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missysreadingcorner's review against another edition
5.0
Leo and Will are such a hot mess. At first, I didn't like the idea of them as a couple. Will did everything to show Leo he was not a monogamous person and Leo ignored them. When Leo walked in on Will with that dude (which I knew would happen eventually), Leo had no right to get angry but Will told him he didn't want a relationship. However, Will should have been honest about his feelings. He should have told Leo he was his best friend. The one thing I like about this book more than the first two were the minor characters. I really liked Leo's friends and how they helped him. I also liked Will's sister, who really needed help. Even though they are a hot mess, they work together.
eslismyjam's review against another edition
3.0
I loved book 1 the best, but this is probably a second. Although Will is a total dick for most of the book. However, there is no doubt that Will was up front with Leo about what he wanted and didn’t give him false expectations. I felt for Leo, having put myself in romantic relationships like this before, always hoping the other person will change their mind and want the same things you do. I like both of the characters evolution and the ending was satisfying.
bookish_notes's review against another edition
4.0
This book is...different. Not bad different, but I feel like this book is just different from the previous two books. Where We Left Off takes place in a completely new setting and with characters we last saw in the book one, Leo and Will. This takes place in NYC. Will, Rex's ex-boyfriend, already lives in the city as a cover artist for books. Leo, is moving into the city to study at NYU by moving from his small town Holiday, Michigan and going to the big city by himself. After their initial meeting and kiss in the first book, Leo is completely infatuated with Will, someone who's older than his 19-year-old self. Not to say Leo only moved to NYU to be with Will, because he does want to study at a college, but he kind of did pick a school in New York to be close to Will. So, this story is a mixed bag for me.
I will say that this is the one story of the series that would have greatly benefitted from having dual POVs, because we only see the story from Leo's POV. I think the relationship dynamic is oddly balanced? Leo is still trying to find himself in life - he's only just starting at NYU and doesn't know what major to declare yet, and Will has a job and has frankly said that he doesn't do relationships. I totally shipped them in the first book, but when I started this book, it was like I had to be reintroduced to the characters.
I'm fine with Will making it very clear to Leo that he's not one for monogamy. And even though seeing the story only from Leo's eyes, I'm not really comfortable, I guess, to see Leo's insistance or presumption that they be in monogamous relationship? I did enjoy reading the book for the NA-type feel though. Leo going off to college, making friends, and all that was really nice. The scenes that Leo and Will actually have together are hot. But...Will is a bit flaky and sending mixed signals. He says that Leo is the first person he thought of to confess his problems to, and yet he's also the one calling Leo after Leo calls it quits between them? I know that Will wanted Leo to be friends first and always, before whatever it is develops between them, but I think Will is also kind of stringing Leo along when he knows how Leo feels about him?
I don't know really, I'm still conflicted about how I feel about Leo and Will's relationship in general. I think the book is much more HFN than a true HEA. Leo never really quite accepts Will's stance on no monogamy, and Will never fully gives Leo what he's looking for. Leo's story about coming into his own, away from his family in a new city looking for a new life is actually fun and interesting to read about. It also reminds me of a lot of the stress of final exams back during my college days. I do find it interesting though that there's an entire month (January) that's a special term and the students don't head back to school until February? Leo found some great friends in this book and I wouldn't mind some spin-off books about Leo's college friends and their relationships. If anything, Charles, the college roommate, is entertaining and my favorite for some reason.
There's no Colin and Rafe in this book (because Leo and Colin never did meet), but there's some fun conversations between Leo and Daniel. I think some consistency was lost though between Daniel/Rex and Will. I was under the impression that Daniel and Rex were totally cool with Will by the end of In the Middle of Somewhere, but here (a year later or there abouts), they're suddenly against Will in general and don't seem to like him very much at all? I read the books back-to-back, so I might be getting mixed up, but it seemed kind of weird as I was reading it.
For the most part, I really did like this story. I liked Leo's story about him moving to the big city and discovering himself and getting the friends and family he never quite had back in Holiday. I liked Leo and I liked Will. But together? They have chemistry, but I still think the story is much more HFN, and I'm still not sure if Leo and Will are really end-game relationship material just because of where they are in life. Anyways, I'm excited to read Ginger and Christopher's story in new spin-off series Small Change and hope to see some of the Middle of Nowhere characters wonder into the series!
Fun side-note since I love RENT references, this is my favorite quote from the book:
I will say that this is the one story of the series that would have greatly benefitted from having dual POVs, because we only see the story from Leo's POV. I think the relationship dynamic is oddly balanced? Leo is still trying to find himself in life - he's only just starting at NYU and doesn't know what major to declare yet, and Will has a job and has frankly said that he doesn't do relationships. I totally shipped them in the first book, but when I started this book, it was like I had to be reintroduced to the characters.
Because though I felt sure that somehow Will was my destiny, there were some things that even destiny couldn't justify.
I'm fine with Will making it very clear to Leo that he's not one for monogamy. And even though seeing the story only from Leo's eyes, I'm not really comfortable, I guess, to see Leo's insistance or presumption that they be in monogamous relationship? I did enjoy reading the book for the NA-type feel though. Leo going off to college, making friends, and all that was really nice. The scenes that Leo and Will actually have together are hot. But...Will is a bit flaky and sending mixed signals. He says that Leo is the first person he thought of to confess his problems to, and yet he's also the one calling Leo after Leo calls it quits between them? I know that Will wanted Leo to be friends first and always, before whatever it is develops between them, but I think Will is also kind of stringing Leo along when he knows how Leo feels about him?
I hadn't ever let myself imagine what would happen if Will went off script. After all, I'd written him so many.
I don't know really, I'm still conflicted about how I feel about Leo and Will's relationship in general. I think the book is much more HFN than a true HEA. Leo never really quite accepts Will's stance on no monogamy, and Will never fully gives Leo what he's looking for. Leo's story about coming into his own, away from his family in a new city looking for a new life is actually fun and interesting to read about. It also reminds me of a lot of the stress of final exams back during my college days. I do find it interesting though that there's an entire month (January) that's a special term and the students don't head back to school until February? Leo found some great friends in this book and I wouldn't mind some spin-off books about Leo's college friends and their relationships. If anything, Charles, the college roommate, is entertaining and my favorite for some reason.
Charles was a near-compulsive Wikipedia editor. His expertise was vast and shallow.
There's no Colin and Rafe in this book (because Leo and Colin never did meet), but there's some fun conversations between Leo and Daniel. I think some consistency was lost though between Daniel/Rex and Will. I was under the impression that Daniel and Rex were totally cool with Will by the end of In the Middle of Somewhere, but here (a year later or there abouts), they're suddenly against Will in general and don't seem to like him very much at all? I read the books back-to-back, so I might be getting mixed up, but it seemed kind of weird as I was reading it.
And so, so easy to almost believe that this was my real life. That Will and I would celebrate next Christmas together just like this, and the one after that.
For the most part, I really did like this story. I liked Leo's story about him moving to the big city and discovering himself and getting the friends and family he never quite had back in Holiday. I liked Leo and I liked Will. But together? They have chemistry, but I still think the story is much more HFN, and I'm still not sure if Leo and Will are really end-game relationship material just because of where they are in life. Anyways, I'm excited to read Ginger and Christopher's story in new spin-off series Small Change and hope to see some of the Middle of Nowhere characters wonder into the series!
Fun side-note since I love RENT references, this is my favorite quote from the book:
I'd tried to think of ways to measure everything important in my life. And god knew Milton had given me enough shit about it, singing that damn song from Rent about measuring a life until I actually wondered if the professor had ever needed to ban its lyrics from being the titles of final projects.
missawn's review
3.0
Auugh! Why did Leo have to be so young (literally and figuratively) ... and why did Will have to be such a douche? There are things I really loved about this book ... and then there were things that did not work for me at all. Despite the problems, the chemistry between the MCs is palpable and the writing is strong.
However, the story was prone to take tangents that did not quite work for me. Will's entire back storyline was outlandish and strange. His whole, pity me because I'm so beautiful plea really did not work for me. Nor the fact that he was often vain, selfish and cruel ... and behaved despicably towards pretty much everyone. I also think that the whole Claire storyline was handled badly ... it should not have been okay to leave those kids alone for days with only a phone call to keep them safe? Thus descending Will into even deeper levels of douchery IMO. I absolutely hated the "physics of love" ending ... just silly and just reflected badly on Leo who often came across as immature and naively idealistic.
There were quite a few side characters (new and from previous books) ... many of which added little to the story like Thomas and his twin ... and to some extent most of his college crew (save Milton). It has been a while since I read the first books in this series and I barely remember them so I struggled with some of the necessary background to this story.
So close to being perfect with surprisingly good chemistry between the MCs given that the charaterization in this book is deeply flawed. I will cautiously read more books from this author because she writes well, but I will definitely avoid anything that has a super young MC. I simply don't enjoy it ... it just makes me super uncomfortable.
However, the story was prone to take tangents that did not quite work for me. Will's entire back storyline was outlandish and strange. His whole, pity me because I'm so beautiful plea really did not work for me. Nor the fact that he was often vain, selfish and cruel ... and behaved despicably towards pretty much everyone. I also think that the whole Claire storyline was handled badly ... it should not have been okay to leave those kids alone for days with only a phone call to keep them safe? Thus descending Will into even deeper levels of douchery IMO. I absolutely hated the "physics of love" ending ... just silly and just reflected badly on Leo who often came across as immature and naively idealistic.
There were quite a few side characters (new and from previous books) ... many of which added little to the story like Thomas and his twin ... and to some extent most of his college crew (save Milton). It has been a while since I read the first books in this series and I barely remember them so I struggled with some of the necessary background to this story.
So close to being perfect with surprisingly good chemistry between the MCs given that the charaterization in this book is deeply flawed. I will cautiously read more books from this author because she writes well, but I will definitely avoid anything that has a super young MC. I simply don't enjoy it ... it just makes me super uncomfortable.
readintherainbow's review against another edition
5.0
Life is like this book...
Life is like a box of chocolates, not a rom-com. Life is like this book; which is to say it's filled with emotions you have and don't want and situations you sometimes wish you didn't have to deal with. Perhaps its because I was the main characters age when something similar happened to me, or perhaps it's just because the author is just this damn good; whatever the reason the book resonated with me on a number of issues.
For lack of a better term, growing pains, or maybe removing your-head-from-your-ass syndrome works better. Leo is a very sweet, likable, and smart blissfully blind main character. I say blind because the book is almost his journey to see the world (his world) in a new more realistic light. The rose colored glasses aren't totally removed but they are sure as shit lightened through some life experiences. He learns that there is more than one way to communicate, something that is total hindsight 20/20 but in the moment is a difficult concept to grasp, especially when you've been building up what you want your life to be like.
I love how the book isn't overly angsty-there are some problems and times when you want to shake one or more of the characters BUT to me that's just a sign that I as the reader am so fully sucked into the story I can't help but want to tell the character how much of an idiot they're being.
If I could give it 10 stars I would. The only real thing I would change isn't really a change but rather an addition, I wish Daniel and Rex were in it more--but I wish that because I loved them and their story and also because that would make the book longer. I finished it in 2 days and am frustrated with my lack of pacing because it's over now :(
Life is like a box of chocolates, not a rom-com. Life is like this book; which is to say it's filled with emotions you have and don't want and situations you sometimes wish you didn't have to deal with. Perhaps its because I was the main characters age when something similar happened to me, or perhaps it's just because the author is just this damn good; whatever the reason the book resonated with me on a number of issues.
For lack of a better term, growing pains, or maybe removing your-head-from-your-ass syndrome works better. Leo is a very sweet, likable, and smart blissfully blind main character. I say blind because the book is almost his journey to see the world (his world) in a new more realistic light. The rose colored glasses aren't totally removed but they are sure as shit lightened through some life experiences. He learns that there is more than one way to communicate, something that is total hindsight 20/20 but in the moment is a difficult concept to grasp, especially when you've been building up what you want your life to be like.
I love how the book isn't overly angsty-there are some problems and times when you want to shake one or more of the characters BUT to me that's just a sign that I as the reader am so fully sucked into the story I can't help but want to tell the character how much of an idiot they're being.
If I could give it 10 stars I would. The only real thing I would change isn't really a change but rather an addition, I wish Daniel and Rex were in it more--but I wish that because I loved them and their story and also because that would make the book longer. I finished it in 2 days and am frustrated with my lack of pacing because it's over now :(
corners_of_cozy's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mathmagicalreader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
litloulou's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. This wasn't as good as the other books. I was really excited for this one but Leo just seemed naive and Will seemed mean. I couldn't get past it all to really decide to like them together or apart.
okay_mon's review against another edition
Couldn’t quite get over the age gap in this one, and it was just too slow and boring for me. Really liked 1st and 2nd books of this series, but this one didn’t have much of a plot.