You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
cnheartsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love when the ending of a book makes you pause to really think about it and say wow. That’s what this book did. The obstacles that the two main characters faced, that while this is a romance, looks at some very serious issues. Then you also get the romance, the fun-times, the awesome dogs and cats, family, friends and even a 1966 Dodge Dart.
I’ve loved every book that Abby Jimenez has written but so much in this book hits home with me making this my favorite.
I’ve loved every book that Abby Jimenez has written but so much in this book hits home with me making this my favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child abuse
beate251's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for this ARC.
Samantha works in marketing for a mustard brand in Minnesota and tall and frowny Xavier is a vet with his own practice. They meet over an impossibly cute stray cat that has an unusual and costly medical problem. They have one perfect date that mainly takes place in a locked escape room and then Sam is forced to move miles away. Their relationship has no future - and yet they both can't forget each other.
The story is told in alternating dual POV, so both Samantha and Xavier get their say. Both have baggage due to their parents. Xavier's parents are abusers, emotionally as well as physically, and Samantha has to move back home to California due to her mother's deteriorating health condition.
This book nearly broke me. There are two big topics that I have personal experience with: dementia and long-distance relationships. Both are described incredibly realistically and both suck. Especially caring for someone with dementia is exhausting and heartbreaking and you can only really appreciate it once you've done it yourself and you realise it's not just about memory loss. For some people, just reading about it will be too much, as well as learning about those caricature villains that are Xavier's parents. The relationships within Samantha's family are a bit more complex and revolve around how to best care for her mother.
Abby Jimenez' books seem to have many similarities to each other. They all deal with difficult topics, there is always a cute pet or two with a ridiculous name, a bearded man, the desire to have children, big feelings that border on obsession, and a couple of mentions of Nadia Cakes, the author's own business. There is always one apparent reason why two people who are incredibly perfect for each other can't be together. This time it is "we live too far from each other and we can't move, at all, ever". I get it, long distance is frustrating, tiring and expensive, but it usually has an end date.
The book is eminently readable and the big feelings will have many readers swoon, although everyone's problems seem to get solved a little too neatly and quickly at the end, but I adored lovely Dr Hank and his selflessness. Abby Jimenez means quality, and even though I would have liked a little less dementia drama I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it in one sitting. Also, the cover is utterly gorgeous.
"Love is the brightest color in a gray world."
Samantha works in marketing for a mustard brand in Minnesota and tall and frowny Xavier is a vet with his own practice. They meet over an impossibly cute stray cat that has an unusual and costly medical problem. They have one perfect date that mainly takes place in a locked escape room and then Sam is forced to move miles away. Their relationship has no future - and yet they both can't forget each other.
The story is told in alternating dual POV, so both Samantha and Xavier get their say. Both have baggage due to their parents. Xavier's parents are abusers, emotionally as well as physically, and Samantha has to move back home to California due to her mother's deteriorating health condition.
This book nearly broke me. There are two big topics that I have personal experience with: dementia and long-distance relationships. Both are described incredibly realistically and both suck. Especially caring for someone with dementia is exhausting and heartbreaking and you can only really appreciate it once you've done it yourself and you realise it's not just about memory loss. For some people, just reading about it will be too much, as well as learning about those caricature villains that are Xavier's parents. The relationships within Samantha's family are a bit more complex and revolve around how to best care for her mother.
Abby Jimenez' books seem to have many similarities to each other. They all deal with difficult topics, there is always a cute pet or two with a ridiculous name, a bearded man, the desire to have children, big feelings that border on obsession, and a couple of mentions of Nadia Cakes, the author's own business. There is always one apparent reason why two people who are incredibly perfect for each other can't be together. This time it is "we live too far from each other and we can't move, at all, ever". I get it, long distance is frustrating, tiring and expensive, but it usually has an end date.
The book is eminently readable and the big feelings will have many readers swoon, although everyone's problems seem to get solved a little too neatly and quickly at the end, but I adored lovely Dr Hank and his selflessness. Abby Jimenez means quality, and even though I would have liked a little less dementia drama I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it in one sitting. Also, the cover is utterly gorgeous.
"Love is the brightest color in a gray world."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Dementia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
shrubear's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Abby does it again! Emotionally sucks you in, but in the best way possible. Be ready for tissues and laughs!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Dementia
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child abuse
bwill214's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, and Alcohol
sydniesreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Not your “average” romance book, but like in a good way? The story of two people who against all the odds make it work. Two people who meet at the worst time, making it work and showing up for each other. Abby writes in a way that pulls at your heart and makes you feel things so deeply. Don’t expect to come out of this one unscathed, you’ll be in your feelings, you may cry, you’ll probably relate to a plot point or two. No “third act break up” spice level at like a jalapeño, HEA, animals who get rescued and saved. I dare you to not shed a tear for this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting