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shanaetheflyest's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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 have read so many books from Kimberly Brown and Tethered Love is by far one of my absolute favorites. Brown really put her foot into this one! The characters are unique and diverse in a way that I long for when reading. The story, though dark, emotional and challenging, is beautifully written and one that I'd immediately recommend to anyone. The happily ever after was also very welcome, though not even necessary because Brown did such a good job with the characters Malachi, Eliana, and Violet. My only wish is that this book was longer. Many of Brown's contemporaries would've easily made this book 500 or 600 pages. That's not Brown's style, but for Tethered Love, an emotionally charged dark romance, I think it would've been not only acceptable but beneficial.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Death, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual content, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicide, Infidelity, Child abuse, Infertility, Medical content, Abortion, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
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
ashatroyal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Two black professionals as MCs. Okay doctors!!! This was definitely a slow burn love but I think it was done right as the child was the main focus and I really appreciated that. There was a good amount of drama that kept me engaged. There were so many secrets! I loved to see a different family dynamic as people can become parents in alternative ways. I also loved the highlight on a man desiring to have children. Violet bad as hell but so smart! I just knew Ziva was going to do something sneaky with the paternity test but she was a mess!! Mental health and loss of a spouse and friend were also discussed. “You want my chains dangling in your face, baby?” I know that’s right!! It got a little chaotic at the end, but the family got the ending they deserved.
There were a few inconsistencies. Does Ziva have a stepmother? Because in the book it said hopefully she was with her parents but later we find out her mother passed. It was also kind of random to name a patient and start the chapter off with her name. Because I’m like who is this? Saying “Eliana’s patient opened her eyes” seemed more practical. Maybe it’s linked to another book. Where is the author from that we can get to the airport thirty minutes before a flight? In another scene, Malachi walked them to the gate. I felt like some things were repetitive and drawn out. Eliana made it seem like she only had a sister, maybe she’s not close with her brother. Also, I think the dad has to sign the birth certificate but it was a great gesture.
I’m not sure what the author meant by this is a dark romance. This wasn’t dark at all. There were clearly major triggers concerning pregnancy and mental illness but aside from that the story was pretty light (with the exception of one scene). A few minor mistakes but nothing to take away from the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Infertility, Self harm, and Suicide
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