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jhansell's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Suicidal thoughts
melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was absolutely gut wrenching and made me ball my eyes out a couple times but I loved it nonetheless. One thing I will say is that both the mc’s are better than me bc I’m one petty mf and I’m the type to hold grudges until the day I die, so for them to be so forgiving and even APOLOGIZE to the people that wronged them made me want to jump into the book and slap some sense into them and the person hurting them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Grief, Abandonment, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Chronic illness, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy
catsandbookstacks's review against another edition
3.0
Paige Toon offers an emotional contemporary novel that searches for happiness while dealing with loss and change.
I liked how Wren came to terms with the narrative she's told herself over the years since her parents' divorce and setting down new roots that will help her to grow as a person and in her career. Her character arc felt quite natural to me. Anders and Jonah are quiet stern types but also adore their family's farm. Both are managing their own issues, though Anders' is quite over the top. There are a lot of characters who get page time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because I really did enjoy Wren's family, but I wish there'd been more focus on Wren and Anders.
I did find the novel to be overwritten at times and just wanted the plot to move along. There was a sort of repetitive nature in Wren's first person POV that could've been tightened up.
I'd recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to those who enjoy an emotionally driven contemporary love story about fighting for those you love (that does have an HEA) but also has a wide focus on family.
I liked how Wren came to terms with the narrative she's told herself over the years since her parents' divorce and setting down new roots that will help her to grow as a person and in her career. Her character arc felt quite natural to me. Anders and Jonah are quiet stern types but also adore their family's farm. Both are managing their own issues, though Anders' is quite over the top. There are a lot of characters who get page time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because I really did enjoy Wren's family, but I wish there'd been more focus on Wren and Anders.
I did find the novel to be overwritten at times and just wanted the plot to move along. There was a sort of repetitive nature in Wren's first person POV that could've been tightened up.
I'd recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to those who enjoy an emotionally driven contemporary love story about fighting for those you love (that does have an HEA) but also has a wide focus on family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Ableism, Death, Grief, and Alcoholism
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
5/5 stars
1/5 spice
An intense love story full of heart break and hope. I was hurting right up until the last couple of chapters.
Tropes:
Forbidden love
Close proximity
Friends to lovers
Hurting / Healing
Found family
I think the author did an amazing job keeping the reader on edge the entire time. Anders and Wren's love story was a slow burn laced with tragedy, but you just couldn't help holding out hope that things would turn around for them. It was excruciating but so honest and raw. I was dying for Anders' POV. I never expected to read his POV, so when it came at the end when everything was so tense it was an amazing surprise and very emotional.
I loved the whole cast of characters and felt that Wren was such a relatable heroine. All the emotional damage she had from feeling her father's neglect, her ex's betrayal, feeling less than compared to her sister, Bailey... it was all expressed so well that you could really feel what she was going through. The growth Wren experienced outside of her story with Anders was nice to see. I'm happy she repaired her family relationships and made new friends that would give her that sense of community.
This wasn't a fully closed door romance since there was one full scene, but I rated it low because it wasn't very detailed. It wouldn't have made sense to have more in the story and I'm very satisfied with how the author handled that part.
Overall a great read with lots of angst, pining, and heart wrenching moments. Highly recommend for fans of forbidden romance and slow burn friends to lovers.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Penguin Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.
1/5 spice
An intense love story full of heart break and hope. I was hurting right up until the last couple of chapters.
Tropes:
Forbidden love
Close proximity
Friends to lovers
Hurting / Healing
Found family
I think the author did an amazing job keeping the reader on edge the entire time. Anders and Wren's love story was a slow burn laced with tragedy, but you just couldn't help holding out hope that things would turn around for them. It was excruciating but so honest and raw. I was dying for Anders' POV. I never expected to read his POV, so when it came at the end when everything was so tense it was an amazing surprise and very emotional.
I loved the whole cast of characters and felt that Wren was such a relatable heroine. All the emotional damage she had from feeling her father's neglect, her ex's betrayal, feeling less than compared to her sister, Bailey... it was all expressed so well that you could really feel what she was going through. The growth Wren experienced outside of her story with Anders was nice to see. I'm happy she repaired her family relationships and made new friends that would give her that sense of community.
This wasn't a fully closed door romance since there was one full scene, but I rated it low because it wasn't very detailed. It wouldn't have made sense to have more in the story and I'm very satisfied with how the author handled that part.
Overall a great read with lots of angst, pining, and heart wrenching moments. Highly recommend for fans of forbidden romance and slow burn friends to lovers.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Penguin Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Death, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
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