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dianaschmidty's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-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
3.5
I really liked the romance. The moments between just Eli and Leah gave me butterflies and had the perfect build up before their tension finally broke! I loved their friendship and watching it grow into more was cute. I also liked how Eli learned the difference between his feelings for Victoria and his feelings for Leah. I also enjoyed the addition of Leah’s history in the foster system, something that is not often featured in romance books.
Everything else about the book was a little lackluster. I liked the friends and I liked the possible continuation of a series for Delia and Gray, but the friends were a little too much sometimes, especially Jenna. I think that they meant well with the “makeover,” but that it went too far to the point of decreasing my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Jayne Denker for providing me access to this book.
Everything else about the book was a little lackluster. I liked the friends and I liked the possible continuation of a series for Delia and Gray, but the friends were a little too much sometimes, especially Jenna. I think that they meant well with the “makeover,” but that it went too far to the point of decreasing my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Jayne Denker for providing me access to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Abandonment, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
hrtlss_grl's review
emotional
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
Very cute fade to black romance with diverse characters and a plot straight out of a rom-com movie. A nod to all the greats. :) Narrator was a little slow, but otherwise great at making characters stand out from each other._bookstamandy_'s review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
orangesyellows's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer
samchase112's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A short, sweet, heartwarming rom-com about finding your family. This one definitely grew on me — I was put off by the juvenile writing at first, but Leah’s journey really drew me in by the end, especially helped along by adorable Eli and the supportive circle of friends she finds. As everyone mentions, Eli’s infatuation/fixation on Victoria lasts completely too long for the situation, but honestly it’s not even a huge deal because I think the author explained it away fairly well. I was much more interested in Leah coming to terms with her new community, struggles with accepting support, and dealing with the grief she feels after losing her foster mother. Anyway...this one was cute, if largely forgettable outside of Leah’s character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
simpleexplorations's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
thisboricuareader's review
I want to start off by saying I really did with this books. Every time something happened that made me uncomfortable I tried to just push through cause I liked the premise of the books and loved the romcom references but I just couldn't read anymore. I DNFed at 42%.
First, I want to start off by saying that I don't know how I am supposed to like Eli after what he pulled in chapter 1. Proposing to a girl after only dating 4 months because she's leaving, and sure I sound a little bit like a hypocrite cause I am a fan of instalove. But Victoria's reaction to his proposal should've give him enough information that she was not interested in him.
Second, I was listening to the audiobook, to clarify English is not my first language, both names of the main characters were confusing. Eli and Leah in this narrators voice sound similar in some moments and I confused some things Eli said with Leah... and don't get me started when Eli thought Leah and Leia are the same thing.
Third, this book has a lot of pop culture references, if this is not your cup of tea, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK... I got at least 4 or 5 Harry Potter references.
Now to the reason why I did not finish this book:
Eli is still in love or interest in Victoria at least 40% of this book. The reason why I couldn't continue is because (spoilers ahead)Leah has feelings for the man, and his friends think it's a great idea to use her as a study date for Eli. LEAH IS A PRACTICE DATE FOR ELI. HE IS PRACTICING DATES FOR ANOTHER WOMAN. Not just that, but Leah is getting paid to be a practice. date. for. Eli. She is not a call girl guys. Made me very uncomfortable how they forced Leah into spending time with Eli in some moments, like when he is out with his sister and they run into Leah and the. sister pushes for Eli to ask Leah to join then for dinner. Then the next day (or a few days afterwards) Eli's sister pays a woman to snow plow Leah's driveway. Like it very much felt like Eli's friend's and family are pushing them to be together while Eli is still head over heals in love with someone else.
Another thing I didn't like, personally to me it felt like everyone pity Leah cause she is an orphan. It made uncomfortable. I don't think any of the characters are likable.
Like I said, I like the concept and I am not a fan of the execution.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc and audiobook arc of this book.
First, I want to start off by saying that I don't know how I am supposed to like Eli after what he pulled in chapter 1. Proposing to a girl after only dating 4 months because she's leaving, and sure I sound a little bit like a hypocrite cause I am a fan of instalove. But Victoria's reaction to his proposal should've give him enough information that she was not interested in him.
Second, I was listening to the audiobook, to clarify English is not my first language, both names of the main characters were confusing. Eli and Leah in this narrators voice sound similar in some moments and I confused some things Eli said with Leah... and don't get me started when Eli thought Leah and Leia are the same thing.
Third, this book has a lot of pop culture references, if this is not your cup of tea, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK... I got at least 4 or 5 Harry Potter references.
Now to the reason why I did not finish this book:
Eli is still in love or interest in Victoria at least 40% of this book. The reason why I couldn't continue is because (spoilers ahead)
Another thing I didn't like, personally to me it felt like everyone pity Leah cause she is an orphan. It made uncomfortable. I don't think any of the characters are likable.
Like I said, I like the concept and I am not a fan of the execution.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc and audiobook arc of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
amengels's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Cancer, Cursing, and Death of parent
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