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stllyltc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wasn't particularly fond of how the character was written. As an individual, it flowed how there was so much more to unpack. The intense avoidant detachment coming from it was insanely unhealthy for the sake of so-called friendship. Reading this has made me realize once again why the romance genres are so not my type of reading. Reeling away from processing grief, not facing reality, steering to convenience rather than actually living and not just merely passing by time, knowing someone just at arm's length, and settling for less—it follows a concept of the character's journey towards her perception and life in general. As the experience she endowed was distraughting enough, it's good overall, but it was icky for some reason. It's a shame I had to skip some parts because it just wasn't it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Pregnancy
sammymilfort's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Rape, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Cursing
midnightrose_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
This is a second chance romance between Elliot and Macy who live in Northern California. When Macy’s Mom passes away from cancer when she’s younger, her father buys a vacation home in a nearby seaside town. When they are moving into the house she stumbles onto a boy reading in the large closet in her new bedroom. His name is Elliot and his family lives next door. They quickly become fast friends sharing a love of books and favorite words. What follows is the beauty of first love and the agony of when that love is tested.
I really enjoyed this story. Elliot’s family was fantastic and Macy’s father was someone who loved her fiercely. The budding romance between Macy and Elliot is definitely swoon worthy. The Then and Now timelines really give a good sense of how they grow up to be the people they become in the present timeline. The only reason this wasn’t a completely 5 star read was because of the reason that Macy doesn’t speak to Elliot for 11 years. In my opinion there, was no way he wouldn’t have heard about the event that took place. The news, newspaper or online, or perhaps someone would have told his parents. I feel like that crucial element, that hinges a lot of emotional weight on it, really requires the reader to suspend belief. Not so much the event itself, but the idea that Elliot remains clueless that it occurred, until Macy finally reveals what happened at the end of the novel. Other than that it’s a solid second chance love story.
I really enjoyed this story. Elliot’s family was fantastic and Macy’s father was someone who loved her fiercely. The budding romance between Macy and Elliot is definitely swoon worthy. The Then and Now timelines really give a good sense of how they grow up to be the people they become in the present timeline. The only reason this wasn’t a completely 5 star read was because of the reason that Macy doesn’t speak to Elliot for 11 years. In my opinion there, was no way he wouldn’t have heard about the event that took place. The news, newspaper or online, or perhaps someone would have told his parents. I feel like that crucial element, that hinges a lot of emotional weight on it, really requires the reader to suspend belief. Not so much the event itself, but the idea that Elliot remains clueless that it occurred, until Macy finally reveals what happened at the end of the novel. Other than that it’s a solid second chance love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Death, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, and Infidelity
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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