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sorryallbookedup's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
thebookstrovert's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Favorite Quote:
“In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not in this for a good time. I want to start my life. Have a family, a home, a good woman beside me. If those things are in my future, I want them in the right order this time. You deserve so much more than a hookup, Jules. You deserve love and commitment. I won't give you anything less."
If this book could be summed up in one emoji, it would be- 😭
I don’t know that I stopped tearing up until I finished that last chapter.
The emotions felt so real between Pat and Jules.
I absolutely loved Sunny! 🥹
I can see why people dislike Jack so much in this book, but having read Blooms first, I know He has some redeemable qualities. He still made me mad though. 😂
Once again Ashley ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and then pieced it back together again. And I can’t wait to get to do it all over again with Tag and Bea’s story!
fairbanks916's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
thisbookishmom's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 3.5/5
This book has been on my list to read for a while because of all the rave reviews, so I was excited to read it. The prologue hooked me right away and the story definitely had promise. I wanted to love it so bad! Unfortunately there were several plot points that did not work for me. I feel like there was way too much trauma in these characters lives and maybe some of it should have been simplified so there wasn’t so much going on with the story. I also struggled with the FMC—she was pretty immature and I felt like she never got the help she clearly needed to deal with everything. Overall this book just wasn’t for me, but I know lots of other people loved it, so maybe take my review with a grain of salt.
This book has been on my list to read for a while because of all the rave reviews, so I was excited to read it. The prologue hooked me right away and the story definitely had promise. I wanted to love it so bad! Unfortunately there were several plot points that did not work for me. I feel like there was way too much trauma in these characters lives and maybe some of it should have been simplified so there wasn’t so much going on with the story. I also struggled with the FMC—she was pretty immature and I felt like she never got the help she clearly needed to deal with everything. Overall this book just wasn’t for me, but I know lots of other people loved it, so maybe take my review with a grain of salt.
kylaslittlelibrary's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
kyliegh_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This book surprised me in a good way. I tend to have low expectations when it comes to debut novels. Reading this book you would never be able to tell it was Ashley Dill’s first book. I am struggling to find the words to describe how much I loved ‘Hold Back the River’. I love reading books where I can see myself in the main characters. My struggles and experiences may not be the same, but the feelings surrounding them are.
This book was so emotional. Pat and Jules had so much depth. They were far from perfect. They both struggled with how they responded to their respective traumas. I loved how they had slip ups and didn’t just make it seem like their relationship was enough to heal their trauma and everything that came along with it.
There were a lot of hard topics covered in this book, but they were handled well, and without being too graphic.
This book was so emotional. Pat and Jules had so much depth. They were far from perfect. They both struggled with how they responded to their respective traumas. I loved how they had slip ups and didn’t just make it seem like their relationship was enough to heal their trauma and everything that came along with it.
There were a lot of hard topics covered in this book, but they were handled well, and without being too graphic.
mom_loves_to_read's review against another edition
5.0
Have you ever read a book that just completely took you by surprise? This book did just that. This book
charleysreadingcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely breathtaking.
I really had no idea what to expect going into this book and I loved it even more for that reason.
We follow the perspective of three people whose lives have been changed forever due to horrific trauma endured. Will they come out or give up?
Trigger warnings for this book are as stated:
- grief
- death
- addiction
- suicide
Once I picked this book up I could not put it down!
If you’re looking for something a little different and not souly romance or smut based this book is 100% for you. I loved following the journey of the three perspectives and watching them learn and grow.
I really had no idea what to expect going into this book and I loved it even more for that reason.
We follow the perspective of three people whose lives have been changed forever due to horrific trauma endured. Will they come out or give up?
Trigger warnings for this book are as stated:
- grief
- death
- addiction
- suicide
Once I picked this book up I could not put it down!
If you’re looking for something a little different and not souly romance or smut based this book is 100% for you. I loved following the journey of the three perspectives and watching them learn and grow.
wrightfamilybookadventures's review against another edition
5.0
Hold Back the River
Book Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I sometimes wonder if any of us deserve those things, but magic when someone offers them anyway.”
Hold back the River is Ashley Dill’s debut novel and wow did she make magic happen. This book is one that will take you to dark emotional places and bring you right back up. Pain and loss are prevalent in the storyline. You will cry. Just prepare yourself!
Patrick and Julia are our two main characters who have both been to hell and back. This is their story of redemption and finding hope when they thought all was lost. Each character has to find a way to forgive themselves in order to move on together. They find love even when you are broken and healing.
I absolutely loved this story. It was a deep, emotional roller coaster that I couldn’t put down. You will feel all the feels and cheer for them every step of the way!
Book Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I sometimes wonder if any of us deserve those things, but magic when someone offers them anyway.”
Hold back the River is Ashley Dill’s debut novel and wow did she make magic happen. This book is one that will take you to dark emotional places and bring you right back up. Pain and loss are prevalent in the storyline. You will cry. Just prepare yourself!
Patrick and Julia are our two main characters who have both been to hell and back. This is their story of redemption and finding hope when they thought all was lost. Each character has to find a way to forgive themselves in order to move on together. They find love even when you are broken and healing.
I absolutely loved this story. It was a deep, emotional roller coaster that I couldn’t put down. You will feel all the feels and cheer for them every step of the way!
steph2talkabout's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. i was lucky to receive an ARC from the author. This review is 100% my own and I feel no obligation to inflate my rating. I did absolutely love this story! The two main characters have great depth. Their lives have been anything but easy and figuring out life day after day when you carry baggage is complicated. I also have a love/hate feeling towards stories that don’t just give it all away in the beginning. I love the mystery and hate the waiting lol. This book shares about these MCs as the story is told instead of setting the groundwork in the beginning which really adds to the development of the story and their characters. This book grabbed my attention in the first chapter and progressively got more intriguing. Part of what I loved about this book was the many emotions it brought out in me while reading and it wasn’t just a straight forward story. It got messy, it had happiness, it was real and it was a great read!!!