Scan barcode
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Pregnancy, Bullying, and Cancer
mickraine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Bullying, Classism, Child abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny and Toxic relationship
geagleson9's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Death, Cancer, Bullying, Alcohol, Blood, Vomit, Sexual content, and Cursing
msradiosilence's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Death of parent
trips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Now, to note: I'm exploring romance in this year of 2023 but I am finding I'm super picky so what I may not like may be your cup of tea and by all means drink it cause I'm probably not going for seconds.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care, and the author really wants you to know, as various characters say it constantly throughout the book. She returns home to photograph her estranged step sisters wedding and ends up falling for her childhood crush, Claire, again along the way (and Claire is falling too oooo).
I was hoping for character growth and sweet moments between the love interests but Delilah spends so much time wallowing its hard to root for her. But the way the book is structured, it didn't feel like there was enough time spent to allow for Delilah to grow from her past trauma/pains/bullies as too much of the book was focused on her step sister and her shitty fiance. I get that the next book is in Astrid's POV but maybe save it for there? idk.
I liked Claire a lot, and I enjoyed her side of the story a lot more than Astrid's getting thrown in there (because she was the love interest and it made sense). Unfortunately the romance blossoming didn't feel much like romance to me, there were so many other things going on and instead of getting to know each other, the ladies were just boning a lot. Which is fine, in a longer book I would imagine they would have had their moments to connect more...
I'm going to stop because I'm just going to ramble for forever. I wish this was a 5 star book as I'm all for sapphic romance, but alas.
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
wilybooklover's review against another edition
4.5
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how complex and nuanced the characters were. They felt like real, complicated people with real, complicated pasts. Even the side characters had complexity, especially Claire's daughter Ruby who is one of the most realistic child characters I've ever read. I found Delilah particularly relatable, in all of her spiky, petty glory. Claire was so lovely too, just a sweet woman trying to do the best for everyone and struggling with parenting. I loved how tender and vulnerable Claire and Delilah were with each other, even when they thought it was just temporary and casual. Surprisingly steamy for a romcom too, especially a sapphic one.
It was also interesting to see Delilah reexamine her memories of the past and realise they may just be a bit unreliable, that she and Astrid were just stuck in a loop of miscommunication and hurt feelings. I thought it was done really well (aside from the part where Delilah reads Astrid's diary — that felt like such a violation of her privacy).
There were a couple of things that bothered me — the diary reading, how much of the plot of this sapphic romance ultimately centred around a cishet man and a really terrible (borderline caricature-ish) one at that, the whole bet situation. But ultimately this was such a fantastic romance! Reminded me a lot of Book Lovers by Emily Henry with the small-town bookshop/sisters-at-odds vibes, but executed way better (in my opinion).
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Cancer, Violence, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Delilah Green has made a life for herself in New York, and has gotten very practiced at casual hookups and flings, never one to try to have a real relationship after a bad heartbreak. With her stepsisters' wedding coming up, she must travel back to her hometown and confront her past in a place where she was never accepted.
Claire needs to get laid. Badly. The sexy lady she approaches at the bar is just what she needs, only it turns out she is none other than her best friend and bride to be, Astrid's, wicked stepsister, and so totally off limits.
Between wedding events and plotting over how to break up the bride and groom (yes really), the two begin to get very close. Seriously y'all...the SPICE in this book! Someone fetch me a fan and a glass of iced tea because it got steamy. The chemistry and banter between Claire and Delilah was so thrilling to read, and I loved watching their story evolve, as well as each of them grow.
Delilah so perfectly encapsulated the results of being misunderstood and neglected as a child. Astrid is on the other end of the spectrum, with her being the results of an overbearing and over critical Mother. Blake handled so well what happens when two siblings go through having a difficult childhood, and how resentment and misunderstanding can build over time into a twisted and ugly monstrosity.
My only complaint about this book is I wish someone had smacked around Isabel just a little bit. (Okay...a lot!) I wanted a full on rage scene with lots of slapping and maybe even some hitting with a fish.
A must read for lovers of queer books, or fans of a good love story. I can't wait to read the next book!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Infidelity
the_lesbrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Bullying, and Cancer
moreadsnrambles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, and Death of parent