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madinotmaddie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Grief, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
boba_n_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual assault
melist6's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity
depmythmoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
4.75
I loved reading this book from start to finish. I’m realizing more and more that I’m a sucker for books with multiple timelines or points of view. I ate this up, and I’m surprised I didn’t finish it in one day.
Elliot Petropolous, where do I even begin with this man? I think Macy sums it up best when she says there isn’t a guy out there like him. He’s a 6ft+ tall nerd who reads books (including smut), wears glasses, writes high fantasy novels, gives out the best hugs, has muscles, and loves his woman to the ends of the earth. Who wouldn’t want this man??? There were so many times throughout the book where him and Macy are talking, and he’s trying to get her to take him back, where I know I would have folded had I been in her shoes. I would have been weak the moment this man told Macy to her face that he knew he was still in love with her and wouldn’t be able to stay just friends. He’s literally perfect for her in every way shape and form, so it was truly only a matter of time before they got together… too long of a time though
Elliot Petropolous, where do I even begin with this man? I think Macy sums it up best when she says there isn’t a guy out there like him. He’s a 6ft+ tall nerd who reads books (including smut), wears glasses, writes high fantasy novels, gives out the best hugs, has muscles, and loves his woman to the ends of the earth. Who wouldn’t want this man??? There were so many times throughout the book where him and Macy are talking, and he’s trying to get her to take him back, where I know I would have folded had I been in her shoes. I would have been weak the moment this man told Macy to her face that he knew he was still in love with her and wouldn’t be able to stay just friends. He’s literally perfect for her in every way shape and form, so it was truly only a matter of time before they got together… too long of a time though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
Minor: Infidelity
sar_tej's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
A predictable romantic read where everything works out in the end. I found the story a bit surface level and cliche but did miss spending time with the characters once I was finished with the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
antidietleah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, and Sexual content
imskylow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
This books was so much more than I ever could have expected. I guess I really do get caught up judging books by the covers and so when I was recommended this one I didn't think it would get this high of a rating out of me. I also don't generally like second chance romance but this was something else. I was blown away.
First of all, I love the rhythm and pacing of this story. I absolutely love how the story unfolds flipping back and forth between timelines of the characters teenage days to their late twenties. The slow discovery and peeling back of what has happened to Macy and Elliot to have them lose contact kept me strapped in, binge listening to this book. I laughed out loud, was embarrassed for the characters during awkward childhood moments and, towards the end, I even got a little teary-eyed. The love that Christina Lauren weaves into her book is so thick and palpable. This book honestly took me on a ride and it's easy to feel what a passion project this was.
Lauren does a great job building up these characters and their personalities and fears. She really unfolds their likes and dislikes and interests in a way that you really feel like you know them and grew up alongside them in the closet library. It's honestly made me want to ask everyone and anyone what their favorite words are. (Currently, mine is susurration). You get to see the characters young and geeky grow into themselves and know what has impacted them into becoming the people they are at the end. Though the love they share is dreamlike and almost too idyllic (the key word is 'almost') it feels real and right that they should feel the way they do. Too often these days, romance books will summarize relationship building scenes to just skip to the romantic or steamy moments. This book doesn't do that. There are INDEED steamy moments but it's built on the all of the foundation of little conversations and experiences Macy and Elliot have gone through together.
I highly recommend this book.
First of all, I love the rhythm and pacing of this story. I absolutely love how the story unfolds flipping back and forth between timelines of the characters teenage days to their late twenties. The slow discovery and peeling back of what has happened to Macy and Elliot to have them lose contact kept me strapped in, binge listening to this book. I laughed out loud, was embarrassed for the characters during awkward childhood moments and, towards the end, I even got a little teary-eyed. The love that Christina Lauren weaves into her book is so thick and palpable. This book honestly took me on a ride and it's easy to feel what a passion project this was.
Lauren does a great job building up these characters and their personalities and fears. She really unfolds their likes and dislikes and interests in a way that you really feel like you know them and grew up alongside them in the closet library. It's honestly made me want to ask everyone and anyone what their favorite words are. (Currently, mine is susurration). You get to see the characters young and geeky grow into themselves and know what has impacted them into becoming the people they are at the end. Though the love they share is dreamlike and almost too idyllic (the key word is 'almost') it feels real and right that they should feel the way they do. Too often these days, romance books will summarize relationship building scenes to just skip to the romantic or steamy moments. This book doesn't do that. There are INDEED steamy moments but it's built on the all of the foundation of little conversations and experiences Macy and Elliot have gone through together.
I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death
tabeahaefliger's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I really don't know how to feel about this book if I'm honest.
In the beginning I was all here for it, I was really excited to get to know their story and this whole book that everybody loves. Have to admit that I'm feeling really disappointed.
I didn't feel the connection to the main characters AT ALL, I felt they were shallow and boring. I had to force myself not to dnf this book a million times.
The story had so much potential imo but ended up not being better than just okay.
I feel like in the "then" chapters it took them forever to get close and to finally tell each other that they're in love with each other but in the "now" chapters we barely got anything.
2.5 seems like a generous rating to me.
In the beginning I was all here for it, I was really excited to get to know their story and this whole book that everybody loves. Have to admit that I'm feeling really disappointed.
I didn't feel the connection to the main characters AT ALL, I felt they were shallow and boring. I had to force myself not to dnf this book a million times.
The story had so much potential imo but ended up not being better than just okay.
I feel like in the "then" chapters it took them forever to get close and to finally tell each other that they're in love with each other but in the "now" chapters we barely got anything.
2.5 seems like a generous rating to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use
kell_yeah_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
angsty, heart wrenching, past/present story. i really liked it!
spice 🌶 - a 3 🌶 spicy
length - just right.
reading speed - read in 3 days
did it make me cry? - yeahh
did it make me cry? - yeahh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
ambercunningham's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book ripped my heart out, dipped it in acid, lit it on fire, and then sewed it back together. A goddamn rollercoaster. It’s the heaviest love story I’ve read. The love that Macy and Elliot shared with each other for years and years was so tender and pure that reading about it almost felt like intruding on something very private. My heart ached for Macy so badly. The torch Elliot had been holding for her all those years made me believe in young love. This book is so much more than a fluffy little romance. It changed my relationship with books. Nothing I read the rest of the year came close to what this made me feel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content