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ephemeralreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, and Death of parent
thatbakerthatreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Diana is the guardian of her two nephews and now they have moved to a new house. But their new neighborhood holds big surprises for them.
Includes:
✨Age Gap (12 Years)
✨Single Guardian
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Protective MMC
✨Independent FMC
✨Ex – Navy
✨Baseball
✨Mexican Culture
✨Grief
🌶️Heat Level:
One Open Door Scene
Language
My Opinion:
I only have one thing to say: Dallas has my heart. That's it, that's my review.
Okay, this is a slow burn! I wanted to enter MZCU (Mariana Zapata Cinematographic Universe) in order of release, but thanks to my challenge (Check my Reels), I managed to read this as my second book by her and I liked it much more than 'Under Locke'.
I found the 'Slice of Life' narrative interesting and how you can see the friendship and tension growing little by little, but there were times when I wasn't very interesting in every detail of their lives. Besides being very long, I love how she shows us their relationship and struggles as a Family, her as a new mother, dealing with the Family's drama as everyone tries to overcome their traumas. The writing built everything effortlessly and the reading was a lot of fun.
Yes, there is a lot of swearing, but not on every page and somehow the story felt more important and I could care a lot about them and less about the language (but if you are sensitive to this, you have been warned).
I love how Diana is a strong and independent woman and I loved Dallas. I've said before that a good Grumpy/Sunshine needs a good reason and they both had it. Dallas isn't rude, just reserved, but he's a sweetheart and I completely loved how well he treats everyone (who deserves it, of course).
I hope I can like next books from the author.
MMC = Male Main Character
FMC = Female Main Character
Close Door Modifications: Skip the End of the chapter 25
TW:Child Abandonment, Loss of a Parent and Relatives, Mentions of Divorce and Domestic Violence, House Fire.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
luchikreads's review
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
🌶️🌶️🌶️apolen's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
amanda_reads13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Diane is a 29 year old hairstylist who is raising her two nephews (5&10). Her little family has endured so much and she is doing everything she can to give her boys the best life possible. When they move into a new house, she meets Dallas, a 41 year old retired from the navy. Not only is he her neighbor, but he also becomes her oldest nephew's baseball coach. As their friendship flourishes, so do their feelings for each other.
Diane is so incredibly strong and determined. She has taken on such a huge responsibility in raising her 2 nephews and will do anything for them. She is fierce, speaks her mind, and loves her family more than anything. Her boys are her whole world and she will fight anyone who tries to hurt them. As much as she worries and stresses about not being a good enough guardian for them, she is raising some incredibly smart and sensitive boys. Her relationship with them comes first and is more important than anything else in her life. She is very hesitant to let anyone in due to her past truama and the fear of her boys being hurt.
Dallas is grumpy and a bit closed off, but as he warms up to Diane, we see that there is so much more to him. He is generous, protective, and so caring. He takes care of his grandmother and even takes in his asshole brother. He loves Diane and her boys so fiercely and wants nothing more than to take care of them. He takes his time and truly gets to know her. He is honest and open with her. He takes a while to tell her how he feels, but he shows it in everything he does throughout their entire friendship.
I love that we get a peek into the characters from Kulti and Wall of Winnipeg. Vanessa is Diane's best friend and Sal is her cousin. I also really liked all the side characters.
Yes, it is a SLOW burn, but I love how much we get to see their relationship grows and their feelings develop. Their relationship develops slowly, but it makes sense considering their respective backgrounds. Neither would jump into something quickly, it wouldn't make sense for their characters.
That epilogue... Perfect ending.
My only issue is that I think that large age gap wasn't necessary, 12 years is a pretty big gap.
Tropes: slow burn, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, single parent
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide and Domestic abuse
kb33's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide, Drug abuse, Violence, and Domestic abuse
steelerl828's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Racism, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
venetiana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
[The author also (afaik) appropriates the term "spirit animal" and I'm not sure how far the lines are blurred concerning colloquialisms. Some expressions rubbed me the wrong way.]
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abandonment, Excrement, Alcohol, Blood, and Death
Minor: Cursing, Rape, Religious bigotry, Violence, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Stalking, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder
joice_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment and Drug use
slow burnacelodie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Abandonment