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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
It is dark, gritty and beautiful.
Tobias:
'I wasn’t the type of person to sit around daydreaming about being swept off my feet by some guy who would keep me safe. Because there’s no such thing. ‘Safe’ is a fragile, fictional concept and people are inherently unreliable.‘
Also Tobias:
‘He (Gunnar) bats my hand away from his shirt gently, looking at me with a powerful combination of annoyance and indulgence that I kind of want to soak up like a sad, underwatered little houseplant.‘
After reading this book, my respect for Erin Russell went up again. Which is an achievement. Stupid Dirty -the first book of this series- is one of my all time favourites.
Again, the writing was sublime. Tobias and Gunnar burrowed their way into my heart and I feel very protective of them.
What stood out to me is the careful and delicate way Erin treated the topic of intimate partner violence. It breathed respect and understanding.
To me it is a powerful story that shows how difficult it is to navigate love and relationships during and after trauma.
The town feels real to me and like I know the people in it. I can't wait to read more of them and I know it is coming soon!
Favourite quote:
'I understand where you’re coming from.” I beg your finest fucking pardon, Officer Bumblefuck, but you clearly don’t.‘
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
Good book! Can't wait for the finale and the spin-off!
dark
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
READ: Jan 2025
FORMAT: Digital
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4 / 5⭐
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4 / 5⭐
FINAL – OVERALL: 4 / 5⭐
I feel like I owe an explanation for answering "no" to whether the characters are "lovable" or not. These characters are extremely well written and by no means should my answer be taken to mean that I did not like the writing of them. I simply found myself being mad at them and their choices and their reactions to their situations more often than not. But in the same breath, I acknowledge that these choices and reactions were extremely justified within the world that was built for the both of them.
The author did a fantastic job, in that aspect. One does not have to like a character in order to admit that that character was still well-written.
FINAL – OVERALL: 4 / 5⭐
I feel like I owe an explanation for answering "no" to whether the characters are "lovable" or not. These characters are extremely well written and by no means should my answer be taken to mean that I did not like the writing of them. I simply found myself being mad at them and their choices and their reactions to their situations more often than not. But in the same breath, I acknowledge that these choices and reactions were extremely justified within the world that was built for the both of them.
The author did a fantastic job, in that aspect. One does not have to like a character in order to admit that that character was still well-written.