Reviews with content warning for Violence - Older

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Older by Jennifer Hartmann

2 reviews

hereiskyra's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

SPOILERS AHEAD…

🖤

Halley and Reed quite literally broke my heart 10 times over in these 430 pages. This book took me through such a roller coaster and I genuinely didn’t know if I was going to be okay there for a while.

For the longest time, I was really struggling to decide if I could find it in me to root for these two after how their relationship started. But, of course the more we got to know and love them, the easier it got to see why they fit together and that even if it didn’t make sense, they were what each other needed.

Now listen, before the good stuff, I refuse to get into the logistics of having a family with someone half your age because it’s just messy and this is fiction but if these two had been closer in age, everyone would have been all for it. I mean, their personalities were absolutely made for each other so does it really matter?

As exciting as the forbidden aspect always is, the best parts for me were the moments when they had genuine connection, not based on lust but on some deeper feeling… you knew in those moments that there was something real between them.

But the slow burn? My god, that almost killed me!

Honestly, that first “taste” was ridiculously hot and I knew from that moment it was going to be like a tsunami when they finally gave in to one another after so much time.

I loved that Reed was genuinely a good man and dad and did something amazing with his life, helping survivors feel and be stronger. He helped Halley not only overcome some of her emotional trauma but he helped her become physically stronger and capable of defending herself if she ever needed to again.

When the time came for everything to blow up, I knew it was going to be rough. And it broke my heart for both of them but especially for Halley, who lost so much already and had to give up the first stable place she had ever lived and the only semblance of family she had ever known.

The goodbye she and Reed shared had me sobbing and that’s when I knew that if they didn’t end up together, it may actually break a little part of me.

But, fortunately for me, there was still a love story to be had. I appreciate that they had some time apart for Halley to really get a chance to experience whatever she wanted to without Reed for a while, even if she didn’t take full advantage of that. When they were finally able to come back together, it felt right. It felt like they had worked out all of the things they tried for so long to pretend weren’t issues. It felt like they finally decided to stop fighting and to resign themselves to the fact that they were going to be drawn to each other no matter who or what was trying to stand between them. It felt like they finally knew they were in love and that was never going to change no matter how much space or time or adversity they had between them.

These two fought like hell to come out of their heartbreak in one piece and they earned the acceptance they got.

I may never hear Wonderwall again and not think about Halley and Reed. 🖤

Favorite quotes:

“Love is weak. Love is selfish. It’s not this fairy-tale illusion of candy hearts and paper flowers. It’s messy and painful. But it’s always worth it.”

“As much as a girl can love the next best thing.”

Tropes:

Age-Gap (17 years)

Forbidden/Best Friends Dad

Slow Burn

Angsty

BONUS:

90’s Nostalgia

Spice:

3.5 🌶️

Content Warnings

anca_s_books's review

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dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

#Review: *Older* - Jennifer Hartmann [18+]
5/5✨
3.5/5🌶️

Oh, my God! This book was wayyy different from everything I've read so far 💙. Thank you so much Jennifer Hartmann and ValentinePR for this copy🫶🏼. Some parts in this book may affect people, touching home violence subjects, abuse and abandonment.

Halley is a young girl who isn't in the best situation. She lives in an abusive house, as her father is often putting his misery on her, by beating her. All this sad baggage makes Halley look older than she actually is, but more beautiful and different at the same time.

Only one night changes everything for Halley and Reed. They have build a strong connection by sharing a beautiful moment together before knowing everything about eachother. Life is definitely not easy for them when Reed learns about her age, also after Halley finds out that he is her best friends dad.

After that moment the slow burn between them was built so damn good. The ideea of this forbidden relationship made me have that knot in my heart. At first, it made me judge them for this forbidden connection but I've started changing my mind with every page I read. The angst was at the highest level and affected me so much, feeling every emotion at the same time with the characters.

I loved the progress Halley did throughout the years and how she fought with her demons. She faced so many rough things that it was impossible to not be affected somehow. But in all those grey and black shades, color starts to slip in and slowly healing her scars.

This book will definitely remain in my heart! 💙 The author writes so beautiful and I'm looking forward to reading the other books I have in my library by her 😊.
Book tropes:
#ForbiddenLove
#SecretRomamce
#AgeGap
#Angst
#Banter
#FathersBestFriend
#CloseProximity
#DualPov
#Violence

Content Warnings

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