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rainbowobsidian's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Chronic illness rep
faithd's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 Stars
Okay, I'm kinda torn with this book, there are some things I REALLY liked, but other things that just did not work for me.
What I loved:
Emerson- A grumpy hero with MS who wants to be a dom, but is afraid and ashamed because of how his body looks and how his body doesn't always do what he wants it to.
Obie - Loved the sunshine, golden retriever love interest. Obie is able to look past Emerson's prickliness, but he isn't a complete pushover. He takes care of Emerson when he needs it, but doesn't treat him like a child because of his MS, and he pushes Emerson to live a full life and embrace his sexual desires.
Side characters - They were well developed and well written.
Soap opera style - I used to love watching soaps, and I enjoyed the soapy elements in this.
Relationship focus - The story revolves around the characters and their relationship without much plot.
The sex scenes - Very well done, they flowed naturally from the characters, and they added to the development of Emerson and Obie's relationship.
(very slight spoilers ahead)
What didn't work for me:
Unresolved conflict - At one point, Emerson lashes out at Obie after they are intimate, then they separate for a time, and then they just sort of...get back together. They never talk about what happened, and it made me worry for their relationship in the future.
Development of relationship - The two MCs get together quickly, and then about halfway through, the development of their relationship just sort of stops and the focus switches to the side characters. There are large jumps in time, and we are just meant to accept that they are now in a loving relationship, but then there is the weird third act breakup mentioned above.
Character arcs - Emerson and Obie don't really go through arcs - which is maybe intentional since soap opera characters don't really go through arcs either...but, it was sort of halfway done in this which didn't work for me.
I guess overall there is more that I liked than not, but the things that I didn't like kinda left me unsatisfied overall.
Okay, I'm kinda torn with this book, there are some things I REALLY liked, but other things that just did not work for me.
What I loved:
Emerson- A grumpy hero with MS who wants to be a dom, but is afraid and ashamed because of how his body looks and how his body doesn't always do what he wants it to.
Obie - Loved the sunshine, golden retriever love interest. Obie is able to look past Emerson's prickliness, but he isn't a complete pushover. He takes care of Emerson when he needs it, but doesn't treat him like a child because of his MS, and he pushes Emerson to live a full life and embrace his sexual desires.
Side characters - They were well developed and well written.
Soap opera style - I used to love watching soaps, and I enjoyed the soapy elements in this.
Relationship focus - The story revolves around the characters and their relationship without much plot.
The sex scenes - Very well done, they flowed naturally from the characters, and they added to the development of Emerson and Obie's relationship.
(very slight spoilers ahead)
What didn't work for me:
Unresolved conflict - At one point, Emerson lashes out at Obie after they are intimate, then they separate for a time, and then they just sort of...get back together. They never talk about what happened, and it made me worry for their relationship in the future.
Development of relationship - The two MCs get together quickly, and then about halfway through, the development of their relationship just sort of stops and the focus switches to the side characters. There are large jumps in time, and we are just meant to accept that they are now in a loving relationship, but then there is the weird third act breakup mentioned above.
Character arcs - Emerson and Obie don't really go through arcs - which is maybe intentional since soap opera characters don't really go through arcs either...but, it was sort of halfway done in this which didn't work for me.
I guess overall there is more that I liked than not, but the things that I didn't like kinda left me unsatisfied overall.
naanie's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this, so much so that I wish it was longer and I had more time with these characters! I'm legitimately bummed the book is over and don't know what I'm going to do. I'm giving it four stars because the ending seemed kind of rushed to me, but then maybe I'm just greedy for more. Emerson is a great main character; I love his attitude and really identify with him. I want to read so much more of his and Obie's relationship.
lizchan's review against another edition
Really didn't care about it, have so many other things to read
zarahzoe's review against another edition
4.0
I guess I'll just read Ripper's whole back catalogue now
hatcubed's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like the main character, but that's part of what this story is all about. I appreciated that the main character is disabled, it's something I like to see in characters in books. Representation matters!
agmaynard's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
This was wonderful! So strong with character, dialogue, plot. Emerson’s health struggles aren’t swept away by steadfast love; growth of relationship feels organic and real. As in Butch and the Beautiful, a caring teacher environment is a meaningful subplot. (And only seeds for the serial killer storyline in other books.) Highly recommended!
scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
Such a strong voice (1st person POV), you're either going to hate it or love it. I loved it, I could identify with aspects of both Emerson and Obie (and Mildred and Zane for that matter) and with their contrasting outlooks on life, so the way their relationship developed felt very natural (and especially liked how the ending wasn't a big emotional mush). And this might have my favorite last paragraph of a book ever.
araleith's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. I loved that it wasn't happy and perfect and that characters were sometimes grumpy and very very human.