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eajohnston's review against another edition
5.0
Kathryn Nolan DID IT AGAIN with this book. This is my third book from Nolan and every single one has sucked me in. I loved that this was a local book (South Philly), so I could literally visualize what she was talking about.
thereaderlylife's review against another edition
5.0
Ms Kathryn Nolan does it again! I am so glad I went three rounds in the ring with On The Ropes because this book is a total knock out! (Excuse my punning but I just can’t help it).
“I’ve watched you choose love over anything else. That’s the only way to make it through this world.”
Dean and Tabitha knew each other as children, and as a teenager, Dean had a hopeless crush on the redhead free spirit. Tabitha graduated high school and got out of their Philadelphia neighbourhood. Now as a documentary filmmaker she doesn’t settle in one place for long. Dean’s professional boxing career was over in a flash and now he spends his days helping his neighbours, dodging disappointed fans, and wondering what he is meant to do on this earth. You will absolutely fall in love with this sweetheart, scowling, overthinking boxer and his girl next door who hides her own share of shame and secrets.
Not only does Kathryn Nolan gives us a love story with some seriously steamy scenes (THE make out scene!! IYKYK) she also weaves in a story about loving your neighbour and trying every day in a little way to make your neighbourhood just a little better. The characters in this book are brilliantly real-world diverse, and Kathryn gives us an own voices treat in bisexual Tabitha, a woman who owns her sexuality without apology or the need for validation from others.
“Give in to a love that is loud and takes up space.”
I wish I could grab a cold beverage, sit on a stoop on Tenth St in Philly and hang out with Tabitha, Dean, Alice, Eddie and the whole gang as we watch the world go by.
“I’ve watched you choose love over anything else. That’s the only way to make it through this world.”
Dean and Tabitha knew each other as children, and as a teenager, Dean had a hopeless crush on the redhead free spirit. Tabitha graduated high school and got out of their Philadelphia neighbourhood. Now as a documentary filmmaker she doesn’t settle in one place for long. Dean’s professional boxing career was over in a flash and now he spends his days helping his neighbours, dodging disappointed fans, and wondering what he is meant to do on this earth. You will absolutely fall in love with this sweetheart, scowling, overthinking boxer and his girl next door who hides her own share of shame and secrets.
Not only does Kathryn Nolan gives us a love story with some seriously steamy scenes (THE make out scene!! IYKYK) she also weaves in a story about loving your neighbour and trying every day in a little way to make your neighbourhood just a little better. The characters in this book are brilliantly real-world diverse, and Kathryn gives us an own voices treat in bisexual Tabitha, a woman who owns her sexuality without apology or the need for validation from others.
“Give in to a love that is loud and takes up space.”
I wish I could grab a cold beverage, sit on a stoop on Tenth St in Philly and hang out with Tabitha, Dean, Alice, Eddie and the whole gang as we watch the world go by.
lowkeyreader's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, was this a slow burn. Dean and Tabitha's story started out a bit slow but once it picked up, it held my attention. I loved Dean's character, that even though he's a pro boxer, he could still get shy. Especially when it comes to his high school crush, Tabitha. He's still figuring things out after he had to retire when Tabitha came back home for a few weeks.
Their story is sweet and swoony. These two have amazing chemistry. I couldn’t put this one down. Also because of their amazing neighbours, sharing their stories. That makes it an even more entertaining read.
Their story is sweet and swoony. These two have amazing chemistry. I couldn’t put this one down. Also because of their amazing neighbours, sharing their stories. That makes it an even more entertaining read.
vera_allbookedup's review against another edition
5.0
This book low-key made me want to go outside and garden, string some lights up and invite the neighborhood for a block party. Then I remembered I'm too introverted for all that so I lived vicariously through Dean and Tabitha. All the feels for these two! Friends who had crushes on each other back in high school but didn't act on those feelings. I loved the metamorphosis of their characters, the revelations they made as a result of re-connecting and exploring not only their relationship but the choices they made in life. I loved their notion of found families, that family is not only the biological connections but also the human connections.
I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.
I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.
bookaddict2011's review against another edition
5.0
Community. Joy. Love. Togetherness. Kathryn Nolan has brought me to my knees with this book.
I was hooked from the very start, and with each turn of the page, I fell more and more in love with Dean and Tabitha. I fell in love with the neighborhood. With her parents. With his two moms. With Annie’s pocket park.
The details in this book had me feeling as though I was right there, sitting on the stoop enjoying some water ice and sitting around the kiddie pool gossiping. I want to LIVE in this world that Kathryn created because it feels like a place I could call HOME.
Dean and Tabitha are everything you’ll ever love about a friends to lovers story, complete with all the steam!
Five beautiful stars for this beautifully written story that is definitely marked as one of my top reads of the year!
I was hooked from the very start, and with each turn of the page, I fell more and more in love with Dean and Tabitha. I fell in love with the neighborhood. With her parents. With his two moms. With Annie’s pocket park.
The details in this book had me feeling as though I was right there, sitting on the stoop enjoying some water ice and sitting around the kiddie pool gossiping. I want to LIVE in this world that Kathryn created because it feels like a place I could call HOME.
Dean and Tabitha are everything you’ll ever love about a friends to lovers story, complete with all the steam!
Five beautiful stars for this beautifully written story that is definitely marked as one of my top reads of the year!
whatemilyisreading's review against another edition
5.0
LOUD AND BRIGHT!
Dean and Tabitha...there are not enough words on how I loved this shy hero and this sparkling ray of sunshine together! They were perfect! Their chemistry leaps off the page, and I couldn't put this book down! I just loved these two so damn much!
I related to Tabitha on so many levels (hello tattoos!) and her desire to wander but love her family. She was so relatable, and that is what I love about Kathryn's characters! And Dean...swoon! I love a shy hero, and he was PERFECT! You wouldn't expect a boxer to not be confident in all aspects of his life, but I loved this twist. Dean and his big heart captured mine...I want my own boxer now!
The joy you feel reading Kathryn's book is unmatched...it's such a theme in her books, but you feel it when reading. You're just happy and it makes you want to find your own joy in life! The happy bubbles just sparkle in this book!
I have never been to Philly, but I felt like a lifelong neighbor after reading this book ready to go sit on my stoop! I was immediately sucked into the block in South Philly and absolutely loved getting to know everyone!
I cannot gush enough about this book and how freaking happy it made me! I had happy tears in my eyes because you just feel so much love and joy, that it's hard to contain in this book. Kathryn's books are always my favorites, but this one just catapulted right to the top!
Dean and Tabitha...there are not enough words on how I loved this shy hero and this sparkling ray of sunshine together! They were perfect! Their chemistry leaps off the page, and I couldn't put this book down! I just loved these two so damn much!
I related to Tabitha on so many levels (hello tattoos!) and her desire to wander but love her family. She was so relatable, and that is what I love about Kathryn's characters! And Dean...swoon! I love a shy hero, and he was PERFECT! You wouldn't expect a boxer to not be confident in all aspects of his life, but I loved this twist. Dean and his big heart captured mine...I want my own boxer now!
The joy you feel reading Kathryn's book is unmatched...it's such a theme in her books, but you feel it when reading. You're just happy and it makes you want to find your own joy in life! The happy bubbles just sparkle in this book!
I have never been to Philly, but I felt like a lifelong neighbor after reading this book ready to go sit on my stoop! I was immediately sucked into the block in South Philly and absolutely loved getting to know everyone!
I cannot gush enough about this book and how freaking happy it made me! I had happy tears in my eyes because you just feel so much love and joy, that it's hard to contain in this book. Kathryn's books are always my favorites, but this one just catapulted right to the top!
dawnstrickland's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
5.0
The Joy of Love Can't be Contained!
This book is pure joy and hope and humanity at its brightest. I don’t know if my review will do this beautiful story justice, but I hope it conveys a tiny bit of the wonder that is Kathryn Nolan. On the Ropes is a book about love. Love of self, of family, of community, of living in the moment, and romantic love.
Now let’s get to the heart of Ms. Nolan's writing...the characters. Dean and Tabitha are so flirty and fun together. Her bold, dazzling nature and his quiet, thoughtful demeanor compliment one another splendidly. They both have strong family bonds that only tighten throughout the story. Their internal struggles are validated and explored organically. Also, Ms. Nolan does a wonderful job of bringing a South Philly neighborhood to life. The Tenth Street community and South Philly feel like pertinent characters in the story, not simply the setting. With every book she writes her skill of depicting full, rich characters sharpens. Not just the main characters, but secondary characters as well. There are no caricatures for dramatic effect. Every word and person and setting feels essential. Intentions match actions.
Dean Knox-Morelli had my heart from his first scowl at an eyesore of a vacant lot. His love of community and found family added to his swoon factor. And Tabitha Tyler had me crushing hard! Her live in the moment attitude was a reminder to get out of my own head, sometimes. The slow burn chemistry simmers and sizzles in true Kathryn Nolan fashion. Meaning it culminates and combusts with quite a kaboom! The tightrope of sweet heat and consuming passion is magnificent. This book will make your heart feel full.
#southphillylove #birepresentation #lgbtqrep #deanandtabitha #thisjawnsforyou
#southphillylove #birepresentation #lgbtqrep #deanandtabitha #thisjawnsforyou
Content Warnings
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Chronic illness
kimalah's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0