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readerbreather's review
1.0
I feel bad giving this book 1 star, especially because it has so many rave reviews, but I felt 1 star so I gave it 1 star. There was just so many things I disliked about this book, at first I thought it was me failing to enjoy the writing style but upon further reading, I realised the many reasons why I didn't particularly like this book.
Firstly, the characters are undeniably one dimensional. Despite their supposedly "emotional" and "heartfelt" backstories, I don't feel any real character or depth from them. Like, neither of them have close friends, and barely interact with other characters. It's like they live in a bubble consisting of them, the barn, the uncle and that one horse. All we hear about is horrible dads and unhappy backstories. Not to mention it's hard to enjoy a book when you feel all the drama and hatred is based on one convenient misunderstanding.
Further, the book is just so packed with tropes that it is hard to enjoy. I mean I love a good shy nerd, buff guy story but the story never delves deep into why they fit each other so well or like each other so much, all that is mentioned is how "perfect" they are and how they fit each other so well and know each other so well. It's almost like their childhood friendship is used as an excuse not to properly develop their relationship beyond 'we knew each other so well' and even then we can't see why they liked each other so well it's just 'oh he followed me around and he was shy and nerdy and I liked that'.
Also, I find it so hard to enjoy a supposed enemy to lovers when they want to jump each other from the first glance and they are just immediately in love. Like I get that they had unsaid feelings from before but it had been a while and there was probably many years of built-up resentment towards each other, that should have driven a wrench in their childhood feelings, but there is none of that and they are just immediately attracted from the start?
It feels like it has all the makings of a story but no actual depth which didn't make for a very pleasant read for me, however, most people love this book so give it a try, maybe it's just me!
Firstly, the characters are undeniably one dimensional. Despite their supposedly "emotional" and "heartfelt" backstories, I don't feel any real character or depth from them. Like, neither of them have close friends, and barely interact with other characters. It's like they live in a bubble consisting of them, the barn, the uncle and that one horse. All we hear about is horrible dads and unhappy backstories. Not to mention it's hard to enjoy a book when you feel all the drama and hatred is based on one convenient misunderstanding.
Further, the book is just so packed with tropes that it is hard to enjoy. I mean I love a good shy nerd, buff guy story but the story never delves deep into why they fit each other so well or like each other so much, all that is mentioned is how "perfect" they are and how they fit each other so well and know each other so well. It's almost like their childhood friendship is used as an excuse not to properly develop their relationship beyond 'we knew each other so well' and even then we can't see why they liked each other so well it's just 'oh he followed me around and he was shy and nerdy and I liked that'.
Also, I find it so hard to enjoy a supposed enemy to lovers when they want to jump each other from the first glance and they are just immediately in love. Like I get that they had unsaid feelings from before but it had been a while and there was probably many years of built-up resentment towards each other, that should have driven a wrench in their childhood feelings, but there is none of that and they are just immediately attracted from the start?
It feels like it has all the makings of a story but no actual depth which didn't make for a very pleasant read for me, however, most people love this book so give it a try, maybe it's just me!
evethingiread's review
4.0
The first time I read this, I thought it was amazing.
Second time reading it and after having a bit more experience with the genre, I find it to be a bit too melodramatic and nothing really happens.
Second time reading it and after having a bit more experience with the genre, I find it to be a bit too melodramatic and nothing really happens.
nightia's review
2.0
The ending it's a little too ideal. I love a happy ending but it was unrealistic.
micha_23's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
3.0
laura_editor's review
5.0
Meraviglioso
Appena mi sono approcciata a questo romanzo ho avuto il timore di non riuscire a legarmi ai personaggi e non provare le stesse emozioni che i protagonisti della serie The Protectors mi hanno trasmesso, ma mi sono presto ricreduta. Always mine è esattamente come gli altri romanzi usciti dalla penna di Sloane Kennedy: crudo e struggente, ma allo stesso tempo romantico e sexy. Brooks e Xavier mi sono entrati sotto pelle, e sono estremamente felice di averli conosciuti.
Appena mi sono approcciata a questo romanzo ho avuto il timore di non riuscire a legarmi ai personaggi e non provare le stesse emozioni che i protagonisti della serie The Protectors mi hanno trasmesso, ma mi sono presto ricreduta. Always mine è esattamente come gli altri romanzi usciti dalla penna di Sloane Kennedy: crudo e struggente, ma allo stesso tempo romantico e sexy. Brooks e Xavier mi sono entrati sotto pelle, e sono estremamente felice di averli conosciuti.
kaitlin_durante's review
4.0
I'm a big Sloane Kennedy fan. I enjoyed these characters and the new setting for this new series.
I'm looking forward to seeing who she decides to give books in Eden.
I'm looking forward to seeing who she decides to give books in Eden.
writtenechoes's review
4.0
This was more like 4.25 stars. Childhood friends with crushes to enemies to lovers excellence
mr_nacho_iii's review
dark
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? Yes
3.75
liza5326's review
4.0
I'm always up for a new series by Sloane Kennedy and this was a great start! A wonderful second chance, enemies-to-lovers story. Brooks and Xavier are wonderful together and I loved Uncle Curtis, too. Their backstory was heartbreaking, but the book itself wasn’t as dark as I thought it would be.