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kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Cursing, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Cancer, Alcohol, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content
shannahtan's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book heavily centers friendship like the first one, which I absolutely love. Soledad leans on Yasmen and Hendrix when her husband 🚮, Edward, gets arrested for embezzlement. Hendrix even gives her $10,000 to help pay for Sol’s kids’ tuitions. She also is supported by her two sisters, Lola and Nayeli. They’re not in the same state and busy with their life things (moving to Austin to start a bookstore; 6 kids). Lola comes to visit and meets Hendrix, which is also a beautiful scene.
I only recently learned what a cinnamon roll hero is, and I’m pretty sure Judah Cross is that. The most supportive dad to Aaron and Adam who are autistic. He falls first & is absolutely in love with Sol. He supports her “dating herself” goal. Plenty of spicy scenes.
There were definitely cheesy parts. I didn’t drop a star because I think it’s fair to wax poetic when you were married, your partner embezzled from their company without you knowing, they also cheated on you, had a baby with that person, and went to prison. To find love and to trust someone after that is a big thing. She also had to start her own business as a content creator to support her 3 children.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Physical abuse
rachellbc's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The first half or so was really good but slow. I feel there isn’t enough relationship building to Judah & Soledad’s relationship. Judah seems to just be sexually obsessed with her and it’s weird he masturbates to thoughts of her after basically just meeting. Some parts where there could’ve been a meaningful convo between the two, his character seems to just dive into sex with her. I don’t know how many times I had to read him describe her curves, her curls, and her jasmine scent. I liked the inclusion of autism, stay at home dad, and influencer career. But I can’t help but feel their relationship was based off of just sex and the whole wishy washy FWB trope. I hated how he legit knew everything about her and she wasn’t ever creeped out, just made jokes about him stalking her *tehe so funny you show up around and know my schedule and watch all my content*!!! I don’t know- maybe just too much spice for me and not enough romance substance. ALSO something grossed me out was her not wearing underwear in HER DAUGHTERS SWEATPANTS before having sex!!! I’m a germaphobe so if I were that daughter and I somehow knew, you can keep those pants mama. Overall, not a terrible book but I just expected more and could’ve done with a whole lot less of the repetitive “I’m an independent girl boss” and spice themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Body shaming, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Terminal illness and Stalking
Prison, divorce, kids away from father.rdebner's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gaslighting and Misogyny
author2223's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body shaming and Racism
Minor: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
bookfulthoughts's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
✨Inspirational and full of love✨🩵
“When are we ever done working on ourselves? I believe wholeness is not a destination, but a lifetime process. Something that instead of waiting for, you could be living for.”
I loved Soledad and Judah’s story! This book had me through the wringer with emotions. I was all over the place at the beginning of the book I got whiplash! The plot with Edward and Soledad had me sitting on the edge of my seat! It grounded me to my spot and I was flying through pages. The complexity of all of the characters and their families ran DEEP in this book. I have so much appreciation for the way Ms. Kennedy can write well-rounded characters. Soledad’s journey of self-love was a beautiful thing to read about. The way she was expressing her wants and concerns and proactively making choices to move in the direction of growth was admirable. Her fealty to her family and determination to hustle and make things happen had me cheering on from the sidelines. This book wasn’t just about the typical romance between partners; it was about the love and affection one can have with themselves. The ever-lasting love you cherish with your tribe of friends.
Judah is a beautiful soul who cherished people whom he held dear, who loved hard and unconditionally, and who feels with every fiber of his being unwavering. The relationship shown with his sons was so breathtakingly beautiful. I’m so happy that Soledad got someone like Judah and vice versa. The only reason I took off points was for the plain fact that I wanted to see the aftermath of Edward leaving prison. The mess of it all was just so good in the beginning that I just wanted a juicy ending as well. I’m not going to lie I did feel slightly disappointed for this reason. I believe that would put this book on top. I loved it either way and I can’t WAIT for Hendrix's book 🩵.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Death, Stalking, Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Racism
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
mrsmishler's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Cancer
auteaandtales's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5
I didn’t know this before going into it but, as soon as I found out this was going to feature a parent with autistic children written by someone who (I assume, from the note at the beginning of the book) is not autistic, I got very nervous. I’ve had so many bad, hurtful experiences before and I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. Thankfully, it went well! I thought it was handled with care, love, respect and kindness. I was especially nervous about the treatment of Aaron, a high support needs autistic, but he was written very well and treated with so much support and love by the people around him. I think it also helped that there were three autistic people in this group, all very different from one another, and with varying support needs. It helped broadcast the diversity of autistic people. I also loved seeing Black autistic people in books!
There was a whole lot more to love about this book, too. Not Edward, though, my anger towards him only rose as the book went on. I loved this even more than the first book, as I loved that we got to see more of a connection between the two love interests. I especially loved that it was more about a romantic and emotional connection, and their communication between each other was great (there’s nothing that annoys me more in a romance novel than when we are reading about two grown adults who don’t tell each other anything!!)
The kids, too, I loved all five of them! Even though she was being a pain, I really felt for Inez, especially. It must be very challenging to have all of that going on, it wasn’t a surprise to me that she would act out as a result of that, but I loved the way Soledad didn’t love her any less and helped her through it, even though that must have been so difficult for Soledad too. Very wholesome and realistic, I thought.
The friendship group I loved too!
The thing I didn’t like was that, even though Soledad and Judah had known each other for a while, I feel like we didn’t really see that, it felt like it jumped a bit in the middle and I’d have liked to see them get to know each other more and connect. i did still feel their connection, though. They worked great together.
I also thought there were some minor pacing issues, some things went too slowly for me and too things went too quickly and were wrapped up with too fast or not explored enough at all.
Otherwise, I loved this. It was a really great book.
There was a whole lot more to love about this book, too. Not Edward, though, my anger towards him only rose as the book went on. I loved this even more than the first book, as I loved that we got to see more of a connection between the two love interests. I especially loved that it was more about a romantic and emotional connection, and their communication between each other was great (there’s nothing that annoys me more in a romance novel than when we are reading about two grown adults who don’t tell each other anything!!)
The kids, too, I loved all five of them! Even though she was being a pain, I really felt for Inez, especially. It must be very challenging to have all of that going on, it wasn’t a surprise to me that she would act out as a result of that, but I loved the way Soledad didn’t love her any less and helped her through it, even though that must have been so difficult for Soledad too. Very wholesome and realistic, I thought.
The friendship group I loved too!
The thing I didn’t like was that, even though Soledad and Judah had known each other for a while, I feel like we didn’t really see that, it felt like it jumped a bit in the middle and I’d have liked to see them get to know each other more and connect. i did still feel their connection, though. They worked great together.
I also thought there were some minor pacing issues, some things went too slowly for me and too things went too quickly and were wrapped up with too fast or not explored enough at all.
Otherwise, I loved this. It was a really great book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Minor: Ableism and Death of parent
spellbindingtomes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Dementia