Scan barcode
now_booking's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really compelling, super dramatic romance and I found it really hard to put it down. Based on the author’s warnings in the beginning, I wasn’t sure I was ready to embark on this but I decided to give this a shot and I wasn’t disappointed.
The premise is that when Eliana’s tech savant (adopted) daughter goes a-hacking and discovers who her biological father is (Malachi) and runs off to go meet him, she sets in motion a series of dramatic events that lead to Malachi’s fiancée Ziva spiraling and Malachi and Eliana coming to terms with loss.
The novel isn’t about a main couple per se, but there is really good relationship development and you felt like you got to know the characters fairly well including the couple. It’s really hard to get the balance right in a novel like this where multiple characters have a voice and to not lose the chemistry and momentum in the coupling. This succeeded in telling a multifaceted story but still having it be a romance at its core. I liked all the key players- Eliana, Malachi, their smart-mouthed daughter, Violet, the cast of family and friends.
Things I wasn’t as in love with: I found it really hard to believe that Malachi didn’t realise how toxic Ziva was before. I think it played into the “men love toxic love” trope and I think I felt like Malachi was to grown for that kind of nonsense. I was also ambivalent about the treatment of mental health in this book with Ziva being the main example and her presenting very much a worst case scenario of not getting help. There was to an extent a reinforcement of certain gender role tropes that was subtly done but that gave me a bit of pause even though I recognize them as being very realistic parts of the culture they were representing.
Ultimately, I was really sad when this ended because I enjoyed it so much. I am in the mood to dive back into this author’s back list and find something else.
The premise is that when Eliana’s tech savant (adopted) daughter goes a-hacking and discovers who her biological father is (Malachi) and runs off to go meet him, she sets in motion a series of dramatic events that lead to Malachi’s fiancée Ziva spiraling and Malachi and Eliana coming to terms with loss.
The novel isn’t about a main couple per se, but there is really good relationship development and you felt like you got to know the characters fairly well including the couple. It’s really hard to get the balance right in a novel like this where multiple characters have a voice and to not lose the chemistry and momentum in the coupling. This succeeded in telling a multifaceted story but still having it be a romance at its core. I liked all the key players- Eliana, Malachi, their smart-mouthed daughter, Violet, the cast of family and friends.
Things I wasn’t as in love with: I found it really hard to believe that Malachi didn’t realise how toxic Ziva was before. I think it played into the “men love toxic love” trope and I think I felt like Malachi was to grown for that kind of nonsense. I was also ambivalent about the treatment of mental health in this book with Ziva being the main example and her presenting very much a worst case scenario of not getting help. There was to an extent a reinforcement of certain gender role tropes that was subtly done but that gave me a bit of pause even though I recognize them as being very realistic parts of the culture they were representing.
Ultimately, I was really sad when this ended because I enjoyed it so much. I am in the mood to dive back into this author’s back list and find something else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Mental illness, Infertility, Murder, Suicide, Abandonment, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Blood
More...