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erinrenee_g's review against another edition
1.0
there is really something about a flight that makes me ignore the paperback book in my hand and read something on my phone. One star, this book is way too long. It could easily be 150 pages shorter and the plot would be unchanged.
coco_90's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
idoltina's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did because it had potential. The writing in the beginning was decent, and the characters were set up to be layered and interesting. I was willing to start investing.
But the second half of the book (the last third in particular) fell flat for me, and for a book that's six hundred pages long, that's not insignificant. The execution felt 50/50 in multiple areas. I felt like Zapata did a decent job developing at least her three core characters in Aurora, Rhodes, and Am, but half the time she relied on telling when it would have been more appropriate to show (a problem that was consistent throughout the whole book on multiple fronts), expanding in spots she could have summarized and skipping over sequences that could have actually been impactful if she'd taken the time to develop them. I understood the general emotional attraction between Rhodes and Aurora, but it felt forced earlier on, and while the middle was decent, the latter part of the book fell back into the issue of telling instead of showing. There also weren't any real stakes in terms of conflict in this book, and the one that cropped up in the last 100 pages was weak and "resolved" almost as quickly as it had arisen.
This could have been two hundred pages shorter and edited better (there were times when Aurora came across like she was in her early 20s rather than the 33 she actually was, and it was honestly grating and annoying stylistically at times). Alternating between Aurora and Rhodes' POVs would have done wonders for them both as individual characters and for the development of their relationship. Flashbacks with her mom in some capacity (whose name I don't think we even knew until the epilogue???) would have been welcome and helped us actually feel Aurora's connection to her, rather than it being told to us over and over again.
Also listen, I appreciate a slow burn as much as the next person, but my god, this was glacial. Well over 400 pages before they even kissed. I get that the book was trying to focus at least equally as much on Aurora's individual character development. But the fact that Zapata had the audacity to have Aurora wonder if things were moving too fast more than 400 pages into the book (I know she meant in the context of a new relationship after her years-long previous one, but still) almost made me want rage quit and throw the book out of the fucking window. A slow burn is only worth it if the build-up is paced well and the pay-off is actually satisfying, and this was neither.
But the second half of the book (the last third in particular) fell flat for me, and for a book that's six hundred pages long, that's not insignificant. The execution felt 50/50 in multiple areas. I felt like Zapata did a decent job developing at least her three core characters in Aurora, Rhodes, and Am, but half the time she relied on telling when it would have been more appropriate to show (a problem that was consistent throughout the whole book on multiple fronts), expanding in spots she could have summarized and skipping over sequences that could have actually been impactful if she'd taken the time to develop them. I understood the general emotional attraction between Rhodes and Aurora, but it felt forced earlier on, and while the middle was decent, the latter part of the book fell back into the issue of telling instead of showing. There also weren't any real stakes in terms of conflict in this book, and the one that cropped up in the last 100 pages was weak and "resolved" almost as quickly as it had arisen.
This could have been two hundred pages shorter and edited better (there were times when Aurora came across like she was in her early 20s rather than the 33 she actually was, and it was honestly grating and annoying stylistically at times). Alternating between Aurora and Rhodes' POVs would have done wonders for them both as individual characters and for the development of their relationship. Flashbacks with her mom in some capacity (whose name I don't think we even knew until the epilogue???) would have been welcome and helped us actually feel Aurora's connection to her, rather than it being told to us over and over again.
Also listen, I appreciate a slow burn as much as the next person, but my god, this was glacial. Well over 400 pages before they even kissed. I get that the book was trying to focus at least equally as much on Aurora's individual character development. But the fact that Zapata had the audacity to have Aurora wonder if things were moving too fast more than 400 pages into the book (I know she meant in the context of a new relationship after her years-long previous one, but still) almost made me want rage quit and throw the book out of the fucking window. A slow burn is only worth it if the build-up is paced well and the pay-off is actually satisfying, and this was neither.
lalalioon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
4.25
mugsy211's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Just… wow. I think I loved this book more than the Wall of Winnipeg and Me. Wow. I adored both Aurora and Rhodes. Even if Rhodes was a grumpy jerk at times. But… damn… this book. I cried SO much over the parts that involved her mom. Just wow. HIGHLY recommend.
blondiesky's review against another edition
5.0
You had no right being so amazing, no right! What am I supposed to do now? Huh? How can I go on with my life without a love story like these? It was and still is spectacular!
soulakosti's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know how Mariana Zapata does it because she writes the slowest of slow burn romances (like 80% in and there’s not even a peck on the cheek lol) but they’re actually pretty great and not boring! I actually got a little misty eyed with this one.
Ora’s mother disappeared years ago while hiking a treacherous trail. While local policy never found the body and thought that she had simply ran away due to the pressures of being a single mom, Ora always believed deep down that her mother lost her life all those years ago. Now as an adult, she decides to temporarily move back and hike all the trails mentioned in her mother’s journal.
Little does she know, the place she found is rented by a teenage boy who really wants to buy a new guitar and had gone against his father’s wishes on renting the space over their house’s garage.
Ora’s mother disappeared years ago while hiking a treacherous trail. While local policy never found the body and thought that she had simply ran away due to the pressures of being a single mom, Ora always believed deep down that her mother lost her life all those years ago. Now as an adult, she decides to temporarily move back and hike all the trails mentioned in her mother’s journal.
Little does she know, the place she found is rented by a teenage boy who really wants to buy a new guitar and had gone against his father’s wishes on renting the space over their house’s garage.