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jencolumb0's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fitting (necessary?) end to the Bright Falls stories.
This was my least favorite of the books. Blessedly, someone involved tamped down on the tangled fingers, chest openings, and professions of fear before it crossed into “droning on” territory. While I appreciate the pieces of this book - the exploration of anxiety and fear and trust; chosen family versus family of origin; the arc back to NYC; and even the love letter to romance readers that’s baked in - there is something not quite seamless about the presentation of the story as a whole. The characters somehow flatten as the story unfolds, becoming defined by their Thing (with the exception of Adri). Given how much there was to work with going back to the first book and the complex relationships among the women at the core of the Bright Falls crowd, that was . . . disappointing. It’s almost like everyone involved thought to themselves, “it’s been a bit since folks have picked up the last two; let’s just let Ashley work through a few things here, put a rainbow-colored bow on the warm glow of Bright Falls, and move along before anyone picks up on the fact that it doesn’t quite line up.”
While it is, unquestionably, a heartfelt (and spicy) book, it lacks the complexity of the prior books, in both subject-matter and character development. The discussion of Stevie’s anxiety bordered on clinical at times. This book also lays bare the facts that AHB still has some work to do to (a) move past the performance of including “diverse” characters to . . . actually including them, and (b) move through her sophomore queer status of rainbows! Everywhere! (Yes, there are a tremendous number of places - far too many, in fact - in which queer people are not accepted as who we are and need a swaddle of rainbows/other identity flags to signal safety. HOWEVER, the modern, upper middle class, PNW white world that this crowd inhabits, where the story takes place, is not one of those places. For a story that did not involve people coming to understand their own identity/a shift therein - they both had several years of being out under their belts - the preoccupation with rainbows felt out of synch with that reality.)
So, alright. Tick mark entered. Next?
This was my least favorite of the books. Blessedly, someone involved tamped down on the tangled fingers, chest openings, and professions of fear before it crossed into “droning on” territory. While I appreciate the pieces of this book - the exploration of anxiety and fear and trust; chosen family versus family of origin; the arc back to NYC; and even the love letter to romance readers that’s baked in - there is something not quite seamless about the presentation of the story as a whole. The characters somehow flatten as the story unfolds, becoming defined by their Thing (with the exception of Adri). Given how much there was to work with going back to the first book and the complex relationships among the women at the core of the Bright Falls crowd, that was . . . disappointing. It’s almost like everyone involved thought to themselves, “it’s been a bit since folks have picked up the last two; let’s just let Ashley work through a few things here, put a rainbow-colored bow on the warm glow of Bright Falls, and move along before anyone picks up on the fact that it doesn’t quite line up.”
While it is, unquestionably, a heartfelt (and spicy) book, it lacks the complexity of the prior books, in both subject-matter and character development. The discussion of Stevie’s anxiety bordered on clinical at times. This book also lays bare the facts that AHB still has some work to do to (a) move past the performance of including “diverse” characters to . . . actually including them, and (b) move through her sophomore queer status of rainbows! Everywhere! (Yes, there are a tremendous number of places - far too many, in fact - in which queer people are not accepted as who we are and need a swaddle of rainbows/other identity flags to signal safety. HOWEVER, the modern, upper middle class, PNW white world that this crowd inhabits, where the story takes place, is not one of those places. For a story that did not involve people coming to understand their own identity/a shift therein - they both had several years of being out under their belts - the preoccupation with rainbows felt out of synch with that reality.)
So, alright. Tick mark entered. Next?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
nefariousbee's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-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? Yes
4.5
I got to say, the author's clumsy attitude towards the portrayal of different queer experiences really improved. it's still clumsy, but in a way that you can see that the author took the criticisms to her heart. I love to see it. when I remember how in Delilah's book the word lesbian was never even uttered, and now we're playing around with it with the classic thespian - lesbian joke... lovely. the progress is there.
but not to make this only about the queer community aspect of this, even tho I have many more thoughts, it's just that, what would it be for, you know.
anyway. you can clearly see the author has been writing for a while. she's skilled in all the needed places - she will draw you in, get invested, get you to cry and laugh and make you horny. AND she'll make you think about your life choices? who'd have thunk?
overall, a solid pick of an American adult sapphic romance novel nevertheless. it is very much American, still very middle class, but it's doing its thing very well
but not to make this only about the queer community aspect of this, even tho I have many more thoughts, it's just that, what would it be for, you know.
anyway. you can clearly see the author has been writing for a while. she's skilled in all the needed places - she will draw you in, get invested, get you to cry and laugh and make you horny. AND she'll make you think about your life choices? who'd have thunk?
overall, a solid pick of an American adult sapphic romance novel nevertheless. it is very much American, still very middle class, but it's doing its thing very well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Biphobia, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit and Bullying
bisexualwentworth's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
- 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
I loved this book. I loved the whole series, but this one in particular hit really close to home and was definitely my favorite overall. I related to Iris in a lot of ways and to Stevie in a few ways too (especially the anxiety). I loved seeing Iris's friendship with Simon, which was set up wonderfully in the background of Astrid's book. Stevie reminded me a lot of my own partner, and aspects of the relationship felt really familiar to me in some very sweet and fun ways.
The sexy parts of this book are VERY sexy. Wow.
I had so much fun with all of the queer Shakespeare, though I do wonder why people always choose to genderbend Much Ado About Nothing when so much of that play is about gendered power dynamics. Like I would love to see this queer production and I'm sure it would bring me a lot of joy, but it also confuses the text and the themes A LOT to make Hero a man and Benedick a woman.
I wish, along with many other readers, that we'd gotten an additional Iris-and-Stevie-focused epilogue. The ending felt lacking in that way. The actual ending was VERY satisfying, though. I did cry.
The sexy parts of this book are VERY sexy. Wow.
I had so much fun with all of the queer Shakespeare, though I do wonder why people always choose to genderbend Much Ado About Nothing when so much of that play is about gendered power dynamics. Like I would love to see this queer production and I'm sure it would bring me a lot of joy, but it also confuses the text and the themes A LOT to make Hero a man and Benedick a woman.
I wish, along with many other readers, that we'd gotten an additional Iris-and-Stevie-focused epilogue. The ending felt lacking in that way. The actual ending was VERY satisfying, though. I did cry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Biphobia, and Vomit
Additional content warning for slut shamingmadisongturner's review against another edition
4.75
Another great book! I always enjoy the sapphic romance, the fake dating, and the loveable characters. There were a few parts that felt a little forced for inclusion, but the representation was extremely appreciated. Iris and Stevie are both very likable and relatable characters with anxiety around intimacy to fear of commitment, I really enjoyed being able to love them and their flaws. Will keep high on my list of sapphic recommendations!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
midnightbelles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
hannahmichele5's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
daryn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit and Toxic relationship
pencilspeaker's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
kendra_taylors_version's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Vomit
Moderate: Toxic relationship
betweentheshelves'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
The final book in the Bright Falls series (I think?), and I'm not sure if this was my favorite, but I still very much enjoyed it. I appreciated Iris as a character, not really sure if she wants to settle down with one person, and hitting on the loneliess that can be associated with that. Especially as all your friends partner up and settle down, feeling the pressure from family to do so as well. Blake does a good job with those internal conflicts as Iris tries to open herself back up fto love.
I thought Blake also represented Stevie's anxiety well, especially as not something to be fixed but something to kind of learn to live with. Her and Iris had great chemistry on the page, and overall, they fit in well with the cast that we have already met. Overall, this was definitely a delight to read!
I thought Blake also represented Stevie's anxiety well, especially as not something to be fixed but something to kind of learn to live with. Her and Iris had great chemistry on the page, and overall, they fit in well with the cast that we have already met. Overall, this was definitely a delight to read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Vomit, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship