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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Oh my god - I devoured this book. I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and this was my first read of Brit Benson's but after this stunning work of art I will have to go through and devour some of her other stories.
This story is told in three parts...Then (15 years old), Then (18 years old), and Present (28 years old). It centers around childhood bestfriends Levi and Savannah. Sav grows up in a trailer park where she is constantly on the run, usually to Levi, from her abusive step father. Levi is in his own personal hell with fanatic and overly strict catholic parents whose punishments involve a belt and bible verses. Sav and Levi form a bond and see other as a safe space until something forces Sav from town. Three years later they have a chance encounter and pick up right where they left off. Except the universe is still not on their side and an unexpected situation separates them again. Ten years later, Sav is part of a super famous rockstar band, has been in and out of rehab, has a rocky relationship with her bassist/bandmate Torren and she decides to take a break from the band and expand her horizons by taking part in a film as lead actress back in her hometown. There she runs back into Levi who's construction company is in charge of building the set for the film. But both have rings on their fingers, decade worth of festering anger and resentment, and yet an undeniable attraction to each other.
This story was unveiled and laid out so well. There were surprises along the well, anger at how unfair & cruel life could be, tears in those moments where you realize life is grey and messy and imperfect, and yet you could feel the hope for better, perseverance through the worst moments of life and the undeniable strength of love. Sav is a beautifully broken spirit who you can't help but root for and Levi somehow remains kind despite the life handed to him. The side characters were great - I felt just as captivated and desperate for the stories to continue with her bandmates Mabel, Torren and Jonah. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five was because the last 15% of the book felt like trauma/surprise overload. It was a bit too much, the story didn't need it, and I felt it hindered a bit of the HEA, especially the last surprise about his daughter.
The tropes are second chance, single dad, rockstar FMC, childhood bestfriends, angst overload, small town, dual POV.
This story is told in three parts...Then (15 years old), Then (18 years old), and Present (28 years old). It centers around childhood bestfriends Levi and Savannah. Sav grows up in a trailer park where she is constantly on the run, usually to Levi, from her abusive step father. Levi is in his own personal hell with fanatic and overly strict catholic parents whose punishments involve a belt and bible verses. Sav and Levi form a bond and see other as a safe space until something forces Sav from town. Three years later they have a chance encounter and pick up right where they left off. Except the universe is still not on their side and an unexpected situation separates them again. Ten years later, Sav is part of a super famous rockstar band, has been in and out of rehab, has a rocky relationship with her bassist/bandmate Torren and she decides to take a break from the band and expand her horizons by taking part in a film as lead actress back in her hometown. There she runs back into Levi who's construction company is in charge of building the set for the film. But both have rings on their fingers, decade worth of festering anger and resentment, and yet an undeniable attraction to each other.
This story was unveiled and laid out so well. There were surprises along the well, anger at how unfair & cruel life could be, tears in those moments where you realize life is grey and messy and imperfect, and yet you could feel the hope for better, perseverance through the worst moments of life and the undeniable strength of love. Sav is a beautifully broken spirit who you can't help but root for and Levi somehow remains kind despite the life handed to him. The side characters were great - I felt just as captivated and desperate for the stories to continue with her bandmates Mabel, Torren and Jonah. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five was because the last 15% of the book felt like trauma/surprise overload. It was a bit too much, the story didn't need it, and I felt it hindered a bit of the HEA, especially the last surprise about his daughter.
The tropes are second chance, single dad, rockstar FMC, childhood bestfriends, angst overload, small town, dual POV.
The sweetest, nicest, most gentle men having the dirtiest mouth and being the nastiest during sex will always do it for me.
I love the bad girl/good boy trope. I'm tired of the usual being the other way around.
The last 20% were CRAZYYYY ! Revelations upon revelations like wow!!!!!! Got me shocked every last chapter fr.
I love the bad girl/good boy trope. I'm tired of the usual being the other way around.
The last 20% were CRAZYYYY ! Revelations upon revelations like wow!!!!!! Got me shocked every last chapter fr.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
slow-paced
emotional
tense
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had me so frustrated I almost didn't finish it.. but in the way you're so invested with something that it messes with your own feelings.
This is a beautiful story about soulmates and how life throws you around for a while until everything gets where it's supposed to be. I enjoyed it a lot but I was horribly frustrated with the FMC.
Savannah really drove me insane and not in a good way, even when I understand her decisions came from the fact that her life was just messy and complicated ever since she was a child. Luckily, she gets her shit together at some point, but before that happened, I struggled.
Now, Levi... oh Levi! *hearteyes* This man is THE ultimate good guy and on top of it, the man is sexaaayyy and has such a filthy mouth and for some reason I was not expecting it, so it was even better! There's a lot of stuff that happens to him and every time you discover his reasons behind his decisions how it adds to the whole story, you just fall more and more in love with him.
For this one, I listened to the audiobook because *ehem* Jacob Morgan *ehem* who brought all the feels, as usual! Beautiful performance as Levi and yeah, that voice, man!
And Angelina Rocca who was fantastic as Savannah, and having listened to other books narrated by her I loved how she gave life to this particular character. She also sings in this book which I thought was a nice touch and she has a beautiful voice.
Both of them brought all the feelings to this performance and it was just beautiful and very heartfelt.
This is a beautiful story about soulmates and how life throws you around for a while until everything gets where it's supposed to be. I enjoyed it a lot but I was horribly frustrated with the FMC.
Savannah really drove me insane and not in a good way, even when I understand her decisions came from the fact that her life was just messy and complicated ever since she was a child. Luckily, she gets her shit together at some point, but before that happened, I struggled.
Now, Levi... oh Levi! *hearteyes* This man is THE ultimate good guy and on top of it, the man is sexaaayyy and has such a filthy mouth and for some reason I was not expecting it, so it was even better! There's a lot of stuff that happens to him and every time you discover his reasons behind his decisions how it adds to the whole story, you just fall more and more in love with him.
For this one, I listened to the audiobook because *ehem* Jacob Morgan *ehem* who brought all the feels, as usual! Beautiful performance as Levi and yeah, that voice, man!
And Angelina Rocca who was fantastic as Savannah, and having listened to other books narrated by her I loved how she gave life to this particular character. She also sings in this book which I thought was a nice touch and she has a beautiful voice.
Both of them brought all the feelings to this performance and it was just beautiful and very heartfelt.
I love stories about female rockstars. This 2nd chance romance didnt' work for me.
Again I think it's a me thing - I just cannot fathom the 8+ year gap, given how emotionally they were connected since meeting in 2nd grade.
Again I think it's a me thing - I just cannot fathom the 8+ year gap, given how emotionally they were connected since meeting in 2nd grade.