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witcheep's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
This is a beautiful love story where two people find each other and by doing so also find themselves – even through past baggage/trauma, self doubt, and fear of new things . There's a lovely (and bossy) community around them, as well as a mystery put on a back burner to simmer thoughout the book to cook up the plot twists in the end into a bigger soup of intertwining reveals.
I'm surprised in how quickly I've adjusted to this 'I'm in love' revelation. It's like picking up a coat in a thrift store and shrugging it on: it fits, I don't need to look in the mirror to know it. Now I just carry on wearing it.
There's many kinds of representation in this book: different ages of characters (early 20s to late 80s with flahbacks/reminiscing of teenage years), lesbian side characters
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Bullying, Classism, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, and Death
brookey8888's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m not sure why this has such a low rating? I thought this was super cute! I loved that it was set at an retirement community because I worked at one for eight years. I just love the older women in this and it made my heart happy and I also teared up. Ruthie was really cute and I liked how she came into herself. I loved how she found friendship I thought the relationship was really cute too. I’m not usually into friends to lovers, but this was cute.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was fine but I guess I was hoping for Hating Game level sparks and this one was a lot more sedate. And Ruthie was kind of a depressed doormat of a person so it was hard to root for her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Classism, Racism, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Lesbophobia
shawniejo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
nataliapassos's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
readandfindout's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Style/writing: 3.5 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death, Body shaming, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Infidelity
whackettreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Gaslighting, Bullying, and Death
brighta's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really liked the writing of this book as well as the female protagonist and how she acts. Unlike other books, she speaks her mind, without fear of embarrassment from a guy. the relationship between the two main characters is cute and hopeful.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
_thelitlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
TW: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Bullying, Gaslighting
5.0 stars
-
I picked up this book based solely on the setting of the plot, a retirement villa. As someone who has spent their life working in retirement homes, I felt drawn in immediately. I'm so glad I picked this up on a whim, as I need more Teddy and Ruthie in my life. I love the hilarious banter that turns into a solid friendship, my heart was swooning the entire time, I was rooting for these two characters to end up together, but at one point it just didn't seem as if it were an option.
Our two main characters are nothing alike, Ruthie has dedicated most of her life to taking care of the villa and the residents, and it's often joked that she'll never move out and just end up retiring into the cottage she's currently in, Ruthie often forgets that she's supposed to be a young, beautiful, and single woman. Teddy Prescott is known for partying, sleeping in late, tattooing his body, and not taking anything in life seriously. After a few too many mess-ups in life, Teddy's father, and the owner of the villa agree to let him stay in one of the cottages as long as he earns his keep. When a spot working for two of the wealthiest and most eccentric residents in the villa opens up, Ruthie knows that Teddy is the perfect person for the position.
I loved watching Teddy prove to himself and everyone else that he's much more and deserves a lot more credit. Although this seems like a light book on the surface, my heart broke as we got more of a backstory both for Ruthie and Teddy. Watching the two of them grow as characters as they spent time together was refreshing, I love how they each taught each other a lot and helped their personalities grow and come to life. Listening to Teddy describe everything he wanted in a woman and it describes Ruthie to perfection made my heart swoon.
5.0 stars
-
I picked up this book based solely on the setting of the plot, a retirement villa. As someone who has spent their life working in retirement homes, I felt drawn in immediately. I'm so glad I picked this up on a whim, as I need more Teddy and Ruthie in my life. I love the hilarious banter that turns into a solid friendship, my heart was swooning the entire time, I was rooting for these two characters to end up together, but at one point it just didn't seem as if it were an option.
Our two main characters are nothing alike, Ruthie has dedicated most of her life to taking care of the villa and the residents, and it's often joked that she'll never move out and just end up retiring into the cottage she's currently in, Ruthie often forgets that she's supposed to be a young, beautiful, and single woman. Teddy Prescott is known for partying, sleeping in late, tattooing his body, and not taking anything in life seriously. After a few too many mess-ups in life, Teddy's father, and the owner of the villa agree to let him stay in one of the cottages as long as he earns his keep. When a spot working for two of the wealthiest and most eccentric residents in the villa opens up, Ruthie knows that Teddy is the perfect person for the position.
I loved watching Teddy prove to himself and everyone else that he's much more and deserves a lot more credit. Although this seems like a light book on the surface, my heart broke as we got more of a backstory both for Ruthie and Teddy. Watching the two of them grow as characters as they spent time together was refreshing, I love how they each taught each other a lot and helped their personalities grow and come to life. Listening to Teddy describe everything he wanted in a woman and it describes Ruthie to perfection made my heart swoon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Death, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
2.5
Ruthie is definitely one of the most annoying/bland main character's I've read in a while, the fact that she's so scared of the outside world that she never leaves the retirement home, dresses like an old person, and needs everyone around her to constantly validate her existence and actions gets tiring very fast.
Generally the romance is enjoyable, but it definitely runs on the weirder side and at times was unbearably embarrassing. Also the main love interest really didn't have any boundaries at the beginning of the book and it was really uncomfortable to read about so yikes.
Generally the romance is enjoyable, but it definitely runs on the weirder side and at times was unbearably embarrassing. Also the main love interest really didn't have any boundaries at the beginning of the book and it was really uncomfortable to read about so yikes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Gaslighting