Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Segundas primeras impresiones by Sally Thorne

7 reviews

witcheep's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This is a beautiful love story where
two people find each other and by doing so also find themselves – even through past baggage/trauma, self doubt, and fear of new things
. There's a lovely (and bossy) community around them, as well as a mystery put on a back burner to simmer thoughout the book to cook up the plot twists in the end into a bigger soup of intertwining reveals.

I'm surprised in how quickly I've adjusted to this 'I'm in love' revelation. It's like picking up a coat in a thrift store and shrugging it on: it fits, I don't need to look in the mirror to know it. Now I just carry on wearing it.

There's many kinds of representation in this book: different ages of characters (early 20s to late 80s with flahbacks/reminiscing of teenage years), lesbian side characters
with a mostly hidden sapphic romance
, and main characters with neurodivergent traits (
obsessive behaviour to the extent of neuroticism, anxiety attack, and easily distracted attention
) but no diagnosis named.
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brookey8888's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.0

I’m not sure why this has such a low rating? I thought this was super cute! I loved that it was set at an retirement community because I worked at one for eight years. I just love the older women in this and it made my heart happy and I also teared up. Ruthie was really cute and I liked how she came into herself. I loved how she found friendship I thought the relationship was really cute too. I’m not usually into friends to lovers, but this was cute.
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ashylibrarian's review against another edition

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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
This is a cute New Adult/Adult romance between Ruthie and Teddy (and maybe a few more) with exploration of careers, self-identity, family, and past traumas. I enjoyed this book for what it was - for the most part. One thing that really rubbed me the wrong way, however, was Ruthie's invasion of Teddy regarding why he was going to therapy. Multiple times she asked him bluntly to tell her why he was seeing a therapist and not until after about the third (3rd) or fourth (4th) time did he tell her. I just feel like that is not an appropriate way to have a conversation with someone about therapy, no matter how close you think you are to them. 

I just have to say that I am so happy for Aggie and Renata. I had my suspicions that they were not sisters, and once Renata started talking about her tattoo I was pretty convinced that they were in a relationship together. It did not take away from the reveal of the moment or the dance floor scene! Fresh, new love encouraged by strong, consistent love. 

I also just have to say that I was SHOCKED in the end to read that Renata was the one who passed before Aggie. Every time something would happen to Aggie in the story, my heart would get really sad, so I was definitely expecting her to be the one who passes. Either way, the love they showed for each other is beautiful, and I am so glad they were able to make peace with what they were forced to miss in high school.


Overall, I am satisfied with this book and would be interested in listening to more of Sally Thorne's books. 
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kfmcf's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.5

The characters in this book are enjoyable and relatable. I love the Parlonis especially, even if they seem to tread outside what is realistic of women in their 90s. That aside, the progression of the characters was believable and quite simply nice. Ruthie was very demure and sweet without seeming too overtly "perfect" in that ingenue-y sort of way. I could have done without the "she's the most beautiful woman in the world she just doesn't show it because she's frumpy" angle but oh well. I liked Teddy quite a bit, my only complaint about him was that he lacked just a touch of grounding. He seemed a little bit too overtly charming and funny, etc. His only flaw was that he was too "likeable" for people and not being able to settle down. He was still sweet and I appreciated their relationship, I just wish he just one more teeny flaw besides "Oh no too hot."

I did appreciate this book having a pretty tight, well-paced ending.
Rose's heel turn was a bit unbelievable but Rose was kind of an unnecessary character to begin with in my opinion. Having both Rose and the father felt like a misstep because they both lacked a bit of character development.


Overall, I enjoyed Thorne's writing and look forward to reading more.
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decklededgess's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-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

trigger warnings: religious trauma, sex and nudity, alcohol, infidelity, emotionally abusive and manipulative family, gaslighting, death of loved ones, wounded animals

This was a super sweet book and I enjoyed reading about the entire cast of characters. Teddy was fkn adorable and Ruthie is such a sweetheart. Melanie might need a bit of an ass whooping for being insensitive but I loved her as well. Aggie and Renata are delightful. 
As usual I was deeply disappointed by the existence of one singular sex scene in which it was mostly fade to black. I mean it was cute but details would be nice since this is a whole as ADULT book.
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liz_ann's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? N/A

4.25

This was a light, warm-hearted read! Cheesy? Maybe! But fun, warm and loveable nonetheless. I related to this book a lot as I am a very "sheltered" person who, just like Ruthie Midona, never really seemed to "fit-in" or get along with people her own age. Never really felt young. This is a predictable, yet very fun romance between the "good little church girl" and the "bad boy." There is depth, though, to Ruthie - an understanding of who she is that might not be translated just from the outside view. I will say, there was some information unearthed throughout the book that I was not expecting! Great lighthearted summer read!
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sweetsugatam's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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