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quietlex's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I hated this book. Just being honest and blunt, it wasn’t great. The writing style is fine; it’s an easy read. But so many frustrating little things add up to one big disappointment. To begin, I didn’t know this was a sequel. Fortunately it doesn’t read like one, though. But the characters are so annoying. Genevieve literally cannot get out of her own way, and the constant back and forth between her and Evan is so tiring. “I want you so bad, but no I can’t! Okay maybe just a little.. but no, I shouldn’t!” Come on. Over and over with that same schtick. Here’s a list in page order of ridiculous things that happen:
1. Gen is sober, for over a year. She describes a one-time relapse where she ends up in a strangers bed with no memory of the night, and how she can’t continue on drinking and partying like she used to. She turns down every single drink offered to her, declines drinks basically pushed in her hands. But all of a sudden, when she’s on a FAKE DATE with Harrison, she’s totally fine with having a glass of wine? “It’s not like I’m pounding shots or downing cocktails. I won’t even get a buzz..” says what sober, recovering alcoholic? This is the big point that pulled me away from the story, honestly, and shows careless writing. Seriously, a recovering alcoholic is going to be okay with one glass of wine? Just lazy.
2. The whole cop ordeal. ACAB all the way, but it seems so pointless and misguided to have the whole “drunk angry creep cop” storyline play out. There wasn’t any need, Gen had turned a new leaf of sobriety and not partying, why is this cop still showing up at every turn and somehow knows whenever there’s substances involved? Again, just lazy writing. There’s no real danger, so they had to come up with some enemy to ruin the character’s plans. It’s just a weak attempt at real conflict.
3. The first time Gen and Evan have sex again, it’s on a public beach. They fall asleep naked and she wakes up late for work, furious at herself for falling back with Evan and not being responsible. She makes it this huge ordeal about not being able to follow through with her obligations when she’s involved with him, when in reality it’s so simple. Her panic could’ve easily been avoided by a damn alarm on her phone. It’s ridiculous, and sets off the on-and-off-again between them.
4. Evan volunteers at a nursing home with his brothers dog. He’s visiting an elderly man with a beloved pet bird. Evan opens the bird cage, bird gets out, dog eats bird, elderly man is heartbroken and furious. Just another insanely pointless addition. This later comes back up when Evan and Gen run into the elderly man while on the boardwalk, and he chases them into a clown house. Which again, leads to nothing and adds nothing to the story.
5. Skip all of Chapter 19. Doesn’t add anything to the story and is just an overwhelmingly boring recap of a pokers night.
6. Genevieve is such a downer, really an unlovable character. She is constantly droning on about how she needs to stay away from Evan and be with someone different, but the second she finds a completely different and genuine good guy, all she can do is insult and make fun of him to herself. “The kind of guy I’d be making fun of…one of the yuppie tools… he’s far too nice..” Everything about Harrison, from his dad humor to his khaki pants, puts her off. She goes on about how nice he is, happy and optimistic, but how it only makes her feel more bitter and empty. There’s seriously something wrong with her. I get just not feeling attraction, but it’s like she craves sharp edges, and couldn’t stand to be with a kind, gentle man who’d treat her properly. She entertains Evan right in front of her date many times, allowing him to barge in and interrupt them again and again, simply because it excites her to see her ex jealous. She admits to herself that she has no attraction to Harrison, but “..there’s no harm in giving this a shot and letting him grow on me.” Yeah, no harm in leading the nice guy on and trying to force a relationship that clearly won’t work, just to get back at your ex.
7. Just the overall toxicity of Gen and Evan. Misery loves company. They both fully see how destructive and chaotic they are together, yet they both continue treating it like some sort of game. It’s pathetic and gets old quickly. Predictability isn’t a good trait in a book.
8. When Evan finally gets the courage to be a man and leave Gen alone for good, it’s at the worst time possible, right after she’s released from jail. He should’ve broken up with her forever ago, but no, he decides in her weak moment, “now’s the time!” And then literally the next day Gen PROPOSES TO HIM. With a blow pop. What am I even reading at this point.
I’m glad it’s over. Again, it’s an easy book to get through and an alright read. I just got stuck on the stupid little things, which matter to me. Do not recommend simply for those bits.
1. Gen is sober, for over a year. She describes a one-time relapse where she ends up in a strangers bed with no memory of the night, and how she can’t continue on drinking and partying like she used to. She turns down every single drink offered to her, declines drinks basically pushed in her hands. But all of a sudden, when she’s on a FAKE DATE with Harrison, she’s totally fine with having a glass of wine? “It’s not like I’m pounding shots or downing cocktails. I won’t even get a buzz..” says what sober, recovering alcoholic? This is the big point that pulled me away from the story, honestly, and shows careless writing. Seriously, a recovering alcoholic is going to be okay with one glass of wine? Just lazy.
2. The whole cop ordeal. ACAB all the way, but it seems so pointless and misguided to have the whole “drunk angry creep cop” storyline play out. There wasn’t any need, Gen had turned a new leaf of sobriety and not partying, why is this cop still showing up at every turn and somehow knows whenever there’s substances involved? Again, just lazy writing. There’s no real danger, so they had to come up with some enemy to ruin the character’s plans. It’s just a weak attempt at real conflict.
3. The first time Gen and Evan have sex again, it’s on a public beach. They fall asleep naked and she wakes up late for work, furious at herself for falling back with Evan and not being responsible. She makes it this huge ordeal about not being able to follow through with her obligations when she’s involved with him, when in reality it’s so simple. Her panic could’ve easily been avoided by a damn alarm on her phone. It’s ridiculous, and sets off the on-and-off-again between them.
4. Evan volunteers at a nursing home with his brothers dog. He’s visiting an elderly man with a beloved pet bird. Evan opens the bird cage, bird gets out, dog eats bird, elderly man is heartbroken and furious. Just another insanely pointless addition. This later comes back up when Evan and Gen run into the elderly man while on the boardwalk, and he chases them into a clown house. Which again, leads to nothing and adds nothing to the story.
5. Skip all of Chapter 19. Doesn’t add anything to the story and is just an overwhelmingly boring recap of a pokers night.
6. Genevieve is such a downer, really an unlovable character. She is constantly droning on about how she needs to stay away from Evan and be with someone different, but the second she finds a completely different and genuine good guy, all she can do is insult and make fun of him to herself. “The kind of guy I’d be making fun of…one of the yuppie tools… he’s far too nice..” Everything about Harrison, from his dad humor to his khaki pants, puts her off. She goes on about how nice he is, happy and optimistic, but how it only makes her feel more bitter and empty. There’s seriously something wrong with her. I get just not feeling attraction, but it’s like she craves sharp edges, and couldn’t stand to be with a kind, gentle man who’d treat her properly. She entertains Evan right in front of her date many times, allowing him to barge in and interrupt them again and again, simply because it excites her to see her ex jealous. She admits to herself that she has no attraction to Harrison, but “..there’s no harm in giving this a shot and letting him grow on me.” Yeah, no harm in leading the nice guy on and trying to force a relationship that clearly won’t work, just to get back at your ex.
7. Just the overall toxicity of Gen and Evan. Misery loves company. They both fully see how destructive and chaotic they are together, yet they both continue treating it like some sort of game. It’s pathetic and gets old quickly. Predictability isn’t a good trait in a book.
8. When Evan finally gets the courage to be a man and leave Gen alone for good, it’s at the worst time possible, right after she’s released from jail. He should’ve broken up with her forever ago, but no, he decides in her weak moment, “now’s the time!” And then literally the next day Gen PROPOSES TO HIM. With a blow pop. What am I even reading at this point.
I’m glad it’s over. Again, it’s an easy book to get through and an alright read. I just got stuck on the stupid little things, which matter to me. Do not recommend simply for those bits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
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