Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

16 reviews

lindsaymck'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? It's complicated

4.5

What an adorable setting for a romance! Reading about Cold World makes me want it to be real so I can visit and see it for myself. 

Lauren and Asa ‘work well together’ ;) One of the real selling points for this story is how well it proves that there is always so much more to someone than meets the eye. I loved how the preconceived notions that these two characters have about one another changed as their understanding, appreciation, and affection grew. Pairing that relatable character growth with the whimsical settling of Cold World at Christmas was magical. 

On a deeper note, I think Lauren and Asa’s respective childhood/adolescent traumas give the book true depth. The lingering emotional pain of their pasts simultaneously provides the reasoning for their miscommunications/romantic hiccups while also ensuring they are the one best suited to love the other as they need and deserve to be loved. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, and Drug abuse

FMC’s mom struggling with addiction leading to her daughter entering the childcare system. She eventually dies via overdose. MMC’s bigoted parents disown him.

ash_ton's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful slow-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 book moved sloowww for me but not in a bad way. i still loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Biphobia, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Drug use, and Addiction

lauramparis's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Biphobia, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, and Outing

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Addiction, and Death of parent

Minor: Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse

beccaand's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Biphobia, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent and Addiction

Minor: Sexual harassment

wilybooklover's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

This book was so soft and hopeful and sweet. I loved prickly ice queen Lauren and fun-loving, openhearted Asa — they were so cute together! I just love a hero who is soft and gentle, especially when paired with a more reserved heroine. The scene where they get locked in together and they actually begin to open up to each other a little bit was so good. Their character growth was done so well, particularly Lauren's slow realisation that people do actually like her and won't inevitably leave her. I adored the found family aspect with Asa's roommates, who were all lovely and felt like fully realised characters even if they weren't on-page often. I also liked how everyone was so average and had normal, everyday jobs. No billionaires or celebrities in sight!
 
I didn't love the third-act breakup

(especially since it was at like 90% — I thought I was safe!) but I liked the fact that it was kind of accidental and how quickly they got back together.

 

One thing I really appreciated about this book is that it didn't have Asa instantly forgive his parents for throwing him out for being bi as a teenager and that none of the other characters pressured him into it. He had the choice to reconcile with them (or not, as the case may be) on his own timeframe. The way that Lauren defended him to his parents was perfect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Biphobia, and Homophobia

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Outing, Religious bigotry, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual harassment

dianaschmidty's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

4.5

This fictional couple’s made me believe in the idea of true love. They embodied the ideal partnership and I love that for them!

I also loved the random Christmas movie and song references (a forte of mine) and how Lauren put Asa’s dad in his place!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Outing, and Homophobia

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Drug abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

imstephtacular's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Asa is my chaotic soft bi king and I would die for him!!!

Also I loved this book. There were so many tropes (although there were also several cliches that usually make me mad, but I liked this book so I much I mostly overlooked them)

This is a great example of a romance that does MORE. It handles some pretty heavy, real stuff, but does it well. I liked Asa and Lauren and was rooting for them all along the way

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Outing, Sexism, Grief, Misogyny, Mental illness, Abandonment, Biphobia, Drug abuse, and Vomit

bookedandbusy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? No

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I loved Lauren and Asa and their character development, and I loved the found family feeling it had! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Outing, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Addiction

katelynnelawson's review against another edition

emotional funny slow-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

4.25

Workplace rivals Lauren and Asa have been at odds since they met. Where Lauren is uptight and controlling, Asa is laidback and whimsical. When their boss selects them to develop plans to revamp Cold World, the failing Orlando indoor theme park where they work, the two end up spending more time together, including getting locked into the park overnight. As the two work against, and eventually with, one another, they grow to realize how much they didn't truly understand the other - and how much they really, fundamentally, understand one another now.

While on a the surface level With Love, from Cold World seems like a playful romantic comedy, it goes deeper, discussing some tough topics. Lauren and Asa are both standout characters. While their personalities clash due to being so different, they both come from the same place, a fear of rejection due to troubled pasts. This is a memorable read that takes a surprisingly steamy turn.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction, Outing, and Death of parent