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audreynunn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the alternating timeline, for the story of it, but also because it kept me reading to find out more. Their story is cute, sad, and very real and romantic. One of my favorite books! I will definitely be buying more from Christina Lauren
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Vomit, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
booksanna's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Lovely book depicting the passion of soulmates and the power of second chances. This story was beautifully written and brought me to tears more than once. Mace and Elliot’s lives are so ingraved in the story, I almost feel their presence. The beauty of their relationship shines through every word on the paper, and I am proud to say I fully enjoyed this. This story felt like the waves of the sea. Sometimes slow, sometimes passionate, calm, furious, saddened, unstable, but mostly powerful. To me the character developemnt of Mace from lonly to happy will be the highlights of the story. The way Elliot and Mace had their favorite words really was unique. I loved the way love was depicted in this story raw, honest, more powerful than time, everlasting, igniting , and living. the story felt like 2 real teenagers destined to be in love. I adore this story.
At first, I considered giving it a 4.75, afterall, it was only a romace book. But I ultimetly decided that this book deserved nothing less than a 5.
The only complaint(more like a personal preferance) was the sexual content. It definitly felt realistic and beautiful, but I felt that sometimes the story heavily relied on it for plot stability. I persoanlly don’t find that pleasing, but I can understand why its a great too to use.
At first, I considered giving it a 4.75, afterall, it was only a romace book. But I ultimetly decided that this book deserved nothing less than a 5.
The only complaint(more like a personal preferance) was the sexual content. It definitly felt realistic and beautiful, but I felt that sometimes the story heavily relied on it for plot stability. I persoanlly don’t find that pleasing, but I can understand why its a great too to use.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Car accident
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Vomit and Panic attacks/disorders
gabriella_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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
4.0
You think you’re happy, but you’re barely living.
So I liked this. May be my favorite contemporary heterosexual romance. Kinda tired of alpha men in romances anyway. This read was satisfying and quick. Macy was very likable, Elliot was fun and sassy. I think it’s neat!
So I liked this. May be my favorite contemporary heterosexual romance. Kinda tired of alpha men in romances anyway. This read was satisfying and quick. Macy was very likable, Elliot was fun and sassy. I think it’s neat!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Blood, and Death of parent
emjen16's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Grief, and Cancer
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
katieconrad's review against another edition
emotional
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: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Infidelity
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Blood, and Rape
theespressoedition's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For the last several years, people have been recommending this particular Christina Lauren novel to me, knowing how much I adore friends-to-lovers. And wow, this really was a spectacular use of that particular trope, with a fair amount of second chance romance thrown in there as well.
Similar to my favorite friends-to-lovers romance, People We Meet on Vacation, this is told in dual timelines. We get an intimate look into the lives of Macy and Elliot as they meet and grow from awkward children into horny teenagers and then to in-love young adults that inevitably split apart. Simultaneously, we get to watch how they reconnect in their late 20s by happenstance.
The story has an air of mystery to it since you're not given a lot of information initially. I for one was left feeling desperate to understand what made them part ways in the past. However, I wasn't prepared for the answer in the slightest. I'm sure the other drivers on the highway were a little worried about me as I rapidly brushed tears off my cheeks while listening to this on a road trip. I definitely hadn't expected all the emotions that came along with the "reveal."
Truly, the only reason this book didn't get a full five stars is because I was uncomfortable with the sexual content in their childhood timeline. Yes, this is an adult novel, but writing about minors having sex just doesn't settle well with me. If it had been alluded to, that would be one thing, but it was a pretty heavy part of that timeline. I realize it was there for the sake of telling the story and gave a lot more umph to their adult timeline, but it still just gave me a case of the "ick."
As a whole, this book was really good, filled with a lot of emotional depth and fascinating character development. I would definitely read it again.
Similar to my favorite friends-to-lovers romance, People We Meet on Vacation, this is told in dual timelines. We get an intimate look into the lives of Macy and Elliot as they meet and grow from awkward children into horny teenagers and then to in-love young adults that inevitably split apart. Simultaneously, we get to watch how they reconnect in their late 20s by happenstance.
The story has an air of mystery to it since you're not given a lot of information initially. I for one was left feeling desperate to understand what made them part ways in the past. However, I wasn't prepared for the answer in the slightest. I'm sure the other drivers on the highway were a little worried about me as I rapidly brushed tears off my cheeks while listening to this on a road trip. I definitely hadn't expected all the emotions that came along with the "reveal."
Truly, the only reason this book didn't get a full five stars is because I was uncomfortable with the sexual content in their childhood timeline. Yes, this is an adult novel, but writing about minors having sex just doesn't settle well with me. If it had been alluded to, that would be one thing, but it was a pretty heavy part of that timeline. I realize it was there for the sake of telling the story and gave a lot more umph to their adult timeline, but it still just gave me a case of the "ick."
As a whole, this book was really good, filled with a lot of emotional depth and fascinating character development. I would definitely read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
Sexual content with minors.quitte's review against another edition
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
strayedthoughts's review against another edition
challenging
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Medical content, and Vomit
annalovesbookss's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Car accident, Vomit, Sexual assault, Cancer, and Mental illness
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this book was so great up until the very end for me. i loved their friendship and the exploration of themselves and each other, it was super cute and authentic. however the “reveal” or ending was incredibly disappointing to me. also please please check trigger warnings!!!! like why does nobody talk about how elliot was literally r*ped/sa’d??? while it definitely wasn’t wise of him to get drunk at a party with friends that weren’t good influences and with emma (not that it was his fault). it totally disregards how traumatizing that experience must’ve been for him, like it just glazed right over his pain. it didn’t sit right with me. i also don’t know how Macy could ever forgive him for the whole experience being the catalyst to her fathers death. idk maybe i just hold grudges. but the ending definitely kinda soured the book for me which was sad because the rest was amazing :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Terminal illness