT of internal dialogue/story set up and I just wanted the *current* story to get a move on.
This is a slowwww burn. And once it started, it was still just… agonizingly slow to really get going. There is A LOT of focus on mundane tasks that have nothing to do with the furthering of the plot. It just… dragged.
So I’m still waiting for the story to get a move on AT 85%!!! EVERYTHING was packed into the last 10%. Like…. Tying up everything talked about in the first 90%, was jam packed into the last 10%.
This had potential because the connection between the MC’s was really sweet. But when newly out Delaney is still questioning holding hands in public with Marcus in the dang epilogue…? I just… meh. Wanted the HEA to be satisfying and it really wasn’t. This took forever to get through with no real pay off.
Delaney and Marcus's romance was a wonderful, healing journey, and I'm blown away by how deeply I felt their emotions in this story.
Initially, I was worried I might find the tone of this book depressing, given its heavy themes of overcoming grief, but that wasn't the case at all. Seeing Delaney and Marcus process some of their feelings in their support group was more cathartic than anything, and the tender intimacy of their friendship never failed to lift my spirits. I think this author struck a really nice balance between showing how deeply Marcus and Delaney fell in love without cheapening the memory of their previous partners in any way. I never once felt like either man was rebounding or rushing into a romantic relationship, and honestly it was really sweet to see the way they brought each other's desire for companionship and love back to life. Their shift from friends to lovers felt so natural to me, and the more time Marc and Lane spent together, the more inevitable their partnership seemed. I fully understand why both men proceeded with as much caution as they did, and that made their stolen moments of bliss even more impactful to the story. Overall these two made me feel so warm and happy inside, and it was especially nice to see how easily they got along with each other's families. Grant in particular played a hugely important role in this book, and I surprised myself by becoming equally invested in his personal happily-ever-after. It did break my heart a little to see how much Lane and Marc struggled to overcome their fear of how their relationship would be perceived by others, but that romantic declaration in the end laid to rest any doubts I had about their future together.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
Initially, I was worried I might find the tone of this book depressing, given its heavy themes of overcoming grief, but that wasn't the case at all. Seeing Delaney and Marcus process some of their feelings in their support group was more cathartic than anything, and the tender intimacy of their friendship never failed to lift my spirits. I think this author struck a really nice balance between showing how deeply Marcus and Delaney fell in love without cheapening the memory of their previous partners in any way. I never once felt like either man was rebounding or rushing into a romantic relationship, and honestly it was really sweet to see the way they brought each other's desire for companionship and love back to life. Their shift from friends to lovers felt so natural to me, and the more time Marc and Lane spent together, the more inevitable their partnership seemed. I fully understand why both men proceeded with as much caution as they did, and that made their stolen moments of bliss even more impactful to the story. Overall these two made me feel so warm and happy inside, and it was especially nice to see how easily they got along with each other's families. Grant in particular played a hugely important role in this book, and I surprised myself by becoming equally invested in his personal happily-ever-after. It did break my heart a little to see how much Lane and Marc struggled to overcome their fear of how their relationship would be perceived by others, but that romantic declaration in the end laid to rest any doubts I had about their future together.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
emotional
hopeful
tense
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 stars
Alright, nothing real special about it to make this stand out. Grant was cute, and loved how Marcus was able to form a bond with him.
This book did feel longer than it needed to be, but overall I do still enjoy Christina Lee’s writing!
Alright, nothing real special about it to make this stand out. Grant was cute, and loved how Marcus was able to form a bond with him.
This book did feel longer than it needed to be, but overall I do still enjoy Christina Lee’s writing!
emotional
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:
Complicated
Rating: 4 stars (8/10)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: grief group, bisexual exploration, older MCs, single dad, F2L, so tender
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: grief group, bisexual exploration, older MCs, single dad, F2L, so tender
fast-paced
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism
Minor: Chronic illness, Medical content, Car accident
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall content: 3/4
Character portrayal: 3/4
Interpersonal chemistry: 2/4
Creative innovation: 3/4
Writing style: 2/4
Personal enjoyment: 2/4
Total: 15, translates to 3.25 stars
Character portrayal: 3/4
Interpersonal chemistry: 2/4
Creative innovation: 3/4
Writing style: 2/4
Personal enjoyment: 2/4
Total: 15, translates to 3.25 stars
"Incandescent" is a slow burn, emotional romance full of hurt/comfort and sweet moments.
Even if this book deals a lot with grief and the aftermath of a spouse dying, it wasn't quite as heavy as I thought it would be. Both Marcus and Delaney are widowers and they met through a grief-counselling group and start off as friends. There's a lot of building in this story, a lot of establishing the characters and their backgrounds along with their current lives and families, I felt like it dragged on a little and would have wanted it to be a little more fast-paced. The slow burn really fits this story, but I just think it took a little too long for the story and emotions to develop.
I enjoy reading books with more mature characters and this was no exception, Marcus and Delaney felt so realistic and authentic and the emotional connection between them was almost palpable. I also absolutely adored Grant, Delaney's teenage son, he was so well written and quirky in the best ways. The relationship between Grant and Delaney felt genuine and it was easy to see how they were struggling after losing their wife / mother, taking it out on each other and not feeling connected anymore. It was such a heartwarming moment when Delaney finally opened up to Grant about his past and his attraction to Marcus.
It's a gentle story, the grief and other heavier subjects are well handled by the author and I never felt like it got too heavy or insensitive in any way. I cared so much for the characters and wanted the best for them, rooting for them from the first chapter. A truly beautiful and emotional story.
Even if this book deals a lot with grief and the aftermath of a spouse dying, it wasn't quite as heavy as I thought it would be. Both Marcus and Delaney are widowers and they met through a grief-counselling group and start off as friends. There's a lot of building in this story, a lot of establishing the characters and their backgrounds along with their current lives and families, I felt like it dragged on a little and would have wanted it to be a little more fast-paced. The slow burn really fits this story, but I just think it took a little too long for the story and emotions to develop.
I enjoy reading books with more mature characters and this was no exception, Marcus and Delaney felt so realistic and authentic and the emotional connection between them was almost palpable. I also absolutely adored Grant, Delaney's teenage son, he was so well written and quirky in the best ways. The relationship between Grant and Delaney felt genuine and it was easy to see how they were struggling after losing their wife / mother, taking it out on each other and not feeling connected anymore. It was such a heartwarming moment when Delaney finally opened up to Grant about his past and his attraction to Marcus.
It's a gentle story, the grief and other heavier subjects are well handled by the author and I never felt like it got too heavy or insensitive in any way. I cared so much for the characters and wanted the best for them, rooting for them from the first chapter. A truly beautiful and emotional story.