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nuttus's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The amount I hoped the book would end where Elliot walked away and was mean to Macy is ridiculous.
Macy has no personality other than jealous and sorry for herself, a wet gray rag. She is so self centered and focused only on herself that I don’t understand what Elliot saw in her. Macy was always so sure that Elliot would chace after her that she was dumbfounded when for once he didn’t do it. She never ever stopped to think and take responsibility for the fact that she hurt Elliot. For fucks sake, Elliot was raped and clearly traumatized and she threw a fit that he cheated. Then she didn’t even bat an eye about it but just went on to tell that her dad died and once again, Elliot had to be there for her. She hasn’t done anything nice to Elliot, only strung him along for years making excuses and then wanted to be coddled. Was Elliot some sort of replacement of her mom or what, I don’t know but it didn’t feel like romantic love. Both were acting like robots, with weird and frankly child-like (not teen-like, child-like) honest communication without being honest about everything after all. It was not realistic in any way.
And what it comes to Elliot, he is a dumbass for clinging on to Macy for apparently clingingness-sake. There was no chemistry between them, other than sexual. And even the sexual chemistry wouldn’t translated without Macy constantly telling that. It felt more like Macy is just horny and it doesn’t really matter who or what Elliot was. She had just decided that yea, it needs to be Elliot.
Many have said that Every summer after was a better book and a copy of this one and commented on the reviews of that one that this is better and without the cheating. I strongly disagree. This one was unnecessarily dragged out. Not much happened and half of the pages could’ve been ripped out without the loss of nothing of value to the overall plot. The flashbacks didn’t connect to the present bits in any way, unlike in Every summer after. And that one didn’t have rape that was just brushed over with another trauma dump and angst Olympics by Macy.
In my mind the book ended where Elliot for once had a spine, told Macy off and Macy was shocked that for once someone did that to her. Not every romance book couple deserves or needs a happy ever after
Macy has no personality other than jealous and sorry for herself, a wet gray rag. She is so self centered and focused only on herself that I don’t understand what Elliot saw in her. Macy was always so sure that Elliot would chace after her that she was dumbfounded when for once he didn’t do it. She never ever stopped to think and take responsibility for the fact that she hurt Elliot. For fucks sake, Elliot was raped and clearly traumatized and she threw a fit that he cheated. Then she didn’t even bat an eye about it but just went on to tell that her dad died and once again, Elliot had to be there for her. She hasn’t done anything nice to Elliot, only strung him along for years making excuses and then wanted to be coddled. Was Elliot some sort of replacement of her mom or what, I don’t know but it didn’t feel like romantic love. Both were acting like robots, with weird and frankly child-like (not teen-like, child-like) honest communication without being honest about everything after all. It was not realistic in any way.
And what it comes to Elliot, he is a dumbass for clinging on to Macy for apparently clingingness-sake. There was no chemistry between them, other than sexual. And even the sexual chemistry wouldn’t translated without Macy constantly telling that. It felt more like Macy is just horny and it doesn’t really matter who or what Elliot was. She had just decided that yea, it needs to be Elliot.
Many have said that Every summer after was a better book and a copy of this one and commented on the reviews of that one that this is better and without the cheating. I strongly disagree. This one was unnecessarily dragged out. Not much happened and half of the pages could’ve been ripped out without the loss of nothing of value to the overall plot. The flashbacks didn’t connect to the present bits in any way, unlike in Every summer after. And that one didn’t have rape that was just brushed over with another trauma dump and angst Olympics by Macy.
In my mind the book ended where Elliot for once had a spine, told Macy off and Macy was shocked that for once someone did that to her. Not every romance book couple deserves or needs a happy ever after
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Rape and Car accident
hdoomk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Gore, Violence, Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism
theespressoedition's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For the last several years, people have been recommending this particular Christina Lauren novel to me, knowing how much I adore friends-to-lovers. And wow, this really was a spectacular use of that particular trope, with a fair amount of second chance romance thrown in there as well.
Similar to my favorite friends-to-lovers romance, People We Meet on Vacation, this is told in dual timelines. We get an intimate look into the lives of Macy and Elliot as they meet and grow from awkward children into horny teenagers and then to in-love young adults that inevitably split apart. Simultaneously, we get to watch how they reconnect in their late 20s by happenstance.
The story has an air of mystery to it since you're not given a lot of information initially. I for one was left feeling desperate to understand what made them part ways in the past. However, I wasn't prepared for the answer in the slightest. I'm sure the other drivers on the highway were a little worried about me as I rapidly brushed tears off my cheeks while listening to this on a road trip. I definitely hadn't expected all the emotions that came along with the "reveal."
Truly, the only reason this book didn't get a full five stars is because I was uncomfortable with the sexual content in their childhood timeline. Yes, this is an adult novel, but writing about minors having sex just doesn't settle well with me. If it had been alluded to, that would be one thing, but it was a pretty heavy part of that timeline. I realize it was there for the sake of telling the story and gave a lot more umph to their adult timeline, but it still just gave me a case of the "ick."
As a whole, this book was really good, filled with a lot of emotional depth and fascinating character development. I would definitely read it again.
Similar to my favorite friends-to-lovers romance, People We Meet on Vacation, this is told in dual timelines. We get an intimate look into the lives of Macy and Elliot as they meet and grow from awkward children into horny teenagers and then to in-love young adults that inevitably split apart. Simultaneously, we get to watch how they reconnect in their late 20s by happenstance.
The story has an air of mystery to it since you're not given a lot of information initially. I for one was left feeling desperate to understand what made them part ways in the past. However, I wasn't prepared for the answer in the slightest. I'm sure the other drivers on the highway were a little worried about me as I rapidly brushed tears off my cheeks while listening to this on a road trip. I definitely hadn't expected all the emotions that came along with the "reveal."
Truly, the only reason this book didn't get a full five stars is because I was uncomfortable with the sexual content in their childhood timeline. Yes, this is an adult novel, but writing about minors having sex just doesn't settle well with me. If it had been alluded to, that would be one thing, but it was a pretty heavy part of that timeline. I realize it was there for the sake of telling the story and gave a lot more umph to their adult timeline, but it still just gave me a case of the "ick."
As a whole, this book was really good, filled with a lot of emotional depth and fascinating character development. I would definitely read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
Sexual content with minors.dianaschmidty's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Cancer, Car accident, Rape, Sexual assault, and Infidelity
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