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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
I loved the premise of this book - returning home to a small Italian village after a long absence, falling for the next door neighbour. Unfortunately it wasn’t my cup of tea.
I found it difficult to relate to or like the characters. Their motivations seemed erratic and the story seemed to move at quite a choppy pace. It was high on angst and steam, and reminded me a lot of reading Binding 13. I did love the sultry Italian setting, which was the highlight of the story for me.
The narrators did a wonderful job of grounding the story and the dual narration lent an extra depth the the characters. Not for me, but I can see it being enjoyable for someone looking for an angsty, atmospheric, twisty and steamy read.
Thank you Hachette Audio for an early copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.
I found it difficult to relate to or like the characters. Their motivations seemed erratic and the story seemed to move at quite a choppy pace. It was high on angst and steam, and reminded me a lot of reading Binding 13. I did love the sultry Italian setting, which was the highlight of the story for me.
The narrators did a wonderful job of grounding the story and the dual narration lent an extra depth the the characters. Not for me, but I can see it being enjoyable for someone looking for an angsty, atmospheric, twisty and steamy read.
Thank you Hachette Audio for an early copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.
The toxicity in the relationship is CRAZY!!!! I’m always a fan of my best friend’s sister trope, it just adds to the tension between the two main characters. I loved every minute of it, and get me to Italy right now !!!
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spoilers ahead:
This is what my thoughts looked like while reading, I am not able to write a normal review for this one:
Not what I expected AT ALL
Omg these people need therapy
ALL OF THEM
AND AN OPEN ENDING WTF HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME
I loved and hated this at the same time omg
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AT TIMES BUT THE PEOPLE WERE SO FUCKEP UP
IM SO TRAUMATISED
No plot
This is what my thoughts looked like while reading, I am not able to write a normal review for this one:
Not what I expected AT ALL
Omg these people need therapy
ALL OF THEM
AND AN OPEN ENDING WTF HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME
I loved and hated this at the same time omg
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AT TIMES BUT THE PEOPLE WERE SO FUCKEP UP
IM SO TRAUMATISED
No plot
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
Theo and Magdalen were neighbours as children, their parents are best friends and their families have always been entwined. As adults both Theo and Magdalen left Italy but now after seven years away they have returned home for a wedding. Both Theo and Magdalen will be forced to face the ghosts of their past which led them to leave everyone they love behind.
My thoughts: There isn’t a plot. It’s 2 people flirting in Italy, the end. They’re either talking about their feelings or getting drunk. Nothing happens until the very end of the book…if you can hang in there long enough.
The book is so forgettable that it took me 2 days to remember I’d finished it and hadn’t reviewed it.
I feel like we bounced from spicy scene to spicy scene with the thinnest veil of a plot to hold it together. The jumps in time - weeks where the main characters didn’t speak to each other felt lazy and I could not get behind either of them since they remained closed off even to the reader. Parts were nicely written but the race through to the end sort of ruined it for me.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm conflicted.
I didn't really like either of the main characters/their decisions, but I feel like that was the point? they're kind of relatable in that way, but mainly just infuriating
I didn't really like either of the main characters/their decisions, but I feel like that was the point? they're kind of relatable in that way, but mainly just infuriating
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
I could‘ve cried multiple times for the fmc. The things that happened hurt! Loved the setting and family dynamics, until we got to know them better - if you know…! The friendships were cute, many conversations between the mcs were heartbreakingly romantic and the twists in the end shocked me! But the mmc changed his mine so abruptly all the time that I couldn’t really trust him. I mean yes the things that happened were absolutely fucked up but still talking to the person you‘re supposed to love like this crazy to me. This also wrapped up super quickly. We found out some things in the end with no explanation really and I do sometimes enjoy an open end but it felt like something was missing here. Overall I can‘t say that I didn‘t enjoy this, I also thought about these characters all the time when I had no time to read. Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for this arc! I‘m excited to read the authors next work!