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libraryghost's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Child abuse, and War
Minor: Death of parent
wilybooklover's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
There's nothing I love more than a cute romance between two kind, generous people, and that was this book to a tee. They had such a soft dynamic that really fit their sweet and caring personalities. Plus, the first half of the book has some top-tier mutual pining which is a trope I adore.
I really enjoyed the portrayal of mental health, anxiety/panic attacks, and trauma/PTSD. It was handled with such care and respect without taking away from the lightheartedness of the book. I also enjoyed that the book showcased such an amazing friendship between Katrina and her friends. I just love seeing strong female friendships in romance.
I did feel as though there were a tad too many side-plots that sort of took the spotlight away from the romance a bit. There was the original viral side-plot, then a side-plot with Jas's family, then a side-plot with his military past, then a side-plot with Katrina's dad... I would've preferred a little less of that and a bit more of the cute domestic scenes. But I loved the book regardless!
I really enjoyed the portrayal of mental health, anxiety/panic attacks, and trauma/PTSD. It was handled with such care and respect without taking away from the lightheartedness of the book. I also enjoyed that the book showcased such an amazing friendship between Katrina and her friends. I just love seeing strong female friendships in romance.
I did feel as though there were a tad too many side-plots that sort of took the spotlight away from the romance a bit. There was the original viral side-plot, then a side-plot with Jas's family, then a side-plot with his military past, then a side-plot with Katrina's dad... I would've preferred a little less of that and a bit more of the cute domestic scenes. But I loved the book regardless!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Child abuse, Body shaming, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: War, Violence, Torture, Gun violence, and Racism
a_ab's review
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I liked this book better than the first one, but not by much.
This story relies on the relationship having been built off page over many years, which is much better than insta-l[ust/ove]. But when the characters start working towards changing the nature of that relationship from professional to a much more personal one, there's way too much reliance on sex to drive that change. And it felt like lazy shortcuts.
Perhaps people read these books for the sex scenes, and maybe that's where all the relationship building is happening (in-between anatomic description of various gymnastic maneuvers - somehow I doubt it), but since I skip those scenes, the relationship seemed empty and superficial to me. The potential for more was there, but we never get to see it on page (or at least I didn't - I am not willing to wade through pages is sex descriptions to find out if I missed anything there).
This book wasn't bad, but it was also not memorable or good or particularly interesting, which was disappointing, because it could have been better.
This story relies on the relationship having been built off page over many years, which is much better than insta-l[ust/ove]. But when the characters start working towards changing the nature of that relationship from professional to a much more personal one, there's way too much reliance on sex to drive that change. And it felt like lazy shortcuts.
Perhaps people read these books for the sex scenes, and maybe that's where all the relationship building is happening (in-between anatomic description of various gymnastic maneuvers - somehow I doubt it), but since I skip those scenes, the relationship seemed empty and superficial to me. The potential for more was there, but we never get to see it on page (or at least I didn't - I am not willing to wade through pages is sex descriptions to find out if I missed anything there).
This book wasn't bad, but it was also not memorable or good or particularly interesting, which was disappointing, because it could have been better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and War
forthe_girlwhowaited's review
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
buttermellow's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: War, Racism, and Kidnapping
sarahthescrivnr's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Body shaming, and Child abuse
ticktock's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and War
malenhar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.0
I think this is almost TOO much story. That sounds a little insane but it's just so many storylines and history and background that I lost interest very fast and it became unrelatable. A former international model/billionaire/widow works through her trauma of a blackmailing father, child abuse, and a kidnapping to fall in love with her body guard. Like, come on, that is so absurd! Not to mention that the bodyguard comes with his own history/trauma. I get that it develops the characters but it becomes so overwhelming.
Overall, there are some cute parts and in the end was happy to see everything work out. There is one more book in the series and I'll give it a read but this is definitely not my favorite take on a modern romance series.
Overall, there are some cute parts and in the end was happy to see everything work out. There is one more book in the series and I'll give it a read but this is definitely not my favorite take on a modern romance series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Kidnapping
megj23's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Kidnapping
greymalkin's review
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Enjoyable low-stakes romance. The plot and romance are honestly secondary to the psychological issues that the heroine and hero are dealing with, and that's okay. I liked that the subjects were dealt with in such a thoughtful way.
I really enjoyed the way Rai conveyed how anxiety and PTSD affected even the small things in their lives, and also modeled the healthier coping mechanisms that the heroine had learned from her therapist.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse