Reviews with content warning for Miscarriage - Final Offer

Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

Final Offer by Lauren Asher

54 reviews

siijayreads's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

"Falling in love with yourself is ten times harder than falling in love with someone else, especially when I don't like myself very much."

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

AAAHH It's a bittersweet feeling ending the series with this third and final book. I have grown attached to the characters and learned so much from their paths, struggles, and triumphs. Final Offer was a perfect mixture of tension, swoon, angst, and humor that had me hooked right from the start! There's a part that takes me back to the vibes of reading The Fine Print which makes me want to reread the whole series someday.

Out of all the three, this one is the most heavy, emotional, and heart-wrenching one for me that tugs at the heartstrings. From the first two books I already knew Cal is a fun character so to finally see things from his perspective and to see that despite the happy and jolly exterior he presents, there lies a tired and struggling man who only wishes to be loved and seen by his family. His character proves that sometimes the people we think to be the happiest tend to hide something. I relate to Cal in a way that we’re both middle children and that sometimes there is a lingering feeling of being the family fuck up who tends to be compared to others. I know little about alcoholism so Cal's journey is such an insightful experience and I appreciate how the author didn’t water down the reality and show how much addiction affects not only the person but also the people around them. Also, Cal being a book reader does things to my heart <3

Lana herself has been through a lot and, I got some insights on what it's like to have people in your life who has an addiction. She is selfless and strong but aside from that she is also relatable in the way that she doubts herself and her abilities. Her reluctance to follow her dreams because of her insecurities is something that hits too close to home. She is also a loving mom to Cami and her dedication to making sure her daughter is loved and cared for is what makes me love and respect her so much. Like Zahra and Iris, Alana made her way into my heart easily and it brings me so much joy that they have become great friends! I LOVE seeing my girls together!! I also love that she knows her limits and boundaries and when to say enough is enough.

Lana and Cal's relationship is such a rollercoaster ride and I loved every single moment of unraveling their dynamics and history. I love that they push each other to become the best versions of themselves. They share a lot of history and memories and the inevitable pull between them is evident in their every interaction. I can feel how much they still love each and no separation can dispel their passion for one another. If that doesn't scream soul mates then I don’t know what does. Their chemistry is palpable and I love how Lana acknowledges that no matter how much she loves Cal, so long as he doesn't love himself then building a relationship with him again might be tough, especially since she has a kid now. Cal and Cami's relationship is sweet and wholesome! I absolutely adored every interaction they had and those little moments that made Cal realize how much Cami has slowly made her way into his heart. That little girl has Cal wrapped around her little finger! Lana describing Cal as a girl dad makes my heart squeeze from the wholesomeness of it all!

When I started this series I expected to have the typical office romance book but it turned out to be so much more. I’m proud of the brothers and what they've achieved and overcome and for the men they've become. Each individual journey of theirs has been rough but I was cheering inside for them knowing that what made them cold, unfeeling, and an asshole is because of their upbringing and lack of a parental figure, specifically from their father. I’d like to think that their mother would be proud of the men they have become. I like that they acknowledge their shortcomings and actually put in the work to change rather than letting it stay as an idea. I also love that they are slowly mending their relationships as brothers!

The women, Zahra, Iris, and Alana have also secured a very special place in my heart. I am absolutely certain that without these women, the Declan brothers wouldn't even be half of the men that they are today. These women have made me realize the woman I aspire to become. They are the epitome of a strong-willed woman whose minds are as big as their hearts. They are everything to me and I am not exaggerating when I say that they have become one of my role models in life. Each woman, with their strengths and struggles, has become the one that grounds the story. The way they don't take any shit from others, especially from the Kane brothers is what makes me love them even more. The way they put the brothers into their places is so funny and admirable.

These characters and the story have meant so much to me and reading the third and final book solidified its spot as one of my favorite series ever. Its ability to make me empathize with the characters opened my mind and widened my perspective. I love how the series beautifully intertwines with one another. The way they flow and connect is beautiful and I love reading bits that reference the other books especially when characters from the previous book pop up. There's a sense of comfort in knowing that they exist in the same world. Spending almost 2 weeks immersed in the world of the Dreamland Billionaires series makes me want to read it again for the first time! The epilogue and extended epilogues have become my favorite part of reading the series. I absolutely love seeing their triumphs and finally being happy and at peace with their life together with their family. I love this series so much and it will stay with me for a long time.

Content Warnings

kiwij96's review

Go to review page

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

4.0

This is a hefty read, emotionally, with the main theme of the story being addiction. However, it was handled and written sensitively and realistically by the author. For an almost 600 page book, this felt like way less. It was such an easy read with great pacing, generally great plot, and great characters.

Acouple of gripes would include a few grammatical errors and minor inconsistencies, and also that Cami felt like this idealistic, spoilt 5 year old written by someone who has never met a 5 year old. Also the way that Cal just barged back into his ex's life and just demanded she sell her home as if it didn't matter, bullying her into selling it until she agreed, and then when she had doubts about it he would get pissy and say "I thought this is what you wanted". However, if these things didn't exist then the book wouldn't have been as enjoyable as I found it.

Definitely a rollercoaster of a book. But definitely definitely not for people who may have triggers around addiction, specifically drugs and alcohol.

Content Warnings

aileenmeza's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

Content Warnings

mapage's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted 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

bendy_bookworm's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

2.5

A man's legacy shouldn't be determined by how much money he made or how successful he was, but rather by the memory he left behind and the way he made people feel.

This was Cal's book, not Cal and Lana's. Only Cal's. The character development that Cal underwent was lacking in Lana.

Cal needs a partner who can support him with his addiction. Lana failed to recognize this and did not fully support him. This highlights the issue of people not equating mental illness with physical illness. If someone has cancer, they receive support and assistance, but in the case of mental illness, specifically addiction in this book, why can't Lana do the same?

I don't support addiction. I empathize with Lana's past and Cal's past behavior, but Cal needs a supportive partner now. Lana isn't doing enough to support him, and addicts need a strong support system. If Lana truly loves Cal, she should be there for him inspite and despite of.

I appreciate the accurate portrayal of addiction and sympathize with Cal's struggles. However, Lana's character lacks depth and seems limited to taking care of Cami. The constant back-and-forth in Lana's thoughts about trusting Cal became tedious to read, making the book too long. Although she wants to be a baker, her character development is lacking, and there is little chemistry between her and Cal.

Additionally, I would appreciate translations for any Spanish words, phrases, or sentences. Not everyone understands Spanish, and while some Spanish words can be deduced from the context of the conversation, it would be helpful to provide accurate translations. The book is quite lengthy, likely due to the inclusion of Lana's thoughts, so adding translations should not be an issue.

To put it simply, I found this book disappointing. As the final installment in the Dreamland Billionaire series, I had hoped for an epic conclusion to an otherwise great romance series. While Cal was fine and I did like him (although Declan remains my favorite Kane brother), Lana's constant back-and-forth thoughts about her trust issues with Cal were unbearable. Without Cal, I would have DNFed this because of Lana. Lana's handling of Cal's addiction was irritating and intolerable. The book was too long and could have been told more effectively with 150 fewer pages.

Content Warnings

hellowildflower's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny 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

5.0

Content Warnings

hannahwhiteyy's review

Go to review page

emotional informative lighthearted slow-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

3.5

pros:
- the spice was *chef's kiss*
- cal was my favourite kane brother
- iris, declan, rowan, and zahra cameos!!
- seth didn't get a redemption arc (slayyy)
- accurate representation of substance abuse disorders

cons:
- WAY TOO LONG!! DOES A ROMANCE BOOK NEED TO EXCEED 500 PAGES??
- miscommunication trope :(

Content Warnings

deluna's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

Content Warnings

katierosecrane's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny reflective 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

4.25

The second book in the series is by far the best. This is the second best because:

It intertwines all of the series characters into the book
Some cheesy predictable aspects in the book, (mostly towards the end) but not terrible
For how long the book was it didn't feel like it was too much, went by fast
I liked how it was different from the other books in the series because instead of the typical woman of interest Lana was different.

Content Warnings

More...