Scan barcode
tinkithesquirelll's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic relationship
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
moonieness12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Classism, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Death, Racism, and Grief
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this book has a rarely-represented heroine in chloe w/ her chronic pain, and i learn a lot the aforementioned while never feeling like the characters' multi-faceted identities overwhelm the story, instead being a natural part of the characters and their complex characterization. same goes for red w/ his history of an abusive relationship, equally hard to find - let alone deftly explored - in novels. i rly enjoy getting to know these two and coming to understand them, viewing their clash as inevitable yet completely understandable.
i also like hibbert's msg of how love doesnt solve all problems. one isnt magically ~healed~ from chronic pain or abusive past and their consequences simply bc they fall in love or find an s/o; instead having the courage and self-love to choose to be better. for a romance novel, thats pretty darn radical, and the author does it all w/o being heavy-handed.
the novel's well-written as well, perhaps one of the best for a romance ive read so far. and while i enjoy chloe and red's banter and interactions, sometimes they come across as trying to hard to be quirky, making me cringe a lil. the sweet moments are indeed swooningly sweet, though.
i recommend this book not only for those looking for a romance read, but anyone who wants complex characters w/ marginalized identities done right.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Medical content, and Car accident
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
carina_dreamer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
• Illnesses aren't my type of topic, I always cry. Fibromyalgia was a safer bet and I was curious to know how they would describe chronic pain. To me, it seemed realistic, from the care needed to the different degrees of pain and symptoms.
• The way Chloe faced the list she made throughout the book had good development. Made me think.
• Red seeming like a bad boy but actually being such a sweet man was a nice surprise. His character had nice and interesting aspects to it like his attitude facing his art after doubting himself and also how he felt after a very toxic past relationship.
• I really liked the sisters (I'm going to read their books) and the grandma (I want to adopt the progressive lady as my own grandmother)
• The banter between Chloe and Red was so nice, with sarcasm and flirting, love it 😍. The romance was so thoughtful and sexy, one of those you think "too good to be true". We read to dream, right? The 🌶️ is great, I got 🥵 and they weren't even kissing.
• The only things I had to point out were: it would be more interesting if Red's life and his problems weren't solved so quickly, his mother and therapy; and the book should have two more chapters to solve their traumas suitably. Chap. 21 was so well written but solved quickly.
• The book is perfect for those who want to start diversifying the authors they read and include more protagonists of colour. A very good rom-com with 🌶️ that I recommend.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Minor: Drug use and Car accident
spideyvenus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
arthur_ant18's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Ableism, Classism, and Racism
km_loves_books's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Cursing
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship