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chloeve's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A beautiful love story! I am obsessed with Elliot! I love how mature he was at a young age. He was so well spoken throughout the book, especially about his feelings. We need more men like Elliot! I was so happy Macy and Elliot resolved everything and started a life together. I wish we got more of their life after they moved in with each other, or even a second book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Vomit
readers_sea'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved Macy and Elliot's story so much.
Macy and Elliot meet when Macy and her father buy a "vacation home" in the small town where Elliot lives. They're still young, but immediately hit it off and become inseparable. Since Elliot lives there full time and Macy doesn't, their time together is sporadic and unpredictable sometimes, but they always make the most of it when they are together. Growing up together, they saw each other grow a lot, and of course that led to first loves and other firsts.
This book is told in dual timelines. One timeline is the past when Macy and Elliot were younger and still getting to know each other. Throughout the book, we get to see them slowly grow up throughout this timeline. In the other timeline, we are in the present. The present starts a decade after Macy and Elliot last talked/saw each other. Their departure was abrupt and left a lot of questions for some characters. As the story unfolds we are leading up to the night ten years ago when they stop talking. We get to see what happened and what led them to where they are today.
This story was so well done and layered. I loved how it was told in dual timelines because I felt like both stories were unfolding perfectly. I was rooting for them in both timelines, but also so curious as to what led them to not talk for a decade after seeing how they were growing up together. This story had a lot going on, and I loved watching it all unfold. There were a lot of themes and subjects that were brought up that I wasn't expecting, but overall I really enjoyed it and these characters.
Macy and Elliot meet when Macy and her father buy a "vacation home" in the small town where Elliot lives. They're still young, but immediately hit it off and become inseparable. Since Elliot lives there full time and Macy doesn't, their time together is sporadic and unpredictable sometimes, but they always make the most of it when they are together. Growing up together, they saw each other grow a lot, and of course that led to first loves and other firsts.
This book is told in dual timelines. One timeline is the past when Macy and Elliot were younger and still getting to know each other. Throughout the book, we get to see them slowly grow up throughout this timeline. In the other timeline, we are in the present. The present starts a decade after Macy and Elliot last talked/saw each other. Their departure was abrupt and left a lot of questions for some characters. As the story unfolds we are leading up to the night ten years ago when they stop talking. We get to see what happened and what led them to where they are today.
This story was so well done and layered. I loved how it was told in dual timelines because I felt like both stories were unfolding perfectly. I was rooting for them in both timelines, but also so curious as to what led them to not talk for a decade after seeing how they were growing up together. This story had a lot going on, and I loved watching it all unfold. There were a lot of themes and subjects that were brought up that I wasn't expecting, but overall I really enjoyed it and these characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Car accident, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
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
livvmarks's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual content, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Gore
beccaburchett's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
madinotmaddie's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Grief, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
melist6's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity
depmythmoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved reading this book from start to finish. I’m realizing more and more that I’m a sucker for books with multiple timelines or points of view. I ate this up, and I’m surprised I didn’t finish it in one day.
Elliot Petropolous, where do I even begin with this man? I think Macy sums it up best when she says there isn’t a guy out there like him. He’s a 6ft+ tall nerd who reads books (including smut), wears glasses, writes high fantasy novels, gives out the best hugs, has muscles, and loves his woman to the ends of the earth. Who wouldn’t want this man??? There were so many times throughout the book where him and Macy are talking, and he’s trying to get her to take him back, where I know I would have folded had I been in her shoes. I would have been weak the moment this man told Macy to her face that he knew he was still in love with her and wouldn’t be able to stay just friends. He’s literally perfect for her in every way shape and form, so it was truly only a matter of time before they got together… too long of a time though
Elliot Petropolous, where do I even begin with this man? I think Macy sums it up best when she says there isn’t a guy out there like him. He’s a 6ft+ tall nerd who reads books (including smut), wears glasses, writes high fantasy novels, gives out the best hugs, has muscles, and loves his woman to the ends of the earth. Who wouldn’t want this man??? There were so many times throughout the book where him and Macy are talking, and he’s trying to get her to take him back, where I know I would have folded had I been in her shoes. I would have been weak the moment this man told Macy to her face that he knew he was still in love with her and wouldn’t be able to stay just friends. He’s literally perfect for her in every way shape and form, so it was truly only a matter of time before they got together… too long of a time though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
Minor: Infidelity
gwenswoons's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Grief
imskylow's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
This books was so much more than I ever could have expected. I guess I really do get caught up judging books by the covers and so when I was recommended this one I didn't think it would get this high of a rating out of me. I also don't generally like second chance romance but this was something else. I was blown away.
First of all, I love the rhythm and pacing of this story. I absolutely love how the story unfolds flipping back and forth between timelines of the characters teenage days to their late twenties. The slow discovery and peeling back of what has happened to Macy and Elliot to have them lose contact kept me strapped in, binge listening to this book. I laughed out loud, was embarrassed for the characters during awkward childhood moments and, towards the end, I even got a little teary-eyed. The love that Christina Lauren weaves into her book is so thick and palpable. This book honestly took me on a ride and it's easy to feel what a passion project this was.
Lauren does a great job building up these characters and their personalities and fears. She really unfolds their likes and dislikes and interests in a way that you really feel like you know them and grew up alongside them in the closet library. It's honestly made me want to ask everyone and anyone what their favorite words are. (Currently, mine is susurration). You get to see the characters young and geeky grow into themselves and know what has impacted them into becoming the people they are at the end. Though the love they share is dreamlike and almost too idyllic (the key word is 'almost') it feels real and right that they should feel the way they do. Too often these days, romance books will summarize relationship building scenes to just skip to the romantic or steamy moments. This book doesn't do that. There are INDEED steamy moments but it's built on the all of the foundation of little conversations and experiences Macy and Elliot have gone through together.
I highly recommend this book.
First of all, I love the rhythm and pacing of this story. I absolutely love how the story unfolds flipping back and forth between timelines of the characters teenage days to their late twenties. The slow discovery and peeling back of what has happened to Macy and Elliot to have them lose contact kept me strapped in, binge listening to this book. I laughed out loud, was embarrassed for the characters during awkward childhood moments and, towards the end, I even got a little teary-eyed. The love that Christina Lauren weaves into her book is so thick and palpable. This book honestly took me on a ride and it's easy to feel what a passion project this was.
Lauren does a great job building up these characters and their personalities and fears. She really unfolds their likes and dislikes and interests in a way that you really feel like you know them and grew up alongside them in the closet library. It's honestly made me want to ask everyone and anyone what their favorite words are. (Currently, mine is susurration). You get to see the characters young and geeky grow into themselves and know what has impacted them into becoming the people they are at the end. Though the love they share is dreamlike and almost too idyllic (the key word is 'almost') it feels real and right that they should feel the way they do. Too often these days, romance books will summarize relationship building scenes to just skip to the romantic or steamy moments. This book doesn't do that. There are INDEED steamy moments but it's built on the all of the foundation of little conversations and experiences Macy and Elliot have gone through together.
I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death