Scan barcode
abicaro17's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
In theory its cute but both characters need serious therapy. Like watching them get back together was almost painful. They're cute sure and the message about doing something new without abandoning who you are is great. Its just kind of a boring and unbelievable way to do it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry
jo22c's review
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
think read this out of morbid curiosity. I already knew wouldn't like the religious aspect but wanted to see how this character worked through the trauma of purity culture. FMC didn't really do much than trade one man telling her what to do for a second one. MMC is ridiculously overbearing. I don't mind protective MMC tropes but this was absurd. He is so crazy possessive that his friends barely want to talk to her and they aren't even together! would be very concerned if one of my friends ended up in a relationship like this. He wants total control of her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
What stood out positively in this story for me was how self-reflective both MCs were and thank you to the author for making them really good at communication, not only in a sexual context(about their desires, safe-words and so on), but also in general when it came to their feelings.
Another big plus was the way the mMC loves how the fMC is a bigger girl and notices/loves small details like the soft belly or the jiggling thighs.
These where the things making this book stand out positively in the new adult romance genre.
(Even if I was hesitant to pick this book up because of religion being a main topic especially the extreme sides like purity culture and while I am more critical towards it than how the author portayed this way of life I still found it interesting to read about it and how there were different characters with differents views on it portrayed in this book. Even if I almost dnf because of the amount of religious bigotry.)
It still felt like the story could have needed a little bit more polishing (e.g. a bit more character depth, more of them as "united front" so not only the unhealthy part of their relationship is portrayed and other stuff) but as I have not read something similar this story was interesting.
Spice(quantity&quality):
2/5
only few scenes but definitely not pg-13 while still having room to improve
Another big plus was the way the mMC loves how the fMC is a bigger girl and notices/loves small details like the soft belly or the jiggling thighs.
These where the things making this book stand out positively in the new adult romance genre.
(Even if I was hesitant to pick this book up because of religion being a main topic especially the extreme sides like purity culture and while I am more critical towards it than how the author portayed this way of life I still found it interesting to read about it and how there were different characters with differents views on it portrayed in this book. Even if I almost dnf because of the amount of religious bigotry.)
It still felt like the story could have needed a little bit more polishing (e.g. a bit more character depth, more of them as "united front" so not only the unhealthy part of their relationship is portrayed and other stuff) but as I have not read something similar this story was interesting.
Spice(quantity&quality):
2/5
only few scenes but definitely not pg-13 while still having room to improve
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, Misogyny, Body horror, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Drug use
claudia_moreira's review
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Infidelity
mels_reading_log's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love an angst filled, steamy, romance novel, and this was exactly that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
stephaniemcuervo's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Religious bigotry
nyx_999's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not bad but not a fan.
2½ smut scenes. 2 spicy scenes. One good sex scene.
I had a hard time not taking brakes in the first 100 pages or so.
I actually didn't know how heavy this book is on Christianity and purity culture until read the foreword. I still read it and no bad feelings about it.
2½ smut scenes. 2 spicy scenes. One good sex scene.
I had a hard time not taking brakes in the first 100 pages or so.
I actually didn't know how heavy this book is on Christianity and purity culture until read the foreword. I still read it and no bad feelings about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Religious bigotry
Minor: Infidelity, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
teachreadrepeat's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
This was... underwhelming. I did like that it called out purity culture, but both Livvy and Cole made me angry. I don't mind friends-to-lovers, but this was more "we've secretly been in love with each other since the day we met but made up stupid internal excuses so we can't be together." That's not the same thing; it felt like one huge miscommunication trope tied to religious beliefs instead which I found incredibly frustrating. Also, there was only 1 real spicy section in the book... I don't NEED copious amounts of spice in a romance book, but the premise of this one kinda calls for it in my opinion. The divorce storyline with Cole's parents also felt odd and did not serve the purpose I think the author wanted it to. From a girl who turned her back on purity culture in her 20s at a private Christian university and really struggled with it, I was hoping for so much more agency from the FMC and fulfillment from both parties involved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexism, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
crackedspinereviews's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.5
May contain spoilers
Review: I am normally not a friends to lovers trope kinda girl because I think it's just too easy to overcome. However, throw in some purity culture/religious trauma and that's a whole different story. You can definitely tell this book is written by a less experienced author but that is more than made up for in the content understanding. This book was one I thoroughly enjoyed especially with my background of growing up in church. My main complaint is that I am just not a fan of a third quarter relationship issue based on misunderstandings. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who has any history in the church or purity culture and is trying to relearn themselves and their sexuality.
Likes: deconstructing purity culture, friends to lovers with actual conflict besides just not wanting to run the friendship, strong FMC, sweet and overprotective MMC
Dislikes: The writing was a little lacking in some parts and could have been a little more developed.
Tropes: friends to lovers, breaking out of purity culture, virgin FMC, college romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry
potalian's review
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Infidelity and Mental illness
More...