Reviews

Quan is without doubt my favorite character in this series, l love him so much. I wanted to protect Anna soon as I was interduce and I enjoyed her character development. They are just adorable together, book was at best when focused on them.

What I didn't like was her mom and sister they ruined pace, still I enjoyed this book. Also everyone should read author's note.

irene2160's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Okay this was cute until it became quite deep and also Quan's little hike was so random with no build up to it but idk if that's because I haven't read the other books or smth. Did enjoy it and it was a fast read tho
Also I wanted a chapter from the pet rock's pov 😤

MORE IMPORTANTLY - Time for Queen do Shadows 😏😏

amandalynnhuffman's review against another edition

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2.0

Rating this two stars is physically painful. I can’t explain how much I wanted to love this book. The first two in the series impacted me so deeply and I was so emotionally invested in all of these characters. How could I not love Quan’s book?!

As painful as it is, I have to be honest. I really really did not like this book. Well, the bulk of it anyway.

It’s almost as if this book is two separate books in one.

The first book is about Quan. He is recovering from cancer, falling in love with a girl, and learning that he is valuable and enough. He is charming and thoughtful and loves so abundantly. He grows and learns. He matures. He forgives others and himself. I love love love this book. The whole book should have stayed with Quan.

The second book, however, is all about Anna. She is a people pleaser to the most extreme extent. It’s excruciating being in her head and watching her destroy herself and her life. What doesn’t she endure? She is diagnosed with autism. Her boyfriend of forever tells her he wants to sleep around before marrying her—gross. She is suicidal. Her sister emotionally abuses her. She goes through some horrifically extreme creative block where she can’t play violin anymore, which is horrendous because she describes it as her sole purpose in life. She doesn’t know who she is because she masks 24/7. She has sexual issues to overcome. It’s…a lot…and not much good goes on in the Anna book.

The Anna book also seems to revolve around her and her family. Her father has a stroke and, in some kind of horror-filmish twist, decide to keep him alive by forcing him into diapers, a feeding tube, and life in a bed with his wife and daughters as round-the-clock caretakers. This was painful. He basically is begging his daughter to die at one point. Anna’s horrific sister verbally and emotionally abuses Anna, treats her father as an infant, and dominates her mother. She’s…lovely.

Not only does the horrible Anna book take over 75% of the story, but it also barely resolves ANYTHING. Her and her sister never make amends. Her dad dies while she isn’t around. She is suicidal for a page and we don’t get follow up on that or her learning to cope with her autism. Etc. etc.

As soon as her dad dies, the book is so choppy, it’s unreal. Two page chapters with massive time hops. Anna and Quan move in together and she is so bad off in her “autism burnout” that her sink is moldy and she’s barely functioning. All of a sudden it’s been two years and…the end?

I just can’t. Poor freaking Quan. That’s all I can think. If you’re a romance reader, this book blows. The focus on Anna and Quan’s relationship was so brief, I barely even understand how they had a relationship at all. It was torturous to watch Quan basically be all in for her from moment one and Anna literally never prioritizing him or loving him how he should have been loved. Accepting a marriage proposal AND KISS from another man in front of him honestly should have been the last straw, but no.

I just…am so sad. I feel for Anna. I was happy to see her grow a backbone and a few other things, but overall this book was just a torture session outside of the Quan book.

meggie82461's review against another edition

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5.0

”I promise you that I’ll never do something like that again where you’re concerned- if I have the chance. I’ll draw a line around you, and I’ll protect you and stand up for you and speak up for you when it’s right. I’ll keep you safe. And I’ll do the same for me. Because I matter, too.”

I had been looking forward to Quan’s book, and I wasn’t disappointed. I knew he’d have layers, of course, but I didn’t know how many. And I definitely didn’t realize I’d love him the most

hannahsmanyhobbies's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ashleighyoung's review against another edition

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3.0

6/10 - so this book started out strong, I really like how Helen Hoang writes characters that are autistic and is bringing a voice to a population that isn’t always heard, HOWEVER, this book got HARD to read, and I understood why the protagonist was going through what she was going through, but it was HARD to read, made it not enjoyable because you knew what bad was going to happen to her too, and obviously the love story was predictable in it too, idk I had much higher hopes for this book, it was just a HARD story to read

yasstew's review against another edition

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emotional fast-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

5.0

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