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direadsomebooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
meggie82461's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
So of course, just when I've almost got her out of my system, she's back. A fresh, unfiltered shot straight into my bloodstream when I was damn near clean. Now all I taste are her lips. I feel her nails down my back every night while I'm lying in bed. I wake up hearing her voice.
So.... I liked this. I did not love it, and to be honest with you, I can see why a lot of people would not love it either. Genevieve and Evan did have a toxic relationship in the past- jealousy, partying, picking fights for fun- and if either of them were my friends IRL, then I would probably gently say that it would be best for them both if they moved on cold turkey. That being said, toxic relationships in romance are not a dealbreaker for most readers, whether or not those readers are ready to admit that to themselves. I mean, come the fuck on: Edward Cullen and Christian Grey were not, you know, well-adjusted. And now, on to the most important disclaimer: I myself am a reformed bad girl. I have not had a drink in eleven years. I have not done drugs (marijuana excluded, obvs) in eleven years. I even had THREE C-sections with ibuprofen as my only pain management. So I know better than anyone that people can change, and I love stories that can realistically show how it happens.
I will start with the things I liked. I did like the setting, the sense of community with all the "townies" in a seaside town that also has a sizable college population. I have been on all sides of that equation: the tourist, the townie, and the college student, and I feel like the details were pretty accurate. Now, did these teenagers party hard? For SURE. So did I, as I mentioned earlier. But if you are one of those people that think "no teenager does this kind of shit," than I can tell you (one) they absolutely do because (two) I absolutely did. So it was nice to actually see myself in these heathen youths for once, instead of some girl in a sundress that caught the eye of a boy in the public library. Also, I appreciated that Genevieve didn't have an awesome relationship with her dead mom, for complicated reasons that surprised me once I got to that point. When it comes to parenting, there is a lot of space between "horrible" and "amazing." It was nice to get to unpack some of the nuance that can exist there, the grey area, which let's be honest... the romance genre as a whole isn't great with the grey area. Which leads me to the final thing that I liked: I love second chances in life and in relationships. I fully believe people can change, because I am living proof. For once, it was nice to have that hopeful tinge to a story, where sure, there were hiccups, but a person trying to change succeeds simply because they want to, and that's enough. No horrible trauma or anything like that; just growing up.
Now, to what I did not necessarily love. I never felt like I fully knew Genevieve or Evan. The story made a big deal about them dropping their bad habits but keeping who they fundamentally were as people the same, which is a great message and one I fully support... but I still never quite understood who they actually were. The words kept telling me how tough and wild they were in the past and still could be in the present, but I never actually saw it. Also, there were just too many characters. Between the siblings, friends, and family members, I was getting super confused who everyone was. I don't read this genre to have to make a character map; I am not trying to put that much effort into anything that isn't my job, my kids, or my marriage. It just seemed like the author was trying really hard to make me interested in a lot of side characters, probably for a new series or another book in this one. And I get that - it is her job. I love interconnected standalones, but sometimes, less is more when it comes to making the reader interested.
So, if you are also into second chances in life and in relationships like I am, I would give this one a shot. It won't change your life, but it's enjoyable to read.
What I figured out a long time ago is there's nothing that bleaches thoughts of Genevieve out of my head. She's woven into the fabric. I can't rip her out without tearing myself apart.
For as long as I can remember, I've been a goner for this girl. Turning myself inside out to keep her attention. Always terrified that one day she'd realize I was a loser who wasn't worth her time, figure out she's always had the option to do better.
There's got to be a way to do both. Straighten out my more destructive tendencies without lobotomizing myself. Somewhere in the world are respectable, functioning adults who've staved off blandness.
"We've all got a past. How can anyone grow if we only them be who they were yesterday, right?"
So of course, just when I've almost got her out of my system, she's back. A fresh, unfiltered shot straight into my bloodstream when I was damn near clean. Now all I taste are her lips. I feel her nails down my back every night while I'm lying in bed. I wake up hearing her voice.
So.... I liked this. I did not love it, and to be honest with you, I can see why a lot of people would not love it either. Genevieve and Evan did have a toxic relationship in the past- jealousy, partying, picking fights for fun- and if either of them were my friends IRL, then I would probably gently say that it would be best for them both if they moved on cold turkey. That being said, toxic relationships in romance are not a dealbreaker for most readers, whether or not those readers are ready to admit that to themselves. I mean, come the fuck on: Edward Cullen and Christian Grey were not, you know, well-adjusted. And now, on to the most important disclaimer: I myself am a reformed bad girl. I have not had a drink in eleven years. I have not done drugs (marijuana excluded, obvs) in eleven years. I even had THREE C-sections with ibuprofen as my only pain management. So I know better than anyone that people can change, and I love stories that can realistically show how it happens.
I will start with the things I liked. I did like the setting, the sense of community with all the "townies" in a seaside town that also has a sizable college population. I have been on all sides of that equation: the tourist, the townie, and the college student, and I feel like the details were pretty accurate. Now, did these teenagers party hard? For SURE. So did I, as I mentioned earlier. But if you are one of those people that think "no teenager does this kind of shit," than I can tell you (one) they absolutely do because (two) I absolutely did. So it was nice to actually see myself in these heathen youths for once, instead of some girl in a sundress that caught the eye of a boy in the public library. Also, I appreciated that Genevieve didn't have an awesome relationship with her dead mom, for complicated reasons that surprised me once I got to that point. When it comes to parenting, there is a lot of space between "horrible" and "amazing." It was nice to get to unpack some of the nuance that can exist there, the grey area, which let's be honest... the romance genre as a whole isn't great with the grey area. Which leads me to the final thing that I liked: I love second chances in life and in relationships. I fully believe people can change, because I am living proof. For once, it was nice to have that hopeful tinge to a story, where sure, there were hiccups, but a person trying to change succeeds simply because they want to, and that's enough. No horrible trauma or anything like that; just growing up.
Now, to what I did not necessarily love. I never felt like I fully knew Genevieve or Evan. The story made a big deal about them dropping their bad habits but keeping who they fundamentally were as people the same, which is a great message and one I fully support... but I still never quite understood who they actually were. The words kept telling me how tough and wild they were in the past and still could be in the present, but I never actually saw it. Also, there were just too many characters. Between the siblings, friends, and family members, I was getting super confused who everyone was. I don't read this genre to have to make a character map; I am not trying to put that much effort into anything that isn't my job, my kids, or my marriage. It just seemed like the author was trying really hard to make me interested in a lot of side characters, probably for a new series or another book in this one. And I get that - it is her job. I love interconnected standalones, but sometimes, less is more when it comes to making the reader interested.
So, if you are also into second chances in life and in relationships like I am, I would give this one a shot. It won't change your life, but it's enjoyable to read.
What I figured out a long time ago is there's nothing that bleaches thoughts of Genevieve out of my head. She's woven into the fabric. I can't rip her out without tearing myself apart.
For as long as I can remember, I've been a goner for this girl. Turning myself inside out to keep her attention. Always terrified that one day she'd realize I was a loser who wasn't worth her time, figure out she's always had the option to do better.
There's got to be a way to do both. Straighten out my more destructive tendencies without lobotomizing myself. Somewhere in the world are respectable, functioning adults who've staved off blandness.
"We've all got a past. How can anyone grow if we only them be who they were yesterday, right?"
ruth_beckingham's review
4.0
What a lovely book to just be able to switch off and ignore the world for a while. Completely drawn in and forgot real life exists. Beautiful book, beautiful story
ashleighyoung's review
4.0
8/10 - so this was good, i just didn’t love gen & evan, and also the middle of the book got real boring for me, but it’s still a cute story of growth & falling back in love, however, the growth aspect got to be obnoxious at times, like i didn’t need that banter, and it was also one where you really never knew if the two would end up together in the end, which don’t love that for a rom com, like you crave that happy ending you know? anyways good girl complex >> bad girl reputation (also as i typed girl my phone autocorrected to girly :)
ugliestt's review against another edition
4.0
SPOILERS!!!
Only 4 stars bc i LOVED this book but a break up at 90%??? Be fr girl
Only 4 stars bc i LOVED this book but a break up at 90%??? Be fr girl
elisedavis's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
kayleealine's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really like her writing but she just rushes her books so bad. Like extend the ending a little and the book would have more stars but the abrupt endings with the climax of the book being in the last 100 pages is just not doing it for me.
ginareadspararom's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kermione15's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amg_reads's review
3.0
This one was definitely my least favorite one in the series.
I had to push myself to continue, I did start to enjoy it past the 60% mark.
I just didn’t really like Genevieve. She kept preaching of how she was different and grown up. Yet she couldn’t have a conversation with Evan? From the beginning explain why she left and why she didn’t think they would work.
Then she is basically stringing him and Harrison along. She keeps dating Harrison, even though she feels nothing for him. She keeps dismissing Evans feelings. Yet when Evan is done, she’s baffled.
I honestly just wanted Evan to get himself together, and find someone who actually deserved him.
They kept talking about all this chemistry and raw passion, yet I felt nothing. Their whole relationship was them reminiscing of old times, Pushing each other away and being jealous. The relationship was so flat to me.
I had to push myself to continue, I did start to enjoy it past the 60% mark.
I just didn’t really like Genevieve. She kept preaching of how she was different and grown up. Yet she couldn’t have a conversation with Evan? From the beginning explain why she left and why she didn’t think they would work.
Then she is basically stringing him and Harrison along. She keeps dating Harrison, even though she feels nothing for him. She keeps dismissing Evans feelings. Yet when Evan is done, she’s baffled.
I honestly just wanted Evan to get himself together, and find someone who actually deserved him.
They kept talking about all this chemistry and raw passion, yet I felt nothing. Their whole relationship was them reminiscing of old times, Pushing each other away and being jealous. The relationship was so flat to me.