bookish_bee's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
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
3.5
The best way to go into this book, in my opinion at least, is to go in not expecting much. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good things about this book and I particularly like the disability representation which is sorely under-represented in the literary field. However, I believe it is best read as a fun, raunchy at times, quick romance read. It is neither a literary masterpiece nor a absolute car crash and is a great read for inbetween 'heavier', more intense reads. I certainly enjoyed it (for the most part, I found it dragged a little towards the end) and am looking forward to continuing to the triology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
yilliun's review
relaxing
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
Nice easy sexy read. Thanks TikTok!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Injury/injury detail, and Addiction
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
2.25
This is for a definite audience ... those who like romance/sex. There really wasn't much story on top of that. I had to double check that this was indeed the first in the series (I won't be continuing), because it just seemed to drop the reader into the situation with little/no explanation. I felt like I should have known a little more about the family (the other brothers, one has to find a wife?), that I was missing something.
The text is included in KindleUnlimited, I was able to get the audio from the library. While I read some reviews swooning over the male narrator ... he was a little too gravely, he didn't quite sound real, and I had a hard time concentrating on what he was saying. The female narrator was good. Uber explicit stuff. Just imagining the narrators reading aloud ...
There was a character with Downs Syndrome, the female MC's little sister. If we hadn't been told she had Downs Syndrome, it would have been really hard to tell, both from the way it was written, and voiced. I realize there are many levels, low to high functioning, but Ani sounds completely "normal". There are certain voice patterns distinctive to Downs ... I don't know if it's considered politically incorrect to view this as an "accent" but it was just felt like it was missing the mark when it was read as it was (standard). I remember [book:Behind Closed Doors|29437949] had a character with Downs and the voicing was tastefully representative of that.
The whole book just felt silly. The "billionaire" boy and the regular girl who catches his eye ... it's been done so many times before. The "Dreamland" was hard to take seriously, the relationship/romance ... ehhh. Nothing explicit until a little over halfway ... but I've stayed away from "romance" because explicit scenes do make me uncomfortable. Too much of a prude. I felt like I blinked in the last quarter when SPOILERS ... Rowan suddenly decides to drop Zahra (um, what? why?) and then just as quickly decides he wants her back.
An interesting input on the "are audiobooks reading?" debate ... both MCs enjoy books, and playing the this or that question game "Would you rather never read a book again or never be able to check the stock market?" He chooses the latter then says "You said I could never READ a book again. Audiobooks don't count. Semantics matter."
I was anxious for this to end - I was done.
The text is included in KindleUnlimited, I was able to get the audio from the library. While I read some reviews swooning over the male narrator ... he was a little too gravely, he didn't quite sound real, and I had a hard time concentrating on what he was saying. The female narrator was good. Uber explicit stuff. Just imagining the narrators reading aloud ...
There was a character with Downs Syndrome, the female MC's little sister. If we hadn't been told she had Downs Syndrome, it would have been really hard to tell, both from the way it was written, and voiced. I realize there are many levels, low to high functioning, but Ani sounds completely "normal". There are certain voice patterns distinctive to Downs ... I don't know if it's considered politically incorrect to view this as an "accent" but it was just felt like it was missing the mark when it was read as it was (standard). I remember [book:Behind Closed Doors|29437949] had a character with Downs and the voicing was tastefully representative of that.
The whole book just felt silly. The "billionaire" boy and the regular girl who catches his eye ... it's been done so many times before. The "Dreamland" was hard to take seriously, the relationship/romance ... ehhh. Nothing explicit until a little over halfway ... but I've stayed away from "romance" because explicit scenes do make me uncomfortable. Too much of a prude. I felt like I blinked in the last quarter when SPOILERS ... Rowan suddenly decides to drop Zahra (um, what? why?) and then just as quickly decides he wants her back.
An interesting input on the "are audiobooks reading?" debate ... both MCs enjoy books, and playing the this or that question game "Would you rather never read a book again or never be able to check the stock market?" He chooses the latter then says "You said I could never READ a book again. Audiobooks don't count. Semantics matter."
I was anxious for this to end - I was done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lisersaurus's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
peachani's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Classism, Medical content, Blood, Death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
blb2006's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lujisa's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Infidelity
rachaeldulaney20's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The storyline was so good I’m in love with the storyline. It’s familiar yet so creative and fun. The hospital part made me so mad. Ugh but honestly both characters are great and relatable.
———————
In the beginning of the book I did have a little bit of trouble visualizing everything for probably the first 11 chapters. I felt like the descriptions of the scenes weren’t as well written but they got better throughout the book. Additionally I will say it’s a little spicy for me I don’t know that I’m a spicy reader I could’ve done without all of it I really just liked the storyline. (And the grand gestures)
———————
In the beginning of the book I did have a little bit of trouble visualizing everything for probably the first 11 chapters. I felt like the descriptions of the scenes weren’t as well written but they got better throughout the book. Additionally I will say it’s a little spicy for me I don’t know that I’m a spicy reader I could’ve done without all of it I really just liked the storyline. (And the grand gestures)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
ashleybeereads's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Minor: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Cancer, Blood, Pregnancy, and Medical content
dkgreads's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
I really liked this one! It was emotional, but funny. Sweet and steamy. I loved the back and forth with Zahra and Rowan, they had chemistry for daaaaays. Zahra had such a big heart! I loved the theme park and the support cast too. Definitely going to read the next two books in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Injury/injury detail