Scan barcode
ashaelise's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Blood, and Grief
jillaay_h's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Gaslighting
chloe_hazel's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Car accident
leatherlee's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Up to this point, I'd have said Akwaeke Emezi was one of my favorite writers but I had to force myself to finish this book. Whereas their other works were weird and fantastical and riveting, this one was just not interesting to me. A big part of it is that I am apparently always annoyed by romance genre, even if it's thoughtful, (nominally) queer, and written by someone whose other works I adore.
As a "queer" novel, I feel especially let down because the sex all is very heteronormative. Nothing especially interesting to me personally about a conventionally attractive cis-het couple pairing. The fact of their queerness is downplayed which was a missed opportunity. Bisexuals having unconventional sex could have been explored to great effect and would have probably merited at least one more star from me.
As a "queer" novel, I feel especially let down because the sex all is very heteronormative. Nothing especially interesting to me personally about a conventionally attractive cis-het couple pairing. The fact of their queerness is downplayed which was a missed opportunity. Bisexuals having unconventional sex could have been explored to great effect and would have probably merited at least one more star from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
illustratorsoph's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this book. I found it hard to get into at the start, but purely because the pages are very dense with text.
This book address grief, loss and trauma brilliantly and the fragility of falling for someone you shouldn't. A person that truly understands that individual and what they've been through, shares their own trauma. Hot & intense build up throughout, so amazingly written. A great book!
This book address grief, loss and trauma brilliantly and the fragility of falling for someone you shouldn't. A person that truly understands that individual and what they've been through, shares their own trauma. Hot & intense build up throughout, so amazingly written. A great book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, and Car accident
zefancifulreader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
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
4.75
This book has a lot of mixed reviews which I suspect is because this story breaks a lot of Romance rules.
It is a story of grief, which isn’t very sexy but I think it does a disservice to our human-ness to ignore a very powerful emotion that is so closely linked with Love.
It’s also one of the horniest books I’ve read in a while. Feyi is so delightfully thirsty and it was so fun to watch her mess unfold.
The book also had some of my favourite obscure troupes such as: “NO 3rd Act Breakup” and “Main Character goes to Therapy”!
The real standout for me was the incredible maturity of Alim and Feyi. Ya, it’s a large age-gap but these two characters have a boat load of trauma and have done the WORK of piecing themselves together even before the book starts. These are two adults who know how to COMMUNICATE and it’s honestly the sexiest thing.
Add the beautiful, lyrical writing style that Akwaeke Emezi is known for and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous, unapologetic, hot mess and I 100% recommend it.
It is a story of grief, which isn’t very sexy but I think it does a disservice to our human-ness to ignore a very powerful emotion that is so closely linked with Love.
It’s also one of the horniest books I’ve read in a while. Feyi is so delightfully thirsty and it was so fun to watch her mess unfold.
The book also had some of my favourite obscure troupes such as: “NO 3rd Act Breakup” and “Main Character goes to Therapy”!
The real standout for me was the incredible maturity of Alim and Feyi. Ya, it’s a large age-gap but these two characters have a boat load of trauma and have done the WORK of piecing themselves together even before the book starts. These are two adults who know how to COMMUNICATE and it’s honestly the sexiest thing.
Add the beautiful, lyrical writing style that Akwaeke Emezi is known for and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous, unapologetic, hot mess and I 100% recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction and Alcohol
sadhbhprice's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Biphobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Absolutely floored by this book, by its unflinching perspective on love and grief and how we can keep living through any kind of mess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Violence
businesswife's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
A beautiful look about life after losing the love of your life and how hard it is to find love again. Some great depictions of queer love, messy as it can be. And the diversity of experiance of relationships. Also very adult relationships with adult kids.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
ms_read's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia, Violence, and Car accident
Minor: Child death, Death, and Death of parent