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readtomea97's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Cursing
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence
garrettcz's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Addiction, Child abuse, Abandonment, Death, and Grief
neverlandpages4'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Chronic illness, Suicide, Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Addiction, Alcoholism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Death
velorum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There’s a ton of Internet jargon and pop culture references and slang, there’s generational trauma among a slew of trigger warnings and love and family and culture. There was so MUCH (please heed the trigger warnings) and yet so much silliness and lightness that framed this story. Maybe that speaks to the author’s point of how life can be jarring and full and sad.
I prefer my epilogues to be ADDITIONAL to the story. Here, the epilogue was doing all the work to wrap up loose ends.
This story between Shane and Eva (Genevieve) is melancholy and a rapid, all-consuming love story. It burns and burns out. Their second-chance encounter makes you want to know what the hell happed that week in June 15 years ago, and it all unravels as the story moves on.
On second note, the last three chapters (epilogue included) were just a RUSH of plot and character development, and not in a good way…
TBC…
Graphic: Child abuse, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Sexual content
booksalacarte's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Contemporary romance
Second chance romance
Flashbacks
Silent disability rep
Witty banter
Generational curses
Flawed MC’s
Messy love
Great side characters
This was such an interesting, non-typical romance story. Very Romeo & Juliet- if they hadn’t died and instead met up 15 years later. I really liked the idea.
The MC’s were so interestingly flawed. I liked each of them individually. Eva was holding her own as a mom, a writer who was afraid of being in a rut and wanting to branch out.. all while keeping a silent disability a secret. Shane was perusing what he needed to solidify his place in sobriety. Recognizing his downfalls, slip ups and looking at them head on.
I found the magnetic inevitability of the romantic tension to be SO well done. The MC’s chemistry was on another level.
The side characters were fun, but the POV shifting to them would have been better if there had been MORE… or none at all. It was disorienting to have a chapter or less in a non-MC POV, then never have them revisited. And to have one of them be a catalyst in the miscommunication where a text message would have alleviated the situation completely… and then completely done away with in such a way. It felt trite.
There were a LOT of pop culture references. Not my favorite to have to read. I always worry about it putting a very specific time stamp on literature.
With black writers as MC’s, the discussion around black excellence and a celebration of black culture was very prominent throughout the book. And it was fun having it openly talked about and pointed out in a writer pannel between black authors.
Overall, I did love this book.
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Self harm
d_a_n_a_z's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt
ksuazo94's review
- 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
Graphic: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Child death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Body shaming
eule's review
- 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
Yet, this novel is breathtaking, funny and reflective while dealing with the power of love, coping with your past demons and tackling todays racism. Beautifully written and gorgeous characters with hell of a trauma. I especially enjoyed the fragility of Evas and Shanes relationship: a honest reflection of reality.
All in all: read this book y’all. It’s pretty good.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death, Alcoholism, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Self harm
feistyannotatingbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Child abuse, Gun violence, Addiction, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Abandonment, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug use, Racism, and Rape