Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

After Rain Falls by CE Ricci

5 reviews

krhart's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have no words. My heart. My heart was shattered and put back together and shattered again. I aches for these boys. The angst and pain and love and passion and pain and ache - it was almost too much! 

The story between River and Rain continues in this sequel. River and Rain are torn apart as Rain's best friend from childhood, Roman, is back in his life to help with the threats that Ted is making. Roman being back stirs up some serious emotions for both River and Rain. 

There are so many secrets. You learn more about Rain's history and see more of what a terrible person River's dad is. You learn about a whole new world that both boys are interconnected to. You sit on the edge of your seat. At one point I realized I wasn't breathing! You learn that love is messy and hard and worth fighting for.

This book was about 99% of a steep, uphill climb. I cried. I CRIED. It is so so good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Drug use

Moderate: Homophobia and Gun violence

Minor: Stalking

madscientistcat's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

I honestly don’t know what to do with this book. The first book was sports/angsty dark then suddenly we’re in some deeply unbelievable secret society thing with absolutely wild coincidences around every corner. I feel like “jumped the shark” is the simplest way to summarize. There are also so many plot holes and mistakes that I kept getting pulled out of the story. The draw of the author’s writing is so good and intense though. I really cared how these two absolute fools were going to figure their shit out even though half of it made no sense 😂

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Stalking, Sexual content, Mental illness, Medical content, Violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, and Gun violence

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

queen21's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Biphobia, Child abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Addiction, and Abandonment

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Vomit

djm_chal's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Drug use

tankytoon's review

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow. What a finish to this duet novel.
There's so much more angst in this one that I really don't know how to justify River and Rain being together, with the amount of hurtful words they fling at each other, although we know it's supposed to be for a greater purpose (in the name of protecting the ones they love). But it didn't have to be that way, to go down a path where pain is inevitable and suffering seems to be the only solution.

I really almost gave up, especially feeling River's downward spiral. But the way he kept fighting despite all signs telling him that it was a losing battle, was commendable. River's refusal to quit Rain was foolhardy at best, and frustrating at worst. Especially when they have hate sex. The amount of times Rain blowing hot and cold was giving me a whiplash that I almost wished that he ended up with Roman.

But I didn't read 900 pages for that. 

I would rather have Rain dying after hearing River flatlining. Then River waking up from his coma and finding out that Rain died, getting hit by a car when he walked out of the hospital. It will make for a good Romeo and Juliet gay story, but I digress.

This book would have gotten a five star from me if some parts weren't repetitive and draggy, especially I do not see the need for a full explanation of the Enclave. That is better left for another series. And speaking of the secret society, The fact that those secrets were spilled among friends, was hardly plausible for me. 

Otherwise, this is a decent read if you're in the mood for a good crying.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Biphobia, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Minor: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Stalking, and Trafficking