Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Beard Science

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Beard Science by Penny Reid

4 reviews

allingoodtime's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense 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

4.5

Man, I love Cletus. Going into this book I had high expectations. Not only because of how much I’ve come to enjoy the character of Cletus throughout this series, but because I’ve heard so many great things about this book it was a bit pumped up in my mind. This gave me a bit of worry because how could it possibly live up to my hopes? And, truth be told, the first few chapters even gave me pause. Was this story really going to be what I wanted it to be? The answer is YES.

While I’m still in love with Cletus and enjoyed getting to know the more vulnerable side of the guy, Jennifer’s journey really sealed the deal for me. This was one of those books where I wanted to crawl into the pages and give a character a hug. Her parents are awful! Just when you think you heard the worst of it, a few chapters later something else is revealed. The fact that Jennifer, even after starting to come into her own and shed her chains, cannot see how terrible her parents are is written so well. When you’re in it you just can’t see it for what it truly is, and that comes across here. Seeing Jennifer bloom was delightful.

As much as I love Cletus, he can be his own worse enemy. That literal mind of his gets in the way. It’s not that he can’t think outside the box, it seems that’s the only way Cletus can think. But outside of the box or not, he needs things to be orderly and he must always be in control of the narrative. Yeah, love doesn’t work like that. Jennifer and Cletus are a match meant to be. She may be the one who seems to need more, but that’s not the case. He needs her just as much.

This family is fantastic. They are the most open and joyful bunch, even the grumps among them. I am getting more and more intrigued with Billy. He stands alone in many ways when it comes to the Winston family. Yet he’s always there to lend an ear or a shoulder and he gives surprisingly great advice. He seems to often be a calming presence to his brothers and sister. I think I’m anticipating his HEA more than I anticipated this one.

Oh, and one more thing in case you didn’t know. There is a spin-off series for Cletus and Jenn! It sounds like a lot of fun and hijinx. The first in that series, Engagement and Espionage, wasn’t published until years after this book so I have to look into reading order to know for sure, but I think it comes after the end of this series.

Content Warnings

dxisymitch's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-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

4.0

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martamae77's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

5.0

Content Warnings

taliabasma's review against another edition

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funny hopeful 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

Not me rereading this book for the 100th time and finally getting around to giving it a written review. I feel like this book only gets better each time I read it? Like hands down this is Penny Reid’s finest work. Cletus and Jennifer are in a league of their own.

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