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twysbeek's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Terrorism--public bombing is also present (not a spoiler as the book literally opens with this event)raisingself's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is an angsty and slightly heartbreaking love story told in the past and present over 20 years in England. It touches on a lot of tough subjects so trigger warning for:
- Parent loss
- Mental illness/Mood disorder
- S. Assault
- Child abuse
- Depictions of class and inequality
- Violence
- Infertility
All of the things are in this book but oddly it was not triggering. It was a slow burn storytelling of young people I'll equipped for life finding and loving each other. It is not a traditional romance novel, in that it feels too realistic. The main characters too flawed. The realities of life too difficult.
This a book that people will with like or hate. It slightly reminds me of a better version of Normal People by Sally Rooney, which I disliked but this for all of its intensity, sadness and slow inwinding, I did enjoy. The book ends with a dash of tender hoepfulness, which I appreciate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual violence, Mental illness, Alcohol, Child abuse, Abandonment, Classism, Bullying, Addiction, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Terminal illness, Rape, Pregnancy, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Infertility
cayv97's review against another edition
3.75
Clara and Benjamin meet during their first year of college. It’s instant sparks, the kind of love you will never forget. Unfortunately, this is not a love story. This is rather a story about love and how it makes and breaks you. You travel through 22 years of Clara and Benjamin’s relationship: passionate young love, a traumatic event that separates them, their individual lives, and all the broken hearts between. When an explosion happens in the city they fell in love in, Clara is convinced that she must go and find him.
💭Thoughts💭
I really did love this book, it was written so well and definitely kept my interest. I just wanted to shake both of these characters though! They were clearly very young which was part of their issue, but they just seemed not right for each other at all. Benjamin also seemed like such a dud- he could not get out of his own way.
.
⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
My favorite moments were any with Benjamin, his son, and his dad. They all got along so well and it was so sweet to imagine these three generations together.
.
🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
English football ( soccer ⚽️) played a huge role in this book. Watch a game with a pint of beer and some chips- whether they’re American potato chips or UK French fries!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Rape
korinnagarcia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story was gripping, poignant, and foreboding. It touches on a lot of heavy life subject matters that can be triggering and there are so many, for example; suicide, bomber, sexual assault, alcoholism, death of a parent, fertility issues, and manslaughter, just to name a few. I appreciate that the author handled these subjects with as much care and sensitivity as possible. This story is very character driven and non linear. I personally love non linear/dual timeline plots, I find them more immersive than linear plots. I loved this story and I instantly fell for Benjamin. I greatly sympathized with his character, he reminded me so much of Connell from Normal People. To me Clara was a bit unlikable but I found her state of ennui and her constant indulging in reminisce very relatable. This book had a lot of dark parts but were perfectly balanced with moments of beauty in the simplicity and realism of the characters.
I recommend to anyone who can stomach all the triggers, to fans of second chance romance, to fans of Normal People, and to those of you that relish in the heart wrenching stories, like I do. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and of course Charlotte Rixon, for allowing me to read this E-ARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Suicide, Child abuse, Cancer, Sexual assault, Grief, Rape, and Mental illness
lanaprice's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Trigger warnings: sexual violence, statutory rape, physical assault, cancer, manslaughter, adultery, infertility, depression, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse
There is so much trauma. So much trauma. I argue that it’s too much for one story. It’s masquerading as a “romance,” but the characters all have huge battles they are dealing with.
This is not the type story for someone who wants to escape. The relationship between the main characters is toxic and codependent. It is good to see that they grow from it as they age, but many of their characteristics makes them hard to like when they are younger.
If you are a fan of Colleen Hoover, then you might enjoy this book—without problematic practice of supporting Colleen Hoover.
There is so much trauma. So much trauma. I argue that it’s too much for one story. It’s masquerading as a “romance,” but the characters all have huge battles they are dealing with.
This is not the type story for someone who wants to escape. The relationship between the main characters is toxic and codependent. It is good to see that they grow from it as they age, but many of their characteristics makes them hard to like when they are younger.
If you are a fan of Colleen Hoover, then you might enjoy this book—without problematic practice of supporting Colleen Hoover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, and Alcoholism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, and Rape
_treatyoshelves_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape and Child abuse
livinthebubble's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
I'm going to start this review off by saying that I had to force myself to finish this book. If it wasn't an ARC I would've stopped at around 20%.
Plot
Going into this, this is what I understood of the plot:
- a guy and a girl meet in uni, fall in love
- something happens, and they don't talk for years
- fast forward, they rekindle and happy ending for them
Where in the blurb would I ever guess that they a) are married and b) have kids? Nowhere, besties. Also, the random ass subplots didn't work for me.
There are heavy topics thrown in (solely for impact imo). TW: alcoholism, assault, self-harm, terminal illness, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, death of a parent, infertility and cheating. As I said before, it sounded like a light-hearted story, but boy was I surprised when she out of nowhere describe in detail how she'd self-harm.
Characters
The story spans 20 odd years of the main characters' lives, but they meet when they are 18/19. I was that age not long ago (3/4 years ago to be exact), and Iunfortunately had a relationship during that time. Why am I telling my life story? I remember the feelings and behaviour I had during that relationship, and I do not understand why Clara would be this dramatic.
Everything Benjamin did, she overthought to the extreme. All the problems the two had were because of her. Any one of them, you can trace back to her. Although he's at fault, I felt like Clara played a huge part in him going to jail and she didn't even help him or defend him.
Benjamin, although sometimes badly, tried his best to communicate. He told her he was going to go home for a while, and since this is literally the year I was born, texting wasn't as popular as nowadays. Why does she assume the worst and cheat on him? Nofucking brain cells. She blames him for cheating on him, and she thinks he deserves it. Benjamin deserves better. Also, her being mad at him for wanting to watch football with his friend, please stfu. She's selfish, rude, dumb, whiney, irrational, and impulsive... I could go on. And even in her 40s, she has not matured AT ALL.
The fact that she could be married to Thom, which in my opinion also deserved better, for a decade and yet always think of what could be with Benjamin. This woman had cheated on every man she dated during this book, whether emotionally or physically. For someone who was traumatized by her ex-Daniel cheating, she really followed in his footsteps.
Romance
For a book advertised as a romance, there was literally none to be found. The main characters had no chemistry, they kept saying they were soulmates yada yada, but they just felt like dumb naive teenagers in their first relationship (been there done that folks).
Ending
The ending is random and I hate open endings. In the end, they are friends although I think I can infer that they'll date somehow, which was very unsatisfying, to be honest.
Overall, not for me, at all. Is there anything I liked? Well, Benjamin was wholesome but that's about it. I wouldn't recommend but if you enjoy books spanning most of the characters' lives and open endings, this might be for you.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Plot
Going into this, this is what I understood of the plot:
- a guy and a girl meet in uni, fall in love
- something happens, and they don't talk for years
- fast forward, they rekindle and happy ending for them
There are heavy topics thrown in (solely for impact imo). TW: alcoholism, assault, self-harm, terminal illness, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, death of a parent, infertility and cheating. As I said before, it sounded like a light-hearted story, but boy was I surprised when she out of nowhere describe in detail how she'd self-harm.
Characters
The story spans 20 odd years of the main characters' lives, but they meet when they are 18/19. I was that age not long ago (3/4 years ago to be exact), and I
Everything Benjamin did, she overthought to the extreme. All the problems the two had were because of her. Any one of them, you can trace back to her.
Benjamin, although sometimes badly, tried his best to communicate. He told her he was going to go home for a while, and since this is literally the year I was born, texting wasn't as popular as nowadays. Why does she assume the worst and cheat on him? No
The fact that she could be married to Thom, which in my opinion also deserved better, for a decade and yet always think of what could be with Benjamin. This woman had cheated on every man she dated during this book, whether emotionally or physically. For someone who was traumatized by her ex-Daniel cheating, she really followed in his footsteps.
Romance
For a book advertised as a romance, there was literally none to be found. The main characters had no chemistry, they kept saying they were soulmates yada yada, but they just felt like dumb naive teenagers in their first relationship (been there done that folks).
Ending
The ending is random and I hate open endings.
Overall, not for me, at all. Is there anything I liked? Well, Benjamin was wholesome but that's about it. I wouldn't recommend but if you enjoy books spanning most of the characters' lives and open endings, this might be for you.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Infertility, Self harm, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
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