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casey_sunshine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Medical trauma
donnicakelsey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Grief, and Physical abuse
aliciachauhan_'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
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Don’t be fooled by the cartoon cover this book deals with a lot of heavy topics like the sexual assault and attempted rape of a minor, a minor that is shamed and blamed for the assault and labeled “unclean and loose” not only by their community but also by a parent. We also see the lifetime of grief someone faces when they blame the tragic death of a loved one on themselves.
Liya has been told, from a young age, that she’s dirty and shouldn’t expect any nice guys to want her. Focusing on her career, and enjoying life, Liya is determined to never fall prey to the whims of men again. Though her parents know she doesn’t want to marry they still go behind her back to invite a potential suitor to dinner. What other option than fleeing dinner does she have?
Jay doesn’t believe he deserves a happy ever after and is determined to never marry. Blaming himself for the tragic death of his father, when he was a child, Jay does whatever he can to help his brother and mother be happy. Even though he has no plans to marry…Jay can’t turn his mother down when she asks him to meet a potential bride. Why did said match flee their dinner like demons were chasing her? If she didn’t want to meet she could have said so instead of embarrassing his poor mother who now worries they somehow offended Liya before even meeting her.
We get instant enemies over a misunderstanding, then forced proximity when they find out Jay’s the lawyer that’s been hired to help Liya’s company, and then a slow burn as they realize maybe the other isn’t so bad after all. I adored this couple and was cheering for them from the start. If you love romance’s that deal with heavier topics but prefer FTB [fade to black, aka when sex takes place off-page rather than on-page] I highly recommend giving this debut romance a chance.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent
Minor: Racism
hannah_clover'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: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
decembermagpie's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death
courtneym_'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
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
cosetteot's review
- 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: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Death
bookishvanessa's review
- 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
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
paxyshia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
it’s always a joy reading a strong female lead! i loved reading jay just slowly falling for her. i wish jay would’ve gotten a little more resolve with his issues but i appreciated the one night with liya he had. that was very sweet. they just fit.
the mentions of sexual assault, harassment, abuse and death were a little heavy throughout the book and could be triggering for some people though and i felt it was important to mention. it was also mentioned in an author’s note before the book started too. i don’t think it was written graphicly or too lightly but it can be hard to read sometimes.
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse