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auteaandtales's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
My first Anita Kelly book and I’ve been missing out! The writing was so warm and engaging, everything felt so real, and I love that the author let us spend some extra time getting to know people and having intimate moments not just with the main characters but with the other characters, as well. This isn’t something I read a lot in romances and I loved that. Everyone was so caring and full of love for each other with empathy and compassion.
There’s stuff like figuring things out later on in life such as your sexuality and a career change, which I love! I hate that we have to know who we are and what we want so early on in life and things don’t realistically work out like that, a lot of the time. I especially loved the asexual rep. I rarely see it in adult romances and it brought so much joy to my heart.
Alongside that, there’s also rep for chronic migraine sufferers, nonbinary people, depression, lesbians and foster parents! With some heavier themes, also, that involve addiction and parental neglect. It was heavy but very well handled.
There was also lots of emphasis on consent, in all contexts, and about how whoever you are is whoever you are and it’s all okay.
All in all, a mostly comforting read that made me feel loved and supported with some heavier topics that were handled with all the respect they should have been handled with. I can’t wait to read more from Anita Kelly!!
There’s stuff like figuring things out later on in life such as your sexuality and a career change, which I love! I hate that we have to know who we are and what we want so early on in life and things don’t realistically work out like that, a lot of the time. I especially loved the asexual rep. I rarely see it in adult romances and it brought so much joy to my heart.
Alongside that, there’s also rep for chronic migraine sufferers, nonbinary people, depression, lesbians and foster parents! With some heavier themes, also, that involve addiction and parental neglect. It was heavy but very well handled.
There was also lots of emphasis on consent, in all contexts, and about how whoever you are is whoever you are and it’s all okay.
All in all, a mostly comforting read that made me feel loved and supported with some heavier topics that were handled with all the respect they should have been handled with. I can’t wait to read more from Anita Kelly!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Addiction
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Abandonment, Addiction, and Medical content
charleyyyyy's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
🏀I was so excited for this book because of how much I loved the previous books in this series. So while it wasn't my favourite, I still had a great time reading it.
🐘I didn't find myself incredibly invested in the romance. I didn't feel the charicters connection all that strongly, and their feelings for each other felt a bit forced. I thought the whole 'practice relationship' aspect felt a bit....off. I did enjoy the way their romance was written, though, if that makes sense? Like, I enjoyed how it was chill, not overdramatic or over obsessed with each other or anythring. And I love how Kelly writes quiet, vulnerable moments that are full of feeling. I think that's one of the things I love best about Kelly's books.
✏️As well as the way Kelly always puts a large focus on the emotionally difficult things the charicters are going through in their lives. I could really relate and sympathise with the characters in this book because of that. I loved the way it was written. So while I didn't care as much about the romance, I still felt connected to the charicters, and their arcs.
🍴Also, a sapphic book where the characters actually use the word "lesbian"!!!! I also appreciated how Julie had never had sex before but her being a virgin wasn't fetishised or made a big deal of. In fact, the term "virgin" was never even used!
🏀It did feel a bit...old for me. I think it's a better fit for melenials, perhaps. I didn't get the references or the humour.
🐘It was easy to read, quick and entertaining, which was perfect for when I was preparing for my prelims and needed something to relax with.
✏️And I LOVED seeing the characters from the previous books, and what stage their lives and relationships are at now. Some things with them aren't perfect, and I really enjoyed that, it felt comforting. I'm really happy with the parts of them we got to see.
🏀I would recommend if you want an easy sapphic romance with a focus on sport and the charicters emotional struggles.
🐘I didn't find myself incredibly invested in the romance. I didn't feel the charicters connection all that strongly, and their feelings for each other felt a bit forced. I thought the whole 'practice relationship' aspect felt a bit....off. I did enjoy the way their romance was written, though, if that makes sense? Like, I enjoyed how it was chill, not overdramatic or over obsessed with each other or anythring. And I love how Kelly writes quiet, vulnerable moments that are full of feeling. I think that's one of the things I love best about Kelly's books.
✏️As well as the way Kelly always puts a large focus on the emotionally difficult things the charicters are going through in their lives. I could really relate and sympathise with the characters in this book because of that. I loved the way it was written. So while I didn't care as much about the romance, I still felt connected to the charicters, and their arcs.
🍴Also, a sapphic book where the characters actually use the word "lesbian"!!!! I also appreciated how Julie had never had sex before but her being a virgin wasn't fetishised or made a big deal of. In fact, the term "virgin" was never even used!
🏀It did feel a bit...old for me. I think it's a better fit for melenials, perhaps. I didn't get the references or the humour.
🐘It was easy to read, quick and entertaining, which was perfect for when I was preparing for my prelims and needed something to relax with.
✏️And I LOVED seeing the characters from the previous books, and what stage their lives and relationships are at now. Some things with them aren't perfect, and I really enjoyed that, it felt comforting. I'm really happy with the parts of them we got to see.
🏀I would recommend if you want an easy sapphic romance with a focus on sport and the charicters emotional struggles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Addiction, Blood, and Sexual content
imstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Sexual content, Cursing, and Drug use
Minor: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Acephobia/Arophobia, Eating disorder, Grief, and Transphobia
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