Reviews

The Words by A. Jade

bookishlychar's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Lennon and Phoenix met in high school. Lennon was bullied for her plus-size body, and Phoenix was the hot loner that all the girls wanted to get with. When she starts tutoring Phoenix to help pass English the pair grows closer. He becomes many of her firsts, including a betrayal. He breaks her heart. Now four years later, Phoenix is a rockstar heading down the wrong road. The band brings Lennon in, knowing she will be able to keep him on track, even though they hate each other.

This book is filled with so much angst and pain. These two have been through it, and go through it in this novel. The character's highs and lows were so strong, and we went through them all. Ashley Jade is not afraid to let her characters make mistakes and there are so many times throughout this book that I just wanted to slap some sense into them. But what comes through, even in their messiness, is the love they have for each other, though they have done unforgivable things. 

Lennon has a lot of self-esteem issues, stemming a lot from her weight and negative relationship with food. She used food as a coping mechanism and was bullied in school. Even though she struggles with her self-esteem, she also knows who she is and that she brings value to situations. Phoenix was so broken, broken down by his childhood, and his current life. He has been through so much in his life and has issues he struggles with. Though they are, many times, toxic to each other, they have this deep, connecting love, that tears them apart and brings them together again. 

If you want a book that puts you through the wringer, this is it. There is so much pain and emotion in this book that you will feel it all. 

Read if you like: friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, it's always been you, found family, rockstar, friends with benefits, 

moonlightdragon's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

miihaaelaa22's review against another edition

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4.0

4,5 ⭐️

caitd01's review against another edition

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4.0

Loved this book. The main characters worked so well. Phoenix is such a loveable asshole and so redeemable. It’s so great to see a female character with such Relatable flaws, the relationship between Lennon and Phoenix feels like such a real, strong loving one.

dprreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

amz_reads_books's review against another edition

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4.0

Couldn't put it down

laibaxx22's review against another edition

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4.0

⭐️4.5

the_book_hoe's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

genesis's review

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fast-paced

3.0

_kathyxo's review against another edition

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3.0

I can’t decide if I liked this book or if I continued reading it for the crumbs Skylar and Memphis were giving and Quinn.

I hate the whole “she lost weight so now she’s pretty” trope, and I hated what he did even when I saw it coming from a mile away.

Side characters made me giggle tho