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smelsela's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
booklov3r__'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have so many mixed feelings about this because yeah I liked like the first half of the book and then the rest was so weird to me because it had so many things that just pissed me off but then again I completely understand their struggles and I just ugh idk 🥲
3.5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️
Here are some thoughts:
- I felt like this was really rushed at some points and I was like I don’t understand their relationship at all and ended up being like wtf 🤨
- I was so pissed off at Roderick parents, especially at his father because he was one of the biggest homophobes out there and his mother didn’t even stand up to his father KNOWING he was on the wrong
- Idk why Roderick stick around 3 years with his ex knowing he was a piece of shit who was just manipulating and gaslighting him and didn’t want to get out but then at the end appeared out of nowhere saying he was ready to be out and be with him as a couple. Like wtf? 👁️👄👁️
- Kieran’s problems with his family could have been easily solved with a simple conversation back in the day when it WAS SUPPOSED to be had and they wouldn’t have so much drama
Now don’t get me wrong I did liked it, and these are some things I enjoyed:
- I loved Kieran’s character, he was so grumpy. And I love me some grumpy lumberjack
- I loved seeing Kieran’s exploring his sexuality and coming to terms with it
- Rods cooking, don’t go into this with an empty stomach, you’ve been warned!
- Kieran’s cousins/friends that were okay with everything and didn’t had drama
- I liked that Roderick finally came to his senses and understood that he was on a toxic relationship/environment and stepped up for himself, just as Kieran’s did with his job and his family
- They cooking together and getting a Christmas tree
- And Father Peter, who was a really badass character here LMAO
At the end I really liked Sarina Bowen’s writing style and I think I would like to read more from her work!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
amyreadsandsails's review against another edition
5.0
MM - contemporary romance - moderate steam - white MCs - pov first dual - asexual MMC - closeted - food industry - found family - grumpy/sunshine - holiday romance - opposites attract - roommates to lovers - small town - workplace - 5 stars.
Technically a spin off from the True North series but if you are reading the Sarina Bowen universe in order, this one goes here.
I actually like this one better on the reread than I did the first time. Roderick is "Gay AF" and I loved that he falls for a closeted man when he swore to himself that he would never be the dirty little secret again.
Lots of True North characters return, including Father Peters, who I greatly enjoy despite not liking religion.
Kieran's sexuality is left ambiguous - he'd slept with women before but mostly thought it was because he was a horny teenager not that he was necessarily into women. I liked that Sarina left it open - he's definitely not straight and allo, but we don't need to know more and Roderick never questioned it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse and Religious bigotry
Roderick's familyraintje's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Outing
Minor: Pregnancy
nickyz's review
This really wasn't it for me. I really hate DNF-ing a book, but honestly life is short and I don't want to waste my time reading something that only raises my blood pressure. So, yeah.
This book started out okay. I was quite interested in how they come to live together and was anxiously rooting for Roderick to get a job and a roof over his head and for Kieran to finally set some boundaries with his family and move out. I have to add though, that I went in blindly with only the blurb and nothing else, usually I do a quick check on goodreads to get a better picture. But I fell victim to capitalism and the German cover. I gave in to the impuls and bought it right then and there (I partly blame my frustration for that - my local book shop got rid of the LGBT+ shelf on July 1 and I really wanted to read a new book). So, I gave in to capitalism and my insatiable craving for new books.
This books sounds... for a lack of better words... very straight. I enjoyed Kieran. He was grumpy and introverted and mostly kept to himself, struggled with his sexuality and had troubles with his family. He sounded like a decent character that was quite interesting to follow through this book. And yeah... I think that's it. I just had to pause and rethink what I have read and honestly... that's really it. Roderick was okay, but he came off as really pushy sometimes and his constant flirty remarks (and bending over backwards to make everything sexual) left a sour taste in my mouth.
A thing that annoys me in not only this book, but basically most YA/NA novels is the he constant "he's so hot" monologues. I get it. People like to read about hot people. The author likes to write about hot people. But do we really need to get a description of them being hot doing literally anything? I know it's more of an unpopular opinion, but I prefer flawed characters (and yes, I mean also the looks). Give me a character who has crooked teeth, too-narrow eyes, big ears, glasses, dad-bot (or whatever people call it now), gap between teeth, yellow teeth, idk something. This "he's perfect, he's the embodyment of Adonis, there is no flaw on this man's body" is just so boring and unrealistic.
The plot took forever to start and I was getting more and more impatient. And nothing really happens, at least not on Roderick's side. Kieran sure has more than enough on his plate already (juggling his jobs, his family duties, and now Roderick). They just hung out, cooked together and.. well that's it. Nothing really happened. I explained to a friend all that happened in the first 30% of the book and it took me LESS than a minute (I do talk pretty fast so maybe I could bump it up to 2 minutes). So, it became increasingly boring.
They hook up. The kiss before we reach the 50% and as a strong rooter for slow burn, this was really not something I enjoyed. I like the tension, the yearning, the built-up, the teasing, the journey. I don't like it to be rushed. And therefore the book lost another big point that I was looking forward to, so what's really left?
Since nothing was really happening and the only thing that kept me reading was Kieran's sideplot with his family, I decided to do something, I normally don't do. I went into the reviews and looked for spoilers. I looked for something that would give me a new event to look forward to.But what I found instead, was the last straw and I ended up deciding to DNF the book.
So what's the reason? You might ask. Well, let me tell you.
Apparently, Rodrick doesn't like that Kieran is still in the closet and they only get back together once Kieran comes out to everyone.
This storyline has been done a million times before. Nothing grinds my gears more than this very plotline. I HATE this trope. It's just so unnecessary. "It's 2022, people aren't as homophobic anymore, just come out, it's not a big deal", no it is. It is a big deal. Roderick himself was homeless by the time he was 18, because his parents are homophobic. He knows what's at stake and he still decides to be an asshole about it. I get it, his past relationship probably has something to do with it, but that's not Kieran's problem. Everyone comes out at their own pace, some may never fully come out to the people around them. Some people come out as soon as they realise what they are. And it's okay, no matter what pace. Nobody is entitled to know such a thing about you.
Queer people still have to fear losing their friends and family, losing their home and their job, losing everything. They have to be careful outside and even in front of the people they know. People die because of queerphobes. It's still a crime in some countries and heavily looked down upon in others. It's a big deal.
So yeah, I had to DNF this book, because honestly, I can't take more of that.
This book started out okay. I was quite interested in how they come to live together and was anxiously rooting for Roderick to get a job and a roof over his head and for Kieran to finally set some boundaries with his family and move out. I have to add though, that I went in blindly with only the blurb and nothing else, usually I do a quick check on goodreads to get a better picture. But I fell victim to capitalism and the German cover. I gave in to the impuls and bought it right then and there (I partly blame my frustration for that - my local book shop got rid of the LGBT+ shelf on July 1 and I really wanted to read a new book). So, I gave in to capitalism and my insatiable craving for new books.
This books sounds... for a lack of better words... very straight. I enjoyed Kieran. He was grumpy and introverted and mostly kept to himself, struggled with his sexuality and had troubles with his family. He sounded like a decent character that was quite interesting to follow through this book. And yeah... I think that's it. I just had to pause and rethink what I have read and honestly... that's really it. Roderick was okay, but he came off as really pushy sometimes and his constant flirty remarks (and bending over backwards to make everything sexual) left a sour taste in my mouth.
A thing that annoys me in not only this book, but basically most YA/NA novels is the he constant "he's so hot" monologues. I get it. People like to read about hot people. The author likes to write about hot people. But do we really need to get a description of them being hot doing literally anything? I know it's more of an unpopular opinion, but I prefer flawed characters (and yes, I mean also the looks). Give me a character who has crooked teeth, too-narrow eyes, big ears, glasses, dad-bot (or whatever people call it now), gap between teeth, yellow teeth, idk something. This "he's perfect, he's the embodyment of Adonis, there is no flaw on this man's body" is just so boring and unrealistic.
The plot took forever to start and I was getting more and more impatient. And nothing really happens, at least not on Roderick's side. Kieran sure has more than enough on his plate already (juggling his jobs, his family duties, and now Roderick). They just hung out, cooked together and.. well that's it. Nothing really happened. I explained to a friend all that happened in the first 30% of the book and it took me LESS than a minute (I do talk pretty fast so maybe I could bump it up to 2 minutes). So, it became increasingly boring.
They hook up. The kiss before we reach the 50% and as a strong rooter for slow burn, this was really not something I enjoyed. I like the tension, the yearning, the built-up, the teasing, the journey. I don't like it to be rushed. And therefore the book lost another big point that I was looking forward to, so what's really left?
Since nothing was really happening and the only thing that kept me reading was Kieran's sideplot with his family, I decided to do something, I normally don't do. I went into the reviews and looked for spoilers. I looked for something that would give me a new event to look forward to.But what I found instead, was the last straw and I ended up deciding to DNF the book.
So what's the reason? You might ask. Well, let me tell you.
Apparently, Rodrick doesn't like that Kieran is still in the closet and they only get back together once Kieran comes out to everyone.
This storyline has been done a million times before. Nothing grinds my gears more than this very plotline. I HATE this trope. It's just so unnecessary. "It's 2022, people aren't as homophobic anymore, just come out, it's not a big deal", no it is. It is a big deal. Roderick himself was homeless by the time he was 18, because his parents are homophobic. He knows what's at stake and he still decides to be an asshole about it. I get it, his past relationship probably has something to do with it, but that's not Kieran's problem. Everyone comes out at their own pace, some may never fully come out to the people around them. Some people come out as soon as they realise what they are. And it's okay, no matter what pace. Nobody is entitled to know such a thing about you.
Queer people still have to fear losing their friends and family, losing their home and their job, losing everything. They have to be careful outside and even in front of the people they know. People die because of queerphobes. It's still a crime in some countries and heavily looked down upon in others. It's a big deal.
So yeah, I had to DNF this book, because honestly, I can't take more of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy
camille_andherbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very cute. No idiotic conflicts, very reasonable and logical situations.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Emotional abuse
bee94's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Infidelity
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