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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
missredreads20's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I loved this book. It is rarer these days for me to read a romance but as it's February I found I was in the mood. However, this book is much more than romance. It is about first love, first loss, the first time you realise love may not solve everything and external events bursting that bubble.
Clara and Benjamin meet at university. They are very different people but see something in each other they need. The book reminded me of another of my favourite books - One Day by David Nicholls - in the way the story was told and also the behaviours of the two characters.
For me personally this book was incredibly nostalgic. I am only 5 years younger than the characters so recognised a lot of the cultural and new stories references of the time and I went to university in Sunderland so regularly travelled on the London to Newcastle train and I have very special memories of those train journeys. I'm also nostalgic for when it used to be £10 each way on the train!
The story has an enormous amount of depth. It starts with a bombing and the link back to this at the end was very clever. I thought Clara and Benjamin's ending was perfect, although I would definitely be open to a sequel!
My favourite quote:
"It has changed, but not so much that the faded memories - of being a different person, a different version of herself - don't creep behind her as she walks."
Clara and Benjamin meet at university. They are very different people but see something in each other they need. The book reminded me of another of my favourite books - One Day by David Nicholls - in the way the story was told and also the behaviours of the two characters.
For me personally this book was incredibly nostalgic. I am only 5 years younger than the characters so recognised a lot of the cultural and new stories references of the time and I went to university in Sunderland so regularly travelled on the London to Newcastle train and I have very special memories of those train journeys. I'm also nostalgic for when it used to be £10 each way on the train!
The story has an enormous amount of depth. It starts with a bombing and the link back to this at the end was very clever. I thought Clara and Benjamin's ending was perfect, although I would definitely be open to a sequel!
My favourite quote:
"It has changed, but not so much that the faded memories - of being a different person, a different version of herself - don't creep behind her as she walks."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Infertility
Minor: Eating disorder, Self harm, and Cancer
lightltup's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Oh my god this book had me in a hold. I didn’t not look up from my kindle for hours.. The book follows the once lovers throughout the two decades in the past (leading up to their last communication) to the present where Carla tries to find Benjamin after a tragic incident at a football stadium. The first chapter had me hooked instantly. I was on the edge of my seat each 2022 timeline chapter. At first I thought that 2002 Carla was kinda clingy and toxic but she grew up a lot in 20 years and 2022 Carla is great in my opinion. The ending had me shocked in a way. I predicted some things that happened but they weren’t in the exact same way I predicted them so I didn’t mind that at all. It’s a book about love, regret, and possible second chances. Overall such an amazing book and it became a favorite of mine!
Thank you NetGalley and Charlotte Rixon for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and Charlotte Rixon for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Violence and Alcoholism
Minor: Infidelity, Infertility, Child abuse, Self harm, and Abandonment
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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