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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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
I had high hopes because of An Unexpected Kind of Love, but I never quite connected with Charlie or Ben. Maybe it would have been more believable if they'd been slightly older? It was a good story, but I didn't find it particularly special or memorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders
This book suffered from too many ideas and too much repetition. Charlie has a lot going on, too much really. Charlie is a university student studying English and is always behind on school work, he’s a barista who barely functions at work, he plays guitar in a band, he has a kid from a one night stand with a friend who lives in another country, he is perpetually broke because he is supporting himself and sending money home to his kid, he was the “problem child” growing up and engaged in self destructive behavior but he sees a therapist now and takes medications, his mother is overly critical and homophobic, he has a “no dating” rule, and he only has fun on Fridays (and probably some things I’m leaving out). Don’t worry if you forget any of these things - they will all be repeated ad nauseum.
Another thing that is repetitive is the coffee/tea with “cream” joke (I’m sure you can guess what I’m referring to). I hate this joke. I’ve heard men make this type of joke often and it is always juvenile and repulsive and it always makes them sound like particularly unimaginative 13 year old boys.
Then there is Ben, a Scottish musician who is further along in his music career than Charlie and, for entirely no reason I can identify, is immediately in love with Charlie. Like the type of instalove where characters make sweeping statements about how good the other person is and how deserving they are while having only known them for mere hours. I hate instalove in general, but I really hate it when characters think they know someone simply because the sex is good.
I tried to finish but Charlie’s extremely annoying and overcomplicated self-pitying internal dialogue about himself and overly simplistic and objectifying attachment to Ben just wasn’t interesting enough to keep going.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an enjoyable second book of the series. It was too repetitive throughout the entirety. One main thing I did like was the inclusion of kink without making a big deal out of it, as well as having a kid while still being queer. While his family was terrible, I was happy the author did not spend much time with them and make the reader endure too many interactions with them.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders
100% transparent: I am typing this up with ten minutes left in the book. I cannot see how this gets any better. Are the characters cute? Sure! Do they have any true chemistry? Naur. Do they seem like they'll make it work after the book is over? Absolutely naur
Charlie has a DAUGTHER and doesn't tell Ben about her until the 50% mark... how am I supposed to believe she's his "top priority"
Charlie has a DAUGTHER and doesn't tell Ben about her until the 50% mark... how am I supposed to believe she's his "top priority"
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:
Yes