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nuttus's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The amount I hoped the book would end where Elliot walked away and was mean to Macy is ridiculous.
Macy has no personality other than jealous and sorry for herself, a wet gray rag. She is so self centered and focused only on herself that I don’t understand what Elliot saw in her. Macy was always so sure that Elliot would chace after her that she was dumbfounded when for once he didn’t do it. She never ever stopped to think and take responsibility for the fact that she hurt Elliot. For fucks sake, Elliot was raped and clearly traumatized and she threw a fit that he cheated. Then she didn’t even bat an eye about it but just went on to tell that her dad died and once again, Elliot had to be there for her. She hasn’t done anything nice to Elliot, only strung him along for years making excuses and then wanted to be coddled. Was Elliot some sort of replacement of her mom or what, I don’t know but it didn’t feel like romantic love. Both were acting like robots, with weird and frankly child-like (not teen-like, child-like) honest communication without being honest about everything after all. It was not realistic in any way.
And what it comes to Elliot, he is a dumbass for clinging on to Macy for apparently clingingness-sake. There was no chemistry between them, other than sexual. And even the sexual chemistry wouldn’t translated without Macy constantly telling that. It felt more like Macy is just horny and it doesn’t really matter who or what Elliot was. She had just decided that yea, it needs to be Elliot.
Many have said that Every summer after was a better book and a copy of this one and commented on the reviews of that one that this is better and without the cheating. I strongly disagree. This one was unnecessarily dragged out. Not much happened and half of the pages could’ve been ripped out without the loss of nothing of value to the overall plot. The flashbacks didn’t connect to the present bits in any way, unlike in Every summer after. And that one didn’t have rape that was just brushed over with another trauma dump and angst Olympics by Macy.
In my mind the book ended where Elliot for once had a spine, told Macy off and Macy was shocked that for once someone did that to her. Not every romance book couple deserves or needs a happy ever after
Macy has no personality other than jealous and sorry for herself, a wet gray rag. She is so self centered and focused only on herself that I don’t understand what Elliot saw in her. Macy was always so sure that Elliot would chace after her that she was dumbfounded when for once he didn’t do it. She never ever stopped to think and take responsibility for the fact that she hurt Elliot. For fucks sake, Elliot was raped and clearly traumatized and she threw a fit that he cheated. Then she didn’t even bat an eye about it but just went on to tell that her dad died and once again, Elliot had to be there for her. She hasn’t done anything nice to Elliot, only strung him along for years making excuses and then wanted to be coddled. Was Elliot some sort of replacement of her mom or what, I don’t know but it didn’t feel like romantic love. Both were acting like robots, with weird and frankly child-like (not teen-like, child-like) honest communication without being honest about everything after all. It was not realistic in any way.
And what it comes to Elliot, he is a dumbass for clinging on to Macy for apparently clingingness-sake. There was no chemistry between them, other than sexual. And even the sexual chemistry wouldn’t translated without Macy constantly telling that. It felt more like Macy is just horny and it doesn’t really matter who or what Elliot was. She had just decided that yea, it needs to be Elliot.
Many have said that Every summer after was a better book and a copy of this one and commented on the reviews of that one that this is better and without the cheating. I strongly disagree. This one was unnecessarily dragged out. Not much happened and half of the pages could’ve been ripped out without the loss of nothing of value to the overall plot. The flashbacks didn’t connect to the present bits in any way, unlike in Every summer after. And that one didn’t have rape that was just brushed over with another trauma dump and angst Olympics by Macy.
In my mind the book ended where Elliot for once had a spine, told Macy off and Macy was shocked that for once someone did that to her. Not every romance book couple deserves or needs a happy ever after
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Rape and Car accident
livvmarks's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual content, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Gore
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
shasta_queen_of_hell's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Vomit
ahpets's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Rape, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Car accident, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual content
zoe_archambault's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cute and heart-breaking. just what i needed. will be immediately forgotten
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Drug use, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
justovereherereading's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
I love anything by Christina Lauren and this was no exception.
The ‘now’ and ‘then’ alternate chapters kept me page turning; I wanted to delve deeper into their story, to learn more about the characters and what had led them to the 11 year gap in their friendship. The ending didn’t disappoint.
The ‘now’ and ‘then’ alternate chapters kept me page turning; I wanted to delve deeper into their story, to learn more about the characters and what had led them to the 11 year gap in their friendship. The ending didn’t disappoint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Blood and Vomit
margaretrose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This would have been a solidly 4 or 4.5 star book but man the last third really ruined it for me. The events behind the fallout between Elliott and Macy were just too much to come back from and I feel like Elliott's part wasn't really explored enough
Elliott was sexually assaulted, which is not explicitly stated (and therefore acknowledged imo by Macy) so there's no empathy or acknowledgement of *his* trauma. Macy's dad's death is so intrinsically tied to Elliott's "betrayal" I cannot believe that their relationship can so easily come back from that. Maybe I've never loved anyone that much but the end really left a sour taste in my mouth
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Car accident, and Death of parent
annamay1021's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
saraavowlerr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I liked the ending and the reasoning why I just wish everything else around it was told better. They reunited way too fast and Macy was the worst main character I’ve ever read ever.
He growled way too much
He growled way too much
Content Warnings
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Infidelity