Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Astrid Parker nunca falha by Ashley Herring Blake

173 reviews

mandkips's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Death of parent

sophie42's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Death of parent

drtx_bwt's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death and Death of parent

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent

itszuri's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

yourfavavery's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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

3.25

So I have mixed feelings about this book. I really loved Delilah Green Doesn't Care, and I think what made it so good is really a mix of things - the queer representation, the humor, and most of all the found family dynamic. Delilah and her romance with Claire felt like part of a whole story, and the rest of the story is what truly made things magical. Delilah's relationship with her art, her stepsister, and her stepmother played a huge part of the story, and rounded out the narrative.

Maybe that's why this book fell flat for me.

First, Astrid Parker and her relationship with her mother, her chosen career, her friends, and her overall anxiety was easily the best part of the book. It unfortunately took a back seat to the romance in this case, and while Jordan kinda gets her own internal conflict, it isn't very deep.

I also really didn't like the misunderstanding that led to the third act breakup. [ Astrid helped in the design for the inn, and while their deception was not great, I don't know the reveal needed to cause a full meltdown. It really felt that Blake wanted to shunt Astrid into a new career, and didn't know how to believably get her there.  (hide spoiler)]

Overall, there wasn't enough story here outside of the main romance to rival the first book. Either read that one if you haven't yet, or pick up Tools of Engagement for some real anxiety-fueled conflict.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

clarissa22's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Cancer

giulsfloris's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Review may contain spoilers:

Ashley Herring Blake delivered once again!
This romance novel is very similar to Delilah Green. We have two people falling for each other without meaning to, second-guessing every decision, slowly accepting themselves and each other.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this reading just as much as I did with the first stand-alone book.

Astrid and her relationship with her mother, Jordan’s past following her everywhere she went, I liked it all!

Bonuses:
- spicy scenes were just as good.
- there’s a non binary character going by they/them pronouns.
- a bunch of scenes with Delilah and the others

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment

thaliareads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I didn't think it was likely that this could match the quality of the first book, but it really did. I really enjoyed the way the characters grew throughout this book and I liked having the renovation as the backdrop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer and Emotional abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Emotional abuse isn't directly discussed as so, but the mother of Astrid comes off as emotionally abusive. Minor spoilers that shouldn't reveal too much:

Jordan struggles with some depression after her divorce and her ex-wife's cancer. Her mother is also mentioned as having severe depression. Jordan's depression did lead to her setting a very small fire at a job site. The homophobia is similarly indirect like the instances of emotional abuse. Astrid realizes how her mother's expectations and mannerisms while not directly homophobic lead her to not see queer relationships as an option for her. Finally, the death of parents is the same as discussed in the first book if you were okay with that. They aren't a focus just brief mentions to set things in perspective.

charley34's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content