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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-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
Thank you, Netgalley & Dreamscape Media, for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This was a beautiful, emotional and raw love story between Janea & Landon. The story itself dives deep into mental health, substance abuse and the hard realities of navigating through the struggles of life. Both characters have their flaws and it was amazing to be on the journey with them as they learn and continue to heal.
The Narrators did a fantastic job of portraying the raw emotions of these characters. It is done in dual style narration.
Overall this was a 4 🌟 book and I highly recommend it!
This was a beautiful, emotional and raw love story between Janea & Landon. The story itself dives deep into mental health, substance abuse and the hard realities of navigating through the struggles of life. Both characters have their flaws and it was amazing to be on the journey with them as they learn and continue to heal.
The Narrators did a fantastic job of portraying the raw emotions of these characters. It is done in dual style narration.
Overall this was a 4 🌟 book and I highly recommend it!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loooved every angsty page
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
I received an ARC of This Side of Beautiful by Tiye through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. It dives deep into how two artists handle the pressures of society while navigating mental health struggles like anxiety, substance use, and—unexpectedly—the autism spectrum. It was a heartwarming and powerful story, filled with honesty and raw emotion.
At the start, the author includes a letter to readers that sets the tone, explaining that this is a story of redemption, love, strength, and finding beauty in broken pieces—and she was absolutely right. It was beautiful to see how growth, healing, and transformation can happen even in the midst of chaos.
There were moments where I felt like some chapters dragged a bit or had unnecessary details, but overall, this was a meaningful and touching read. I highly recommend it—100%.
I really liked this book. It dives deep into how two artists handle the pressures of society while navigating mental health struggles like anxiety, substance use, and—unexpectedly—the autism spectrum. It was a heartwarming and powerful story, filled with honesty and raw emotion.
At the start, the author includes a letter to readers that sets the tone, explaining that this is a story of redemption, love, strength, and finding beauty in broken pieces—and she was absolutely right. It was beautiful to see how growth, healing, and transformation can happen even in the midst of chaos.
There were moments where I felt like some chapters dragged a bit or had unnecessary details, but overall, this was a meaningful and touching read. I highly recommend it—100%.
Thanks to Honey Blossom Press for the ARC (check content warnings). This book deeply moved me with its realistic portrayal of Janae, a recovering artist, and Landon, a guitarist she reconnects with. Their path to a happy ever after involves navigating substance use, mental health, and family struggles with care and authenticity. A recommended read for those who appreciate thoughtful romance.
ARC Review
Pub date: May 6, 2025
*Please check trigger warnings*
"This Side of Beautiful" was the perfect title to depict Janae and Landon's love story.
Janae and Landon are both musicians. Janae is a fallen hip hop star who is on the path to rising again and showing the world that her past doesn't define her future, all with coming to terms with her mental illness. Landon is a guitarist who plays in a band, is also dealing with his hidden struggle, and coming to terms with defining it.
Their story deals with different mental health battles, addiction, family issues, heartbreak, pain, trauma, hurt, second chances, and love. Through all these things, this story will take you on an emotional, sometimes painful, but beautiful ride that leads to an amazing love story. When I started reading this story, I thought to myself that Janae and Landon are either going to ruin each other or help each other grow and continue to be each other's "life jackets" in a healthy way. I am so glad the author showed us the down of someone dealing with mental health but also with therapy and support the ups of it. Janae and Landon's connection was one of a kind and I am so happy that in the end they both were able to come to terms with their mental health, themselves, and finally soar individually and together.
Thank you, Netgalley and Homey Blossom Press, for my advance copy for my honest review.
Pub date: May 6, 2025
*Please check trigger warnings*
"This Side of Beautiful" was the perfect title to depict Janae and Landon's love story.
Janae and Landon are both musicians. Janae is a fallen hip hop star who is on the path to rising again and showing the world that her past doesn't define her future, all with coming to terms with her mental illness. Landon is a guitarist who plays in a band, is also dealing with his hidden struggle, and coming to terms with defining it.
Their story deals with different mental health battles, addiction, family issues, heartbreak, pain, trauma, hurt, second chances, and love. Through all these things, this story will take you on an emotional, sometimes painful, but beautiful ride that leads to an amazing love story. When I started reading this story, I thought to myself that Janae and Landon are either going to ruin each other or help each other grow and continue to be each other's "life jackets" in a healthy way. I am so glad the author showed us the down of someone dealing with mental health but also with therapy and support the ups of it. Janae and Landon's connection was one of a kind and I am so happy that in the end they both were able to come to terms with their mental health, themselves, and finally soar individually and together.
Thank you, Netgalley and Homey Blossom Press, for my advance copy for my honest review.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a review of an advanced reader copy of the book that was provided for free by the publisher Honey Blossom Press. Please check content warnings for possible triggers before reading this book.
This book left me deep in my feelings and glad that the main characters found their way to a happily ever after. Janae, a former hip hop/soul artist who is fighting her way back to her prominent career after a very public fall from grace, is dealing with the aftermath of her decisions and battles with substance use disorder. She connects with Landon, a guitarist in a rising band who she previously left hanging after flaking, and is immediately drawn to his quiet presence. Landon is battling his own challenges and even though he wants to keep Janae at a distance, he feels drawn to taking care of her. This book chronicles the raw and challenging journey they take as they learn more about each other and deal with personal and family struggles. Their journey felt realistic and depicted mental health and substance use challenges with care and respect. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for folks looking for a thoughtful romance that grapples with real issues.
This book left me deep in my feelings and glad that the main characters found their way to a happily ever after. Janae, a former hip hop/soul artist who is fighting her way back to her prominent career after a very public fall from grace, is dealing with the aftermath of her decisions and battles with substance use disorder. She connects with Landon, a guitarist in a rising band who she previously left hanging after flaking, and is immediately drawn to his quiet presence. Landon is battling his own challenges and even though he wants to keep Janae at a distance, he feels drawn to taking care of her. This book chronicles the raw and challenging journey they take as they learn more about each other and deal with personal and family struggles. Their journey felt realistic and depicted mental health and substance use challenges with care and respect. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for folks looking for a thoughtful romance that grapples with real issues.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This Side of Beautiful was a beautiful story of transformation, of metamorphosis - of moving from one state to another. I loved it. It didn't pull any pushes, it was real, raw and uncut. It was emotion-heavy with raw emotion practically dripping from every page. I loved that it was also infused with lighthearted and funny moments. These characters and what they went through hurt my heart. I felt for them.
I loved Janae's resilience, her drive and her capacity to love in spite of it all. I loved how protective Landon was of her and how awkwardly adorable he was. I loved them together. They didn't have it easy every battle was hard fought. Their struggles were difficult to watch at times especially when they made decisions I felt like they shouldn't have made but it was all worth it in the end to see them transform to transcend and soar above it all. They were more than the sum total of their struggles and the author did a great job of portraying that.
What this author did left me in awe - she handled these characters, their journeys, their story, their traumas, their battles with mental health issues and substance abuse with delicate grace. I highly recommend this book.
Copy provided by publisher
I loved Janae's resilience, her drive and her capacity to love in spite of it all. I loved how protective Landon was of her and how awkwardly adorable he was. I loved them together. They didn't have it easy every battle was hard fought. Their struggles were difficult to watch at times especially when they made decisions I felt like they shouldn't have made but it was all worth it in the end to see them transform to transcend and soar above it all. They were more than the sum total of their struggles and the author did a great job of portraying that.
What this author did left me in awe - she handled these characters, their journeys, their story, their traumas, their battles with mental health issues and substance abuse with delicate grace. I highly recommend this book.
Copy provided by publisher
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes