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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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:
Complicated
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook
Not going to lie, not sure if I'd have finished this if it wasn't on audiobook and I couldn't play it in the background. The main characters were both annoying, and the multi chapter sex scenes were a lot. While I loved the bi late 20s representation, both of her exes being shook to their core she started dating someone the opposite gender after the breakup is TRASH. Celeste particularly annoying for being shocked her ex she ghosted for months had moved on. "Every lesbian's worst nightmare their ex starts dating a man" YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS BI! She was bi the whole time! In all her relationships! You broke up with her, left the country and then didn't answer her messages for months! What are we even talking about here!
Also I'm not sure how old this author is but I was cracking up at the constant we're all so old, we need old people hobbies, we can't go to the clubs, we'll be ancient.
Not going to lie, not sure if I'd have finished this if it wasn't on audiobook and I couldn't play it in the background. The main characters were both annoying, and the multi chapter sex scenes were a lot. While I loved the bi late 20s representation, both of her exes being shook to their core she started dating someone the opposite gender after the breakup is TRASH. Celeste particularly annoying for being shocked her ex she ghosted for months had moved on. "Every lesbian's worst nightmare their ex starts dating a man" YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS BI! She was bi the whole time! In all her relationships! You broke up with her, left the country and then didn't answer her messages for months! What are we even talking about here!
Also I'm not sure how old this author is but I was cracking up at the constant we're all so old, we need old people hobbies, we can't go to the clubs, we'll be ancient.
emotional
hopeful
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
I truly enjoyed this Sapphic Romance, the reconnection, exes to lovers, HEA.
The characters were so good. I did find one narrator a bit slower paced than the other, but I still really enjoyed it!
The reconnection was fabulous. I was drawn in right from the cover and enjoyed the entire ALC!
Highly recommend!
The characters were so good. I did find one narrator a bit slower paced than the other, but I still really enjoyed it!
The reconnection was fabulous. I was drawn in right from the cover and enjoyed the entire ALC!
Highly recommend!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
Super cute, but also the 2 leads earned their happy ending through a couple of heartaches. I would love a book about Val and Kiara (I did audio so guessing on the spelling). Val stole most of the scenes she was in. Loved the narration by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
What a cute story
lighthearted
fast-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:
Complicated
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:
No
I needed something sweet and this was amazing. I loved reading all about Gemma and Celeste’s second chance at finding and (hopefully) sustaining their spark! It was refreshing to see a bi person being the focus of a story. It was very cool to see representation for bi girls having full relationships with both genders.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
“You don’t have to be this flawless goddess to date me
I discovered Love in Focus through its audio version, and I absolutely loved the narrators’ work on it. They gave life to the characters, even to the LI (which was more difficult, see below), and made the listening easy.
Unfortunately, some “misspokes” from the LI at the beginning of the book about their first relationship made it difficult for me to get completely invested in this story, especially as it isn’t truly addressed later. That was a disappointment, especially regarding the book’s dedication. I loved how the characters’ origins shaped some of their difficulties in the relationship and their breakup, then in their evolution.
What I don’t understand, however, is the author’s choice to write Gemma 1st person and Celeste 3rd (but still “focalised”). It got me out of the story most of the time and didn’t help to have empathy for Celeste (even though that feeling was softened by the narrator), and I truly couldn’t find why the author made this decision.
That’s a pity because the story was cute and has some of my fav’ tropes, like second chances, forced proximity roommates, or a photographer as MC. Speaking about this, the article Gemma and Celeste have to work on together was especially cute, and all these moments when they interview diverse couples –and (re)assess their own relationship– were my absolute fav in the book, as finally feelings made all their sense.
Thank you to the author and Hachette audio for the ALC. My opinions are my own.
I discovered Love in Focus through its audio version, and I absolutely loved the narrators’ work on it. They gave life to the characters, even to the LI (which was more difficult, see below), and made the listening easy.
Unfortunately, some “misspokes” from the LI at the beginning of the book about their first relationship made it difficult for me to get completely invested in this story, especially as it isn’t truly addressed later. That was a disappointment, especially regarding the book’s dedication. I loved how the characters’ origins shaped some of their difficulties in the relationship and their breakup, then in their evolution.
What I don’t understand, however, is the author’s choice to write Gemma 1st person and Celeste 3rd (but still “focalised”). It got me out of the story most of the time and didn’t help to have empathy for Celeste (even though that feeling was softened by the narrator), and I truly couldn’t find why the author made this decision.
That’s a pity because the story was cute and has some of my fav’ tropes, like second chances, forced proximity roommates, or a photographer as MC. Speaking about this, the article Gemma and Celeste have to work on together was especially cute, and all these moments when they interview diverse couples –and (re)assess their own relationship– were my absolute fav in the book, as finally feelings made all their sense.
Thank you to the author and Hachette audio for the ALC. My opinions are my own.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Thank you to Forever for access to the e-ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was giving me ALL the feels. Gemma and Celeste are such an amazing pairing, and reading about/listening to them both grow together and apart was honestly amazing. I love the way the author created their relationship, and how they kept on coming back to each other throughout the book. I love all the romance novels references, and I love the found family that was formed. Kiara and Val are the perfect found family for Gem. The narrators did a FANTASTIC job voicing Gemma and Celeste, and causing me to laugh so hard and tear up at different times. Overall I highly recommend this novel and the audiobook!
This book was giving me ALL the feels. Gemma and Celeste are such an amazing pairing, and reading about/listening to them both grow together and apart was honestly amazing. I love the way the author created their relationship, and how they kept on coming back to each other throughout the book. I love all the romance novels references, and I love the found family that was formed. Kiara and Val are the perfect found family for Gem. The narrators did a FANTASTIC job voicing Gemma and Celeste, and causing me to laugh so hard and tear up at different times. Overall I highly recommend this novel and the audiobook!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit