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inamerata's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Not my favorite, but not bad. I did like the open discussion of disability and ableism and how that affects a lot of different parts of your life. Unfortunately, the characters and writing just didn't click for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Homophobia and Ableism
latinxsupergirl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
patricia71's review against another edition
5.0
More than 5 stars. Pffff...what a rollercoaster this book was for me. I cried for/with Jill, I was angry at Jill, I was scared with/for Crash. I wanted The book to finish so the MC would be together, but I didn’t want The book to finish at all. The chemistry, humour, the sex, and the fact that Grace and Lauren, The lovely couple from The second book, were also in this...i loved it! Number 9 in my top 10 books. Now...looking for next Jae book to read.
mysapphicbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Another great book by Jae!
Jill was recently diagnosed with MS and has no desire to get into a relationship. Of course when Crash enters her life, she’s forced to evaluate what she really wants. A sweet story (despite Jill’s stubbornness) and very enjoyable!
Jill was recently diagnosed with MS and has no desire to get into a relationship. Of course when Crash enters her life, she’s forced to evaluate what she really wants. A sweet story (despite Jill’s stubbornness) and very enjoyable!
elvang's review against another edition
3.0
You know a book will be well written, well researched and edited to perfection when Jae is listed as the author. She breathes life into her characters. Her scenes and settings are easy to visualize.
Just Physical is all this plus an educational read on the challenges faced by those with MS. The physical side effects and current treatment processes are a given. What I had not considered before was the stigma that comes with an MS diagnosis. Careers are affected as are relationships. Jae brings this home with Jill's treatment on the set of a film she almost didn't get a role in because the director felt she would be unable to keep up with the rest of the cast. Jill prickles at what she perceives as coddling by Crash after she becomes aware of Jill's MS.
As heroic as Jill is made out to be I found Crash the easier character to admire. She had her own demons to contend with and an attraction to Jill she wanted to explore. She also pursued Jill with a gentle kindness which many times I didn't feel Jill deserved. Jill had her reasons to not want to form a romantic relationship, to not have to see a lover become her caregiver. Her arguments and repeated rejection of Crash made the book feel much longer than its 288 pages. Her fears and her pride made her seem obstinate rather than noble. It's rare that I pick a favourite in a romance novel but in Just Physical I was cheering for Crash and frustrated with Jill.
Just Physical is all this plus an educational read on the challenges faced by those with MS. The physical side effects and current treatment processes are a given. What I had not considered before was the stigma that comes with an MS diagnosis. Careers are affected as are relationships. Jae brings this home with Jill's treatment on the set of a film she almost didn't get a role in because the director felt she would be unable to keep up with the rest of the cast. Jill prickles at what she perceives as coddling by Crash after she becomes aware of Jill's MS.
As heroic as Jill is made out to be I found Crash the easier character to admire. She had her own demons to contend with and an attraction to Jill she wanted to explore. She also pursued Jill with a gentle kindness which many times I didn't feel Jill deserved. Jill had her reasons to not want to form a romantic relationship, to not have to see a lover become her caregiver. Her arguments and repeated rejection of Crash made the book feel much longer than its 288 pages. Her fears and her pride made her seem obstinate rather than noble. It's rare that I pick a favourite in a romance novel but in Just Physical I was cheering for Crash and frustrated with Jill.
mjsam's review against another edition
4.0
This is 4th story in the Hollywood series, although I don't really count Dress Tease (#3), since I'd call that a snippet, not a story.
Anyway, this is a follow on from Damage Control, and here Jill gets her own story. In all honesty though, Crash is the real star here. The story centres around Jill and her struggles with MS, which I give Jae extra kudos for, as she doesn't shy away from any aspect of living with MS, and there are several thought provoking scenes.
The problem lies in two areas, 1) the two women spend a lot of time together, but they rarely discuss anything of substance, it's usually push pull stuff about Jill's MS and some superficial discussions about family, so I struggled to believe they'd built the kind of foundation that would last them through Jill's illness.
2) Both women have demons to overcome and big decisions to make, but Jill's constant retreating from Crash wore thin well before the halfway mark, and by the end Jill wasn't the only one suffering. Crash's steadfastness and the way she went about learning about MS kept me hanging in there but it was a struggle to like Jill's character at many points.
We do get to spend more time with Grace and Lauren from book 2, but the other secondary characters aren't particularly fleshed out. There's also a reference to the characters from the first book that was so quick you'd miss it, and honestly wasn't necessary, as neither character had appeared in the book.
This gets four stars regardless, as it handles a difficult topic (and well-researched at that) and though the love story was frustrating at times, I was still rooting for them to have a HEA.
Anyway, this is a follow on from Damage Control, and here Jill gets her own story. In all honesty though, Crash is the real star here. The story centres around Jill and her struggles with MS, which I give Jae extra kudos for, as she doesn't shy away from any aspect of living with MS, and there are several thought provoking scenes.
The problem lies in two areas, 1) the two women spend a lot of time together, but they rarely discuss anything of substance, it's usually push pull stuff about Jill's MS and some superficial discussions about family, so I struggled to believe they'd built the kind of foundation that would last them through Jill's illness.
2) Both women have demons to overcome and big decisions to make, but Jill's constant retreating from Crash wore thin well before the halfway mark, and by the end Jill wasn't the only one suffering. Crash's steadfastness and the way she went about learning about MS kept me hanging in there but it was a struggle to like Jill's character at many points.
We do get to spend more time with Grace and Lauren from book 2, but the other secondary characters aren't particularly fleshed out. There's also a reference to the characters from the first book that was so quick you'd miss it, and honestly wasn't necessary, as neither character had appeared in the book.
This gets four stars regardless, as it handles a difficult topic (and well-researched at that) and though the love story was frustrating at times, I was still rooting for them to have a HEA.
theamandashelby's review against another edition
4.0
I have read the entire series and this one was just as good as the others. Jae is one of my favorite authors. I loved Jill and she was my favorite character, I'm glad she got her own book. I really shouldn't have to say much, read the book you will enjoy it.
chronically_ill_dec's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- 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
5.0
capellan's review against another edition
3.0
This is a decent lesbian romance novel but it's perhaps a bit one-note at times. The only thing that is at all a challenge to the central couple is that one of them has MS. And yes, that's a huge thing, and well handled as a topic by the author, but it does make the narrative a little repetitive when there's only one topic they ever have any difficulties with.