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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
I read Archers Voice and absolutely loved it, so I was excited to try another Mia Sheridan book. But I seem to be on a streak of 3⭐️ reads at the moment. Sadly I didn’t connect with the characters, and the characters love story didn’t have me hooked at all. The twists were confusing and left me having to re listen to see if I’d heard it right. The idea of this book is very good and I enjoyed it but I just don’t think it was executed very well. While this book wasn’t for me, it might be for you.
This romance deals with the heavy topic of mental illness and falling in love. While both characters suffered from the same disorder, I just didn't feel like it was handled with as much sensitivity as it could have at times.
The plot got very messy, the characters even messier. And frankly, by the end of it I just didn't think they were good for each other.
The plot got very messy, the characters even messier. And frankly, by the end of it I just didn't think they were good for each other.
I have everything and nothing to say about this book. I just don’t. I’ve never read anything like this and have a feeling I never will again.
This book left me with SO many questions. I was so confused during the second half of the book, thought all my questions would be answered once I got to the end but only ended up with more questions and no answers!! Still 4 stars though, because I'm addicted to Mia's writing.
(Off to join a spoiler group for this book, hoping for some answers)
(Off to join a spoiler group for this book, hoping for some answers)
It is...difficult to rate this book. 2 stars? 3 stars? How does one rate a book they loved for its beautiful writing, and yet left them confused and irritated?
This is unlike anything Mia Sheridan has ever written before (and since then). Having read a majority of Sheridan's books, I was surprised she would ever try her hand at something like...this. Did it work? No. Was it a beautiful piece of literature? Yes, as always when it comes to her novels.
And yet, I didn't connect with it. I didn't connect with the love story nor the main characters, even though I deeply wanted to and would have loved them in different circumstances. I believe why myself and others had a hard time connecting is because you *know* going into this book things are off. You know there's going to be twists and turns relating to the characters, theorizing the whole way. And if you're not even sure if they're real or not? Yeah, I think that's why.
But then the last twist and ending. As another reviewer stated, nothing ever came full circle. It felt like a waste of time. It's very similar to what happened in J.T. Geissinger's Perfect Strangers, and other books that follow this formula. You run the risk of thinking you've wasted your time reading works like these, because you invest in the story and the characters only to have the rug pulled out from under you and everything you invested in thus far turning out to be a lie. From finding out it was only a dream, or mental illness, etc...twists like these have to be handled delicately lest the audience feel cheated and like their time was wasted.
And I felt like my time was wasted. If you're going to do this, execute it WELL. Have things explained and come full circle. Sheridan didn't do this. Nothing was explained at the end. So, they're both two escapees from a mental institution? How did they find each other? (We're given a hint but not enough) How do they survive with absolutely no resources? In the woods? Food? Clothing? How has pregnancy not happened?
So...they are both extremely mentally ill, and constantly dream up stories and new lives and worlds where they meet again and again? Is this even romance? A HEA? I wouldn't call this a HEA. Both of them are doomed to extreme mental illness where they can't *truly* be together, instead caught up in a fantasy land for the rest of their days...even though Sheridan tries to romanticize this (which...uh...I have issues with). I'm left feeling heartbroken for them as well...fated to repeat over and over.
I genuinely would say this book does not have a HEA, and for others to prepare for that.
I would also say this book at times definitely does tend to romanticize mental illness, especially from a romance standpoint. Going into specifics would cause this review to balloon even further, and I'm honestly already irritated enough. There were some passages, however, that I did really connect with (being very mentally ill myself).
I feel cheated of the romance and HEA that I thought I was going to get. But I also feel haunted by this book in a way that I cannot explain. It's a MESS, and yet I liked it. I feel like my time was wasted and feel cheated, and heartbroken...and yet I'll re-read it.
So in a way, I guess Mia Sheridan did do it again.
This is unlike anything Mia Sheridan has ever written before (and since then). Having read a majority of Sheridan's books, I was surprised she would ever try her hand at something like...this. Did it work? No. Was it a beautiful piece of literature? Yes, as always when it comes to her novels.
And yet, I didn't connect with it. I didn't connect with the love story nor the main characters, even though I deeply wanted to and would have loved them in different circumstances. I believe why myself and others had a hard time connecting is because you *know* going into this book things are off. You know there's going to be twists and turns relating to the characters, theorizing the whole way. And if you're not even sure if they're real or not? Yeah, I think that's why.
Spoiler
The ending is an entire mess. With the first twist relating to Holden/Ryan, I had already figured that out. It's actually very obvious if you pay attention to the clues Sheridan leaves us. I was on board for it! Alright, that's a twist but okay. Then we learn more about Lily and how she's mentally ill as well. Okay, I'm on board with that, as someone also very mentally ill. I got it.But then the last twist and ending. As another reviewer stated, nothing ever came full circle. It felt like a waste of time. It's very similar to what happened in J.T. Geissinger's Perfect Strangers, and other books that follow this formula. You run the risk of thinking you've wasted your time reading works like these, because you invest in the story and the characters only to have the rug pulled out from under you and everything you invested in thus far turning out to be a lie. From finding out it was only a dream, or mental illness, etc...twists like these have to be handled delicately lest the audience feel cheated and like their time was wasted.
And I felt like my time was wasted. If you're going to do this, execute it WELL. Have things explained and come full circle. Sheridan didn't do this. Nothing was explained at the end. So, they're both two escapees from a mental institution? How did they find each other? (We're given a hint but not enough) How do they survive with absolutely no resources? In the woods? Food? Clothing? How has pregnancy not happened?
So...they are both extremely mentally ill, and constantly dream up stories and new lives and worlds where they meet again and again? Is this even romance? A HEA? I wouldn't call this a HEA. Both of them are doomed to extreme mental illness where they can't *truly* be together, instead caught up in a fantasy land for the rest of their days...even though Sheridan tries to romanticize this (which...uh...I have issues with). I'm left feeling heartbroken for them as well...fated to repeat over and over.
I genuinely would say this book does not have a HEA, and for others to prepare for that.
I would also say this book at times definitely does tend to romanticize mental illness, especially from a romance standpoint. Going into specifics would cause this review to balloon even further, and I'm honestly already irritated enough. There were some passages, however, that I did really connect with (being very mentally ill myself).
I feel cheated of the romance and HEA that I thought I was going to get. But I also feel haunted by this book in a way that I cannot explain. It's a MESS, and yet I liked it. I feel like my time was wasted and feel cheated, and heartbroken...and yet I'll re-read it.
So in a way, I guess Mia Sheridan did do it again.
mysterious
slow-paced
I’m both confused and underwhelmed. The story felt a little sloppy and definitely lack luster. I wasn’t convinced why these two people love each other. I feel like the story should have stayed in the forest, even though I didn’t like it much even then, either.
I still adore this author, though! This one was just a miss for me.
I still adore this author, though! This one was just a miss for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness
emotional
mysterious
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I found this one hard to get into and confusing. I love Mia though!!
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i read mia sheridan books before... ramsay, grayson's vow. i love them. but midnight lily left me feeling sleepy. when the story took place in the forest, i wish the story ends there. never let it out from the forest.
the writing lack of luster as if the author runs out of idea. the plot is typical of mia sheridan. but the characters does not earn any sympathatic from me. Especially lily.
i still can relate to holden at the beginning. but at the middle of the book, i feel like i want to tost them both in the jungle and left them 'find' each other and kill each other.
the writing lack of luster as if the author runs out of idea. the plot is typical of mia sheridan. but the characters does not earn any sympathatic from me. Especially lily.
i still can relate to holden at the beginning. but at the middle of the book, i feel like i want to tost them both in the jungle and left them 'find' each other and kill each other.