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jtpgdavey's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Racism
Minor: Misogyny
warlocksarecool21's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I thought the characters (specifically Rachel and Nathan) were well-written, they had strong personalities and good character development across the story. I enjoyed their relationship, they had great chemistry and passion. I also thought Rachel's personal growth of taking back her life and living for herself was really powerful. The representation in the book was really important as well, it's great to see and read Black stories, especially in the romance genre. I definitely recommend this book if you like romance. The reason I didn't rate this higher was completely on me, it had nothing to do with the book. I was excited to start it but I had just been a streak of reading romance books and I think I was just tired of them, so I wasn't fully immersed in the story as I wanted to be and thus struggled to finish it, but I did enjoy the book. I just wish I had waited to start it until I was in the mood for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
peachani's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Grief
Minor: Dysphoria, Pregnancy, Classism, Drug use, Sexual content, Racism, Violence, and Body shaming
blakeandbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
vicktorea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Infidelity
fangirljeanne's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
Audio Arc from LibroFM
TW: Cheating, Racism, classism, sexism, panic attack/disorders, cancer
TW: Cheating, Racism, classism, sexism, panic attack/disorders, cancer
We have so many coming of age stories, perpetuating the misconception that we cease to develop as a person once we reach an arbitrary age. Adulthood isn’t so much a destination as an era in our lives. One of many we will change us in social and psychological as well as physical ways. This is a truth anyone over the age of 25 can confirm.
Which makes the fact that so many of us are pressured either socially or economically to make huge decisions about our lives and relationships at such a young age, often only just as we are becoming “adults.” It’s natural that living in those lives, relationships, and careers for decades would wreak change upon our younger selves in many unforeseen ways.
People in their 30’s and 40’s rarely resemble who they were when they was 18 or 20.
Despite their age difference Rachel and Nathan find themselves similarly dissatisfied and lost in the lives shaped by choices they made when they were young. Meeting each other has caused them both to question who they are and could be if they take chances now they weren’t able or were too afraid to take when they were younger.
A couple’s chemistry is always what makes or breaks a romance for me. These two are amazing together. Not just sexy, but they genuinely connect. Their vulnerability with each other is a big key to what makes their romance believable.
While this book is a Romance that spend lot of time on the relationship, it spends as much of not more time on Rachel’s journey toward self discovery and growth. She’s a wonderful example of the wider range of feminine experiences we miss out on when so many Romances focus only on women in their teens and 20s. Women do not stop deserving love and sex after they turn 25. People can fall in love more than once in their life, especially as they grow older, change, and want different things in life.
The book also explores the subtle racial politics that happen within interracial relationships, especially when one of the partners is a rich white man. This story pulls all the nastiest forms of micro aggressions women of color (especially Black women) deal with on a daily basis even within their own homes and family.
While Nathan is Latino he has to come to terms with his own privilege and prejudices in order to grow into a man worthy of Rachel’s trust and love. But most importantly Rachel has to learn and grow into some one brave enough to be safe for and love herself.
This isn’t always an easy read (check the TW), but it was so worthy it. Love this this always is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, and Cancer
hazelgirl21's review
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Cancer
simplysimone's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Classism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Racism, and Death
hannahmichele5's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
WOW! This is an absolute jewel of a debut novel down that you won't be able to put down. It is much less spicy than the cover suggests but I didn't even care. This was the perfect binge book full of angst, drama, self- discovery, politics, and scandal. I loved every minute!
Thanks to Forever / Grand Central for the e-arc and thanks to Hachette Audio for the audio arc!
Thanks to Forever / Grand Central for the e-arc and thanks to Hachette Audio for the audio arc!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism and Infidelity