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arickman's review against another edition
4.0
While this book isn't one of my favorites of the series it was still good. I've been waiting for this story forever and was so glad to see it play out.
junojuniper's review against another edition
4.0
I loved these two so much. I'm curious to see where things go with Wolf.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
It feels like we’ve been waiting forever for this book. At least, it feels that way to me! I’ve been excited for Seb and Hudson’s story since I knew there had ever been a Seb and Hudson. And, now here we are at last…Darkest Hour Before Dawn is here. Charlie Cochet has filled in the remaining blanks on what happened to rip our heroes apart, given them their much deserved HEA, and taken them (and us) on a little rollercoaster ride along the way!
It’s crazy to think about this series as a whole so far. Darkest Hour Before Dawn is book nine in Cochet’s much loved THIRDS series. Book NINE! That’s pretty wild. We’ve really gotten to know these guys well over those nine books. But, not just the teams, though—we’ve also gotten to know some of the families and friends outside the THIRDS, and I love how they are regularly incorporated into the stories. In this book, of course, we get to spend more time with Sebastian’s family. It’s obvious that Hudson misses them a lot. Since his own family is so disappointing, it’s wonderful that Seb’s family is there to love him and show him he belongs somewhere. After seven years, Hudson decides to close some of that distance and rekindles his relationship with Julia and Thomas, which made me very happy. There is also a really great scene where Rafe has a little heart-to-heart with Hudson in his office, that I loved. The Hobbs family has no problem showing Hudson how they feel.
The fact that it’s been seven years since Seb and Hudson split up is just bonkers. How could they let themselves be apart for that long, when they are so clearly still SO much in love? (I’ll tell you how…Hudson. But, more on that in a minute.) And, the fact that they clearly are still in love is both swoon-worthy and unbelievable. Swoon-worthy because guhhhhhhhhhh…they’re so awesome together. And, unbelievable because I can’t believe Seb has let Hudson keep him on the string for this long! I know…I know…the bond…the love…etc… But, I can’t be the only one who thinks Hudson has been sort of a brat and has taken way too long to do all the eye-opening he does in this book. I wanted to shake him quite a few times. Hmph. When that light bulb goes off for him, though? And, his eyes are truly opened. It’s a great moment in the book.
The Seb and Hudson reconciliation actually seemed like a fairly small-ish part of the story, though. I found myself realizing I was at thirty percent in the book, and they were only talking for the second time. To be fair, in the second half there are definitely some significant things that happen that directly involve them, and get them where they need to be, but the bulk of the book was about keeping the main THIRDS story thread going. We get a little deeper into TIN, and find out which team members are working with them, and in what capacity. We learn about a mysterious, secret group, called the Makhai, a pro-Therian group who are willing to go to great lengths to keep Therians the dominant species. And, we see quite a bit more of Wolf, the psycho-for-hire who tortured Dex in Smoke & Mirrors.
It wouldn’t be a THIRDS book if there wasn’t some heart-stopping action—and there is. There are two main action scenes, both of which are adrenaline-filled and fantastic. But I honestly felt like there could have been a little bit more. I wanted more of the tension and drama and intrigue and fun we’ve gotten from some of the previous books. Wow, I’m a greedy little thing, huh?! It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the hell out of this book. I totally did. I just also felt like quite a bit of time was spent rehashing, and there was just a liiiiittle somethin-somethin lacking.
There was, of course, way more that I loved about the book than didn’t. Being made to swoon by Sebastian; Lobito; any page time for Dex—ok, and Sloane; Seb’s partner, Dom, who was fabulous; the extra little bits of insight into Seb and Hudson’s history; and the ennnnnnnnd. The end was so, so, so good, you guys. Darkest Hour Before Dawn is definitely going to be another hit with THIRDS fans, and a win for Cochet. With the further development of TIN, and with Wolf and these nutjob factions still out there, we know there’s more to come—so, bring it on! I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
It’s crazy to think about this series as a whole so far. Darkest Hour Before Dawn is book nine in Cochet’s much loved THIRDS series. Book NINE! That’s pretty wild. We’ve really gotten to know these guys well over those nine books. But, not just the teams, though—we’ve also gotten to know some of the families and friends outside the THIRDS, and I love how they are regularly incorporated into the stories. In this book, of course, we get to spend more time with Sebastian’s family. It’s obvious that Hudson misses them a lot. Since his own family is so disappointing, it’s wonderful that Seb’s family is there to love him and show him he belongs somewhere. After seven years, Hudson decides to close some of that distance and rekindles his relationship with Julia and Thomas, which made me very happy. There is also a really great scene where Rafe has a little heart-to-heart with Hudson in his office, that I loved. The Hobbs family has no problem showing Hudson how they feel.
The fact that it’s been seven years since Seb and Hudson split up is just bonkers. How could they let themselves be apart for that long, when they are so clearly still SO much in love? (I’ll tell you how…Hudson. But, more on that in a minute.) And, the fact that they clearly are still in love is both swoon-worthy and unbelievable. Swoon-worthy because guhhhhhhhhhh…they’re so awesome together. And, unbelievable because I can’t believe Seb has let Hudson keep him on the string for this long! I know…I know…the bond…the love…etc… But, I can’t be the only one who thinks Hudson has been sort of a brat and has taken way too long to do all the eye-opening he does in this book. I wanted to shake him quite a few times. Hmph. When that light bulb goes off for him, though? And, his eyes are truly opened. It’s a great moment in the book.
The Seb and Hudson reconciliation actually seemed like a fairly small-ish part of the story, though. I found myself realizing I was at thirty percent in the book, and they were only talking for the second time. To be fair, in the second half there are definitely some significant things that happen that directly involve them, and get them where they need to be, but the bulk of the book was about keeping the main THIRDS story thread going. We get a little deeper into TIN, and find out which team members are working with them, and in what capacity. We learn about a mysterious, secret group, called the Makhai, a pro-Therian group who are willing to go to great lengths to keep Therians the dominant species. And, we see quite a bit more of Wolf, the psycho-for-hire who tortured Dex in Smoke & Mirrors.
It wouldn’t be a THIRDS book if there wasn’t some heart-stopping action—and there is. There are two main action scenes, both of which are adrenaline-filled and fantastic. But I honestly felt like there could have been a little bit more. I wanted more of the tension and drama and intrigue and fun we’ve gotten from some of the previous books. Wow, I’m a greedy little thing, huh?! It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the hell out of this book. I totally did. I just also felt like quite a bit of time was spent rehashing, and there was just a liiiiittle somethin-somethin lacking.
There was, of course, way more that I loved about the book than didn’t. Being made to swoon by Sebastian; Lobito; any page time for Dex—ok, and Sloane; Seb’s partner, Dom, who was fabulous; the extra little bits of insight into Seb and Hudson’s history; and the ennnnnnnnd. The end was so, so, so good, you guys. Darkest Hour Before Dawn is definitely going to be another hit with THIRDS fans, and a win for Cochet. With the further development of TIN, and with Wolf and these nutjob factions still out there, we know there’s more to come—so, bring it on! I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
teenykins's review against another edition
3.0
2nd re-listen. Rating stays the same and pretty much I said everything in my review when I listened to it for the first time.
The only thing that I will add is that it was a bit OTT the part when the mother run to Hudson to thank him for saving her daughter in the elevator incident just to offset the first incident that broke them up which seriously they had no fault over.
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3 stars because I generally like the series and the guys!
This I've been waiting since the freaking first time we got to know about the Seb-Hudson situation! Well if you think Ash and Cael's story left a lot to be desired this was worse!!!
I don't know what to be disappointed at first? Hudson running tail every other time? Having Hudson's date and kissing Trent on page? Him making Seb prove Seb would put the "preserve civilian life first" after they got together and waltzing in and out of Seb's life like nothing happened and everything was okay? Seb being a doormat and letting Hudson do whatever he wanted when and how he wanted it?
I'm an avid M/M reader and have abandoned M/F for like a decade now and what does it tell you that I bawled my eyes out in book 6 and Rafe's pain. Shouldn't that have happened in book 5 and in this book which were supposed to house the most heartbreaking couples in the series?
Also I really disliked how Mark Westfield voiced Seb.... such a disappointment!! I mean he was supposed to have a gravelly voice and what I heard was the voice of a shy guy afraid to talk, which I understood for Ethan but for Seb... nope no!!
The only thing that I will add is that it was a bit OTT the part when the mother run to Hudson to thank him for saving her daughter in the elevator incident just to offset the first incident that broke them up which seriously they had no fault over.
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3 stars because I generally like the series and the guys!
This I've been waiting since the freaking first time we got to know about the Seb-Hudson situation! Well if you think Ash and Cael's story left a lot to be desired this was worse!!!
I don't know what to be disappointed at first? Hudson running tail every other time? Having Hudson's date and kissing Trent on page? Him making Seb prove Seb would put the "preserve civilian life first" after they got together and waltzing in and out of Seb's life like nothing happened and everything was okay? Seb being a doormat and letting Hudson do whatever he wanted when and how he wanted it?
I'm an avid M/M reader and have abandoned M/F for like a decade now and what does it tell you that I bawled my eyes out in book 6 and Rafe's pain. Shouldn't that have happened in book 5 and in this book which were supposed to house the most heartbreaking couples in the series?
Also I really disliked how Mark Westfield voiced Seb.... such a disappointment!! I mean he was supposed to have a gravelly voice and what I heard was the voice of a shy guy afraid to talk, which I understood for Ethan but for Seb... nope no!!
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
5.0
Yay! Seb and Hudson finally. Since this is a second chance story, you see a lot of backstory, while the larger plot keeps moving forward.
rain_97's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
haletostilinski1's review against another edition
4.0
This. Fucking. Book.
I both loved and hated it. And I don't think I've ever quite hated a book as much as loved a book as I do this one. The first half was more 3 stars for me, but then it got REALLY good, especially near the end, and was a 5 star read for me, so I averaged it out at 4 stars.
Why was the first half so frustrating for me? Because of Hudson. I think I have a complicated relationship with Hudson. Before he was just a nice British guy who went through a tragedy and was for reasons unknown keeping him and Seb apart. Yes, a tragedy happened, but it had been seven years by the end of the 8th book, and thats enough time to heal and move on, so I was mostly perplexed, thinking the only reason they weren't back together yet is because we hadn't gotten to their book. But since this book really went into what happened, and Hudson's thought process, I became more and more pissed off with him.
Look, I like Hudson, he's a strong person and a strong character. But I think I have more of a love/hate relationship with him - and not in the hot romantic way *wiggles eyebrows* - but more of a...I enjoy his character a lot throughout this book, but just as much of the time, he pissed me the fuck off. Nina rightly pointed out that that it wasn't about what had happened with the poor boy who died that day anymore, even though it definitely started out that way - but by now, it was about Hudson being so scared to try again he was keeping Seb at a distance, but not completely cutting ties with him at the same time.
THAT is what pissed me off so much. I completely understand a character being scared, I completely understand Hudson not wanting to go through that pain again, I DO. But for SEVEN YEARS he didn't completely cut off Seb, always kept hope for them even as he said "we can never happen again" because if that were true, he wouldn't have let himself be around Seb, wouldn't have let himself laugh with him, talk to him, get close to him, but he DID. But at the same time he continued to say no over and over again to Seb. He would say "we're over" but then get close to Seb again only to say it again. He kept Seb hopeful for them to get back together just so he could have hope himself, keeping them in a stasis - not completely giving him up but not keeping him either.
And I think, honestly, that's a cruel thing to do, and Hudson realized after it was pointed out to him that he was an asshole, yes, but even as he realized it, it took him longer than it should have for him to DO something about it.
Also, him getting angry at Seb appearing to move on and being all "well, I can too!" when the only reason they have to move on is him!!! One word from him and Seb would be back in his arms - hell, that IS what happens once Hudson pulls his head out of his ass and says he wants to "come home"!!! He says (okay, a few words ;)) and Seb isn't mad, he doesn't hold a grudge, NOTHING. Seven years of pain and heartache caused by Hudson and he doesn't hesitate. So it pissed me off that Hudson acted the way he did and then was all 'ExXUUSSEE MEEE?? HOW DAREEE???" when Seb got angry at him for trying to - obviously - make him jealous.
Also, that's another thing!! I adore Seb, he's one of the gentlest, one of the most kind, and good hearted people, but I felt like he was also like a doormat when it came to Hudson, and didn't have much of a backbone when it came to him. Even kind hearted, nice people can have a backbone, and the ONLY time he gets somewhat angry with Hudson is at Dekatria when Hudson deliberately tried to make him jealous. Even then, while he unleashed a little on Hudson, he didn't unleash like I wanted him to.
Look, I would get a separation after the thing with the boy had first happened, for a few months or a year even, taking time to get past the guilt from it, but seven years of it? After that much time - and not an actual definitive "it's over" to boot - I wouldn't only still be heartbroken, but really fucking angry.
I dunno, maybe it's just me, but as much as I want character to be happy and together and in love - believe me, I do - I also want them to face consequences for their actions! To have to WORK to be forgiven, to build that trust again, to fix things. Seb letting Hudson in and them having sex once Hudson figures out the obvious and comes back to Seb didn't make me happy - as hot as the sex was, and yes these two were the most exciting couple yet aside from Dex and Sloane (who are still my #1 always ;)) - it made me angry.
Not that Seb is completely blameless - because yes, he had a tendency to be way overprotective, and didn't listen to Hudson about not wanting Seb to go after whoever hurt him, that that isn't what he wanted.
But instead of ever telling Seb this, or fuck, Seb going to Hudson and telling him what he did wrong in their relationship, it wasn't discussed until after they got back together, and even then it wasn't as long a conversation as it needed to be. In fact, we never really got Seb thinking too long and hard on Hudson's faults - his faults were pointed out to him by Nina, not Seb himself.
Seb is a really good guy, but you can't be so moony-eyed over your partner that you ignore their faults or don't address them. And I felt like that's what we were going to get once they worked it out, Seb saying Hudson wasn't perfect and he needed to work on things like he did, but he still loved him, faults and all, anyway. No, Hudson said those things, and Seb said he'd work on it - which, good, but I wanted Seb to realize these things on his own as well. Ugh, it frustrated me way too much.
This book was the most frustrating of them all. Even Dex and Sloane, when they're having their problems, were never this frustrating and hair-pulling inducing. And I know every couple is different, but I'm just saying that this particular couple both made me happy and made me angry at the same time, and at times I did think they would be better off without each other, because of how Hudson treated Seb, and how little Seb cared about himself. Selfless is good to a point, but not when it becomes detrimental to yourself and your own well being.
Plus, there is a contrived moment when the mother of the boy killed just happens to run into Seb and Hudson in the store and goes off on them and that just makes Hudson run AGAIN and causes them another week of being apart, and after Hudson is hurt, he goes to Seb and Seb doesn't even think about being angry with Hudson for leaving, AGAIN, for the millionth time. I get that Hudson was hurt and I would never say Seb should have left him hurt, but he could have still helped him and not been so freaking..."everything is forgiven" in his attitude at the same time.
I don't know, maybe I'm a person who holds grudges easier than most, but way too many times I've read couples in books forgiving each other WAY too easily and I'm tired of it. I WANT the fighting and angst just as much as I want the happy and sweet. Work through your SHIT, my dudes, TALK about it.
I kept expecting Hudson and Seb to REALLY talk about their issues, like in depth, work on making their relationship stronger than it ever was before, but they DIDN'T. Yes, they talked, they didn't just ignore everything, but took their two largest faults in each other and decided to work on that, and I read no talk about everything else, about keeping their relationship a sustainable one.
I don't know, that's how it made me feel, anyway.
But then the second half came, when these two got back together. Once I got past my anger over HOW they got back together, I could enjoy them being back together. They are good together, and exciting, and very interesting, and aside from Sloane and Dex, I haven't been invested in another couple like these two. (although I'm itching for an Austen/Zach book)
Plus what happens at the end (I totally saw coming) but was still really exciting, and what happens with these two was adorable as fuck.
Without giving too much away, I'll just say that about 2/3 of the way into this I figured out the big surprise at the end so I was like "I KNEW IT!" when it was revealed.
So honestly, after this big, long winded rant, I will say that...I enjoyed Seb and Hudson a lot, and I'm really happy they got their happy ending. But I think this was all I needed from them - although I wish it could have gone differently so I wasn't so pissed at a lot of what happened in this book - and that even as this book pissed me off, it kept me invested, kept my emotions all over the place, and make no mistake, it also made me happy as well.
But these two were exhausting, as much as I loved them together, and now that they got their HEA, I'm fine with them being relegated back to secondary characters - I'll be happy to see them, and happy to see what happens next with them, but I'll be okay without the focus on them. I'm ready to go back to Dex and Sloane (they make me so so fucking happy) or ohhh, even have an Austen/Zach focused book.
So the middle/ending: very good, very exciting, very sweet and adorable, but the first half? a big pile of: *shakes fist at screen, shakes screen, screams at screen*
So, do with this review what you will. I still am giving it 4 stars because it was still well written, it still had the heart of what this series is, and I still enjoyed it over all, so don't be put off from reading it just because of how pissed I got, and hey, probably most people won't get as annoyed as I got, maybe some people don't mind characters not holding grudges for a bit, maybeeee.
But just know going into this you are likely to get annoyed with Hudson and Seb at the very least. But also expect to be happy for them at the same time. Its a very complicated relationship I ended up having with this book, to say the least.
(P.S. I got caught up on this series though!!! I'm so happy!! :D :D :D)
I both loved and hated it. And I don't think I've ever quite hated a book as much as loved a book as I do this one. The first half was more 3 stars for me, but then it got REALLY good, especially near the end, and was a 5 star read for me, so I averaged it out at 4 stars.
Why was the first half so frustrating for me? Because of Hudson. I think I have a complicated relationship with Hudson. Before he was just a nice British guy who went through a tragedy and was for reasons unknown keeping him and Seb apart. Yes, a tragedy happened, but it had been seven years by the end of the 8th book, and thats enough time to heal and move on, so I was mostly perplexed, thinking the only reason they weren't back together yet is because we hadn't gotten to their book. But since this book really went into what happened, and Hudson's thought process, I became more and more pissed off with him.
Look, I like Hudson, he's a strong person and a strong character. But I think I have more of a love/hate relationship with him - and not in the hot romantic way *wiggles eyebrows* - but more of a...I enjoy his character a lot throughout this book, but just as much of the time, he pissed me the fuck off. Nina rightly pointed out that that it wasn't about what had happened with the poor boy who died that day anymore, even though it definitely started out that way - but by now, it was about Hudson being so scared to try again he was keeping Seb at a distance, but not completely cutting ties with him at the same time.
THAT is what pissed me off so much. I completely understand a character being scared, I completely understand Hudson not wanting to go through that pain again, I DO. But for SEVEN YEARS he didn't completely cut off Seb, always kept hope for them even as he said "we can never happen again" because if that were true, he wouldn't have let himself be around Seb, wouldn't have let himself laugh with him, talk to him, get close to him, but he DID. But at the same time he continued to say no over and over again to Seb. He would say "we're over" but then get close to Seb again only to say it again. He kept Seb hopeful for them to get back together just so he could have hope himself, keeping them in a stasis - not completely giving him up but not keeping him either.
And I think, honestly, that's a cruel thing to do, and Hudson realized after it was pointed out to him that he was an asshole, yes, but even as he realized it, it took him longer than it should have for him to DO something about it.
Also, him getting angry at Seb appearing to move on and being all "well, I can too!" when the only reason they have to move on is him!!! One word from him and Seb would be back in his arms - hell, that IS what happens once Hudson pulls his head out of his ass and says he wants to "come home"!!! He says (okay, a few words ;)) and Seb isn't mad, he doesn't hold a grudge, NOTHING. Seven years of pain and heartache caused by Hudson and he doesn't hesitate. So it pissed me off that Hudson acted the way he did and then was all 'ExXUUSSEE MEEE?? HOW DAREEE???" when Seb got angry at him for trying to - obviously - make him jealous.
Also, that's another thing!! I adore Seb, he's one of the gentlest, one of the most kind, and good hearted people, but I felt like he was also like a doormat when it came to Hudson, and didn't have much of a backbone when it came to him. Even kind hearted, nice people can have a backbone, and the ONLY time he gets somewhat angry with Hudson is at Dekatria when Hudson deliberately tried to make him jealous. Even then, while he unleashed a little on Hudson, he didn't unleash like I wanted him to.
Look, I would get a separation after the thing with the boy had first happened, for a few months or a year even, taking time to get past the guilt from it, but seven years of it? After that much time - and not an actual definitive "it's over" to boot - I wouldn't only still be heartbroken, but really fucking angry.
I dunno, maybe it's just me, but as much as I want character to be happy and together and in love - believe me, I do - I also want them to face consequences for their actions! To have to WORK to be forgiven, to build that trust again, to fix things. Seb letting Hudson in and them having sex once Hudson figures out the obvious and comes back to Seb didn't make me happy - as hot as the sex was, and yes these two were the most exciting couple yet aside from Dex and Sloane (who are still my #1 always ;)) - it made me angry.
Not that Seb is completely blameless - because yes, he had a tendency to be way overprotective, and didn't listen to Hudson about not wanting Seb to go after whoever hurt him, that that isn't what he wanted.
But instead of ever telling Seb this, or fuck, Seb going to Hudson and telling him what he did wrong in their relationship, it wasn't discussed until after they got back together, and even then it wasn't as long a conversation as it needed to be. In fact, we never really got Seb thinking too long and hard on Hudson's faults - his faults were pointed out to him by Nina, not Seb himself.
Seb is a really good guy, but you can't be so moony-eyed over your partner that you ignore their faults or don't address them. And I felt like that's what we were going to get once they worked it out, Seb saying Hudson wasn't perfect and he needed to work on things like he did, but he still loved him, faults and all, anyway. No, Hudson said those things, and Seb said he'd work on it - which, good, but I wanted Seb to realize these things on his own as well. Ugh, it frustrated me way too much.
This book was the most frustrating of them all. Even Dex and Sloane, when they're having their problems, were never this frustrating and hair-pulling inducing. And I know every couple is different, but I'm just saying that this particular couple both made me happy and made me angry at the same time, and at times I did think they would be better off without each other, because of how Hudson treated Seb, and how little Seb cared about himself. Selfless is good to a point, but not when it becomes detrimental to yourself and your own well being.
Plus, there is a contrived moment when the mother of the boy killed just happens to run into Seb and Hudson in the store and goes off on them and that just makes Hudson run AGAIN and causes them another week of being apart, and after Hudson is hurt, he goes to Seb and Seb doesn't even think about being angry with Hudson for leaving, AGAIN, for the millionth time. I get that Hudson was hurt and I would never say Seb should have left him hurt, but he could have still helped him and not been so freaking..."everything is forgiven" in his attitude at the same time.
I don't know, maybe I'm a person who holds grudges easier than most, but way too many times I've read couples in books forgiving each other WAY too easily and I'm tired of it. I WANT the fighting and angst just as much as I want the happy and sweet. Work through your SHIT, my dudes, TALK about it.
I kept expecting Hudson and Seb to REALLY talk about their issues, like in depth, work on making their relationship stronger than it ever was before, but they DIDN'T. Yes, they talked, they didn't just ignore everything, but took their two largest faults in each other and decided to work on that, and I read no talk about everything else, about keeping their relationship a sustainable one.
I don't know, that's how it made me feel, anyway.
But then the second half came, when these two got back together. Once I got past my anger over HOW they got back together, I could enjoy them being back together. They are good together, and exciting, and very interesting, and aside from Sloane and Dex, I haven't been invested in another couple like these two. (although I'm itching for an Austen/Zach book)
Plus what happens at the end (I totally saw coming) but was still really exciting, and what happens with these two was adorable as fuck.
Without giving too much away, I'll just say that about 2/3 of the way into this I figured out the big surprise at the end so I was like "I KNEW IT!" when it was revealed.
So honestly, after this big, long winded rant, I will say that...I enjoyed Seb and Hudson a lot, and I'm really happy they got their happy ending. But I think this was all I needed from them - although I wish it could have gone differently so I wasn't so pissed at a lot of what happened in this book - and that even as this book pissed me off, it kept me invested, kept my emotions all over the place, and make no mistake, it also made me happy as well.
But these two were exhausting, as much as I loved them together, and now that they got their HEA, I'm fine with them being relegated back to secondary characters - I'll be happy to see them, and happy to see what happens next with them, but I'll be okay without the focus on them. I'm ready to go back to Dex and Sloane (they make me so so fucking happy) or ohhh, even have an Austen/Zach focused book.
So the middle/ending: very good, very exciting, very sweet and adorable, but the first half? a big pile of: *shakes fist at screen, shakes screen, screams at screen*
So, do with this review what you will. I still am giving it 4 stars because it was still well written, it still had the heart of what this series is, and I still enjoyed it over all, so don't be put off from reading it just because of how pissed I got, and hey, probably most people won't get as annoyed as I got, maybe some people don't mind characters not holding grudges for a bit, maybeeee.
But just know going into this you are likely to get annoyed with Hudson and Seb at the very least. But also expect to be happy for them at the same time. Its a very complicated relationship I ended up having with this book, to say the least.
(P.S. I got caught up on this series though!!! I'm so happy!! :D :D :D)