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staceysouldancer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Blood, and Addiction
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death
libellumartinae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
alright, I'd like to say that this book is utterly fantastic.
I had been eager to start it and read it as it seemed quite an interesting and lovable readout it is much more, as it depicts many tough elements without being too heavy and although the relationships between the characters is tense and definitely darker at times as it held so many secrets and individual - and shared - trauma, it never seems like a tale of desperation. it's an hopeful outright out of life and starting again. probably one fo the best second chances romance - and romance - of the year and that I have ever read, also because there was the employment of the 'I am not enough' theme but in a way that wasn't stereotypical and neither annoying.
the sole thing I'd have liked to be done better is the ending as in some parts it felt too rushed. I also admit that it is a personal preference but I learned I much prefer finals in which they don't end up halfway through but with an epilogue. still, at parts, it seemed too fast to me and I'd like for it to be longer (if anything to stay with them a bit longer).
love yah!
I had been eager to start it and read it as it seemed quite an interesting and lovable readout it is much more, as it depicts many tough elements without being too heavy and although the relationships between the characters is tense and definitely darker at times as it held so many secrets and individual - and shared - trauma, it never seems like a tale of desperation. it's an hopeful outright out of life and starting again. probably one fo the best second chances romance - and romance - of the year and that I have ever read, also because there was the employment of the 'I am not enough' theme but in a way that wasn't stereotypical and neither annoying.
the sole thing I'd have liked to be done better is the ending as in some parts it felt too rushed. I also admit that it is a personal preference but I learned I much prefer finals in which they don't end up halfway through but with an epilogue. still, at parts, it seemed too fast to me and I'd like for it to be longer (if anything to stay with them a bit longer).
love yah!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt
haybald's review against another edition
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Death, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Drug use, and Cursing
dwinn5's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Wow. I can’t believe this is only my second book of the year and I already have a 5 star-er.
This book had me in knots- I didn’t want to put it down until it was done, and even then I was in a bit of denial. There were moments of dialogue in this book that felt like pure genius. It had me giggling and kicking my feet one second and clutching my chest the next. Williams covered so many great topics in this book: family connections and history, race in the publishing industry, overcoming trauma, figuring out what we want from life and what we deserve- I could go on and on. The way that she weaved them into the character’s lives felt so seamless. All of the characters were a great addition to the story, but Audre and Shane were something special to me. I’ll be thinking about them for a long time.
And of course, the love story. All reading is subjective, but I feel like books with romance can be especially hard to rate because of how personal they often are. In a good romance book, the actual connection/romantic relationship almost acts as its own character in the story- an “x factor” that you either connect with or you don’t, and this one gutted me.
My only complaint was that at some points in the book, she would alternate between multiple points of view without a formal change, which occasionally took me out of the story/the emotions the character was feeling because it switched the focus.
Fantastic, amazing, heartbreaking. I’ll be coming back to this one for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Suicide attempt
rickireadss's review against another edition
3.0
i went into this one with such high hopes, and i honestly think that was what ruined it for me. i loved the chronic migraines rep. i somewhat tolerated the fact that both mcs were writers - i feel like this is hit or miss with me, but usually a miss. i did not check the CW before reading, and that was definitely my bad, but most of the reviews i had seen on tiktok or insta hadn't mentioned it being a "heavy" book -- this one most defintitely was, and it was much heavier than i could have anticipated. i ended up soft-DNFing this like 50% in and left in untouched for almost a month, but i pushed through hoping it would magically get better (spoiler alert: it did not) this was just not my favorite, and one of my disappointments of the year.
⚠️: self harm, drug abuse, alcoholism, drug use, addiction, chronic illness, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, suicidal attempt, abandonment, gun violence, death, grief, injury/injury detail, child abuse, child death, violence, sexual assault, toxic relationship, blood, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, racism, medical content, car accident, medical trauma, death of parent, domestic abuse, physical abuse, bullying, panic attacks/disorders, murder, forced institutionalization, pedophilia, vomit, ableism, sexism, adult/minor relationship
⚠️: self harm, drug abuse, alcoholism, drug use, addiction, chronic illness, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, suicidal attempt, abandonment, gun violence, death, grief, injury/injury detail, child abuse, child death, violence, sexual assault, toxic relationship, blood, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, racism, medical content, car accident, medical trauma, death of parent, domestic abuse, physical abuse, bullying, panic attacks/disorders, murder, forced institutionalization, pedophilia, vomit, ableism, sexism, adult/minor relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Self harm, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Sexual harassment, Blood, Mental illness, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Racism, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
nicole_defran's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’m not sure where to start. I feel a little overwhelmed honestly. I feel like I thought it was a romcom based on the blurb and quotes on the cover but after finishing it there was romance but it definitely isn’t a romcom. I probably should have read the content warnings but I never have before and while romance can include some more serious topics not to this level. I think it will stick with me for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Self harm
Moderate: Car accident, Blood, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
celery09's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
A funny, emotional, fast paced story that really delves deep into characterization. I immediately fell in love with the blunt honesty of Eva (excuse me, John-vee-EV) and how she was connected and how she interacted with the people around her. I also loved Shane and his inner conflict. The romance was sweet, fiery, and broken from the beginning. Right person, wrong time type story.
There were some gaps in the plot though. I feel like Eva’s motherhood was only used to further the story instead of develop her character, as it only came up in the story when it was convenient to push a conflict or further the attraction between Shane and Eva. Otherwise, Audre gets sent off, doing her own thing and being labeled as independent. (I liked Audre’s character, very relatable, I just wanted to see more of them together as a separate entity from the romance or the conflict.)
The trauma between both main characters also was large, and deep. I felt like the book needed to be longer, to feel really connected about how both of these people are affected by the unique tragedies they both faced. And the ending felt slightly forced, as maybe they should’ve waited a little longer without me saying too much.
Beautiful message, though. Great voices about racism and expecting all Black characters so center around some sort of trauma. And well thought out criticisms about the book industry and entertainment industry as a whole about what it means to be a Black creator. And the romance, again, was very well written. I would recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Alcohol, Grief, Blood, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Drug use
estherk809's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Self harm, Chronic illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence
I appreciated how the author mentioned her inspiration was Romeo + Juliet (the DiCaprio and Claire Danes version of course) for a whirlwind romance, but she completely made it her own - a forthcoming and real story. A solid rollercoaster book to end the year with :)ingrid6's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I both liked and hated this book.
I stayed up the entire night to finish it because it had me so on edge for some reason. It wasn’t like a “oh my god I love this I’m dying to find out how it ends” and more of an “if I don’t finish I won’t sleep because it’s causing me serious anxiety”.
I loved the plot of two authors writing to each other in their books. The moment the characters address the plot had me kicking my feet lol.
I really liked most of the side characters.
I hated the emotional rollercoaster this book took me on. It felt like even during the highs, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. As a normally cheesy romance reader- this one was tough.
I did not love (even though it didn’t happen many times) the switch between past and present. I’m never a huge fan of this.
I felt like certain character arcs weren’t necessary and just there to hurt.
I felt very seen with the migraines. A stupid stupid nitpicky thing I disliked was the mini speech about invisible disabilities at the book awards. I can’t imagine getting all that out during a migraine attack. “I have migraines they’re debilitating.” could have summed it up.
This book kinda broke my heart but didn’t put me back together at the end.
Read the content warnings before you pick up!!!
I stayed up the entire night to finish it because it had me so on edge for some reason. It wasn’t like a “oh my god I love this I’m dying to find out how it ends” and more of an “if I don’t finish I won’t sleep because it’s causing me serious anxiety”.
I loved the plot of two authors writing to each other in their books. The moment the characters address the plot had me kicking my feet lol.
I really liked most of the side characters.
I hated the emotional rollercoaster this book took me on. It felt like even during the highs, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. As a normally cheesy romance reader- this one was tough.
I did not love (even though it didn’t happen many times) the switch between past and present. I’m never a huge fan of this.
I felt like certain character arcs weren’t necessary and just there to hurt.
This book kinda broke my heart but didn’t put me back together at the end.
Read the content warnings before you pick up!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, and Sexual harassment
beezinda's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a gorgeous contemporary romance novel. This is a Love Story.
I love the characters and this story unfold and I really like the exploration of what it means to deserve love. The pacing is perfect, the writing is mature, and the story is romantic and heartwarming.
The book does have some darker/heavier content like addiction, self-harm, and childhood neglect, but never turns into black trauma - it doesnt revel in these issues. Rather these issues are used to help us understand our characters and who they were in their darkest moments. It's masterfully done, because I check-out immediately at any sign of trauma pork, but at no moment did I want to put this novel down.
I love the characters and this story unfold and I really like the exploration of what it means to deserve love. The pacing is perfect, the writing is mature, and the story is romantic and heartwarming.
The book does have some darker/heavier content like addiction, self-harm, and childhood neglect, but never turns into black trauma - it doesnt revel in these issues. Rather these issues are used to help us understand our characters and who they were in their darkest moments. It's masterfully done, because I check-out immediately at any sign of trauma pork, but at no moment did I want to put this novel down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Chronic illness, Drug use, and Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Abandonment, and Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident, Child abuse, and Suicide attempt