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hopelessromanticbookworm's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
“I couldn’t see why he wasn’t all over Tinder letting women climb him like a ladder. I’d climb this man no matter what he had in his pants.”
Just WOW! I picked this book up hoping to get out of my reading slump and it was such an emotional rollercoaster.
This book follows a young woman called Vanessa who has the gene of ALS and has been passed down through the women of her family. She basically was living life to the fullest, travelling the world and filling up her travel vlog on YouTube…until a baby literally was left with her and halted all the plans. What’s even more annoying for Vanessa is she has a grumpy, sexy, ‘Jesus abs’ neighbour who wanted her to shut the baby up at 4am…it’s not like that’s what she had been trying to do 😅 before he started knocking on her door.
When reading this book (and unable to put it down), it had humour , moments that was so cute!, times I just wanted to bang the main characters heads together, heartbreak that left me calling them both idiots and of course an emotional and sweet ending.
I loved the emotional storyline that was beautifully represented. The characters were so diverse and had a mixture of real life problems, relationships & families
This book is a Grumpy/Sunshine & Friends to Lovers romance. It shows representation of the struggles with ALS, Drug Addict, Grief, Mental Health Issues & LGBTQ+ x
Just WOW! I picked this book up hoping to get out of my reading slump and it was such an emotional rollercoaster.
This book follows a young woman called Vanessa who has the gene of ALS and has been passed down through the women of her family. She basically was living life to the fullest, travelling the world and filling up her travel vlog on YouTube…until a baby literally was left with her and halted all the plans. What’s even more annoying for Vanessa is she has a grumpy, sexy, ‘Jesus abs’ neighbour who wanted her to shut the baby up at 4am…it’s not like that’s what she had been trying to do 😅 before he started knocking on her door.
When reading this book (and unable to put it down), it had humour , moments that was so cute!, times I just wanted to bang the main characters heads together, heartbreak that left me calling them both idiots and of course an emotional and sweet ending.
I loved the emotional storyline that was beautifully represented. The characters were so diverse and had a mixture of real life problems, relationships & families
This book is a Grumpy/Sunshine & Friends to Lovers romance. It shows representation of the struggles with ALS, Drug Addict, Grief, Mental Health Issues & LGBTQ+ x
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
Minor: Addiction, Car accident, and Death of parent
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
She’s a vacation blogger showing the world her life with possible ALS whose drug addict sister just dropped off her newborn and disappeared. Of course the super hot, rich, lawyer that lives next door wants to hold the baby to her at 4 am so she can shower. Like, that’s totally something that happens in real life. But there he was helping and that’s what started an epic friendship, and maybe a little something more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dementia, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
amateur_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Genre: Contemporary romance, fiction
My summary: Vanessa is a popular travel YouTuber and has found herself unexpectedly thrust into motherhood when she has to step in and take her half-sister’s newborn daughter, Grace. When Grace’s wailing brings Vanessa’s next door neighbor over—at 4am—Adrian and Vanessa are immediately drawn to each other. Adrian, a successful criminal defense attorney, soon finds himself spending less time at the office because he wants to be with Vanessa and Grace. But Vanessa’s days are numbered, as an aggressive genetic disorder has killed every female in her family before the age of 30. Adrian and Vanessa soon find that love is hard, especially with a clock ticking.
My thoughts: This one was a little tough to get through. Actually, almost this entire series was tough to get through. This book was funny, as in, I actually laughed a real laugh several times. Vanessa’s personality sparkled on the page and I enjoyed the unfolding of them falling in love with each other. But, it was also heartbreaking and a downer. I wasn’t even a third of the way through the book yet, and was absolutely terrified that Abby Jimenez was going to thoroughly wreck me before it was over. I didn’t shed as many tears as I thought I might, but it was sad at times. I appreciate this series and Abby taking on some tough real-life themes in the first and third book that I thought she handled well. But I also read as an escape and this sure did not leave me with warm and fuzzy feelings. I think this is a great series, but I caution that it is not as light-hearted as I expected a witty romance series to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Death, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
sierra_liv's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
quaye's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Out of the first three Abby Jimenez books I have read, this is definitely the best one. Adrian and Vanessa were extremely lovable and their varying lives connecting over a baby crying seemed strange but fitting. I truly loved Adrian and his eventually support and carefulness towards Vanessa. In comparison, to the other books Vanessa and Adrian seemed to be strong characters and more reason to be together and fight for one another. Very heartwarming and sweet story surrounded by real tragedy. The reason for the four star rating was due to the extremely fast breakup and turn around between the two. I think would have been better through this part of the storyline being developed more rather than wrapped up in the last 50 pages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Terminal illness
Minor: Car accident, Death, Abandonment, and Death of parent
lawoodworth's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Mental illness
cathyo_113's review
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Vanessa Price - the FMC - was a little too much for me. Here’s the thing, I respect the writing of the character in taking charge and having agency over her treatment for a potential disease that could kill her. My biggest issue is that she 1) assumes that by virtue of Adrian saying he’d watched a couple of her videos, she did not need to have a conversation with him about the potential for an ALS Diagnosis; and 2) I felt that she also set him up for failure in their relationship bc of the miscommunication above, and also in other ways she omitted info from him.
My other issue with Vanessa’s character is that she acted with what I perceive as cowardice toward the end of the book. Instead of having hard conversations or meeting the hard feelings head on, she runs. Literally escapes and leaves (almost) everyone.
Adrian Copeland - the MMC and cousin to Josh (from The Friend Zone) - needed therapy. And the author wrote that in at the last minute to lump in with the grand gesture at the end. But even with one month’s time of intensive therapy, such behavioral change may not always seem realistic. I also did not like the inclusion of the description of the benefits of psychotherapy in the epilogue. Should have been introduced sooner.
I felt that this book was slightly a redo of the Friend Zone, with a different major, life changing illness looming about the FMC’s head. Plus an MMC who was choosing to be with the FMC, in spite of it. I do think Adrian’s ultimatum was a dick move, but Vanessa withheld info and he could not act out a grand gesture and apologize.
I think I hate-read the remaining 75% because the 3rd act breakup was written in at that point. Why a 3rd break up at that point? It was so late in the story and took up space that could have better been used exploring therapy and other character development, as well as major declarations of love and support.
Also the ending in the epilogue only served to show that Vanessa should have seen a doctor sooner about her hand because it was serious, but not ALS.
I’m disappointed with this read because the last 40 pages gave me whiplash. I was only just processing Vanessa’s choice to leave when Adrian rushed in to make it an HEA.
My other issue with Vanessa’s character is that she acted with what I perceive as cowardice toward the end of the book. Instead of having hard conversations or meeting the hard feelings head on, she runs. Literally escapes and leaves (almost) everyone.
Adrian Copeland - the MMC and cousin to Josh (from The Friend Zone) - needed therapy. And the author wrote that in at the last minute to lump in with the grand gesture at the end. But even with one month’s time of intensive therapy, such behavioral change may not always seem realistic. I also did not like the inclusion of the description of the benefits of psychotherapy in the epilogue. Should have been introduced sooner.
I felt that this book was slightly a redo of the Friend Zone, with a different major, life changing illness looming about the FMC’s head. Plus an MMC who was choosing to be with the FMC, in spite of it. I do think Adrian’s ultimatum was a dick move, but Vanessa withheld info and he could not act out a grand gesture and apologize.
I think I hate-read the remaining 75% because the 3rd act breakup was written in at that point. Why a 3rd break up at that point? It was so late in the story and took up space that could have better been used exploring therapy and other character development, as well as major declarations of love and support.
Also the ending in the epilogue only served to show that Vanessa should have seen a doctor sooner about her hand because it was serious, but not ALS.
I’m disappointed with this read because the last 40 pages gave me whiplash. I was only just processing Vanessa’s choice to leave when Adrian rushed in to make it an HEA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Addiction
Moderate: Mental illness
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
- contemporary fictional romcom & final installment
- first-person dual POV of love interests
- Friends-to-lovers, nextdoor-neighbor, opposites-attract, & mega strong messaging of be-grateful-for-your-life story set in Minnesota
- FMC travel YouTube blogger/influencer Vanessa
- MMC lawyer Adrian (went on a date with Sloan in the last book) // Vanessa is fostering her younger sister’s baby, since her younger sister Annabel is struggling with addiction
- Adrian knocks on her door to ask her to quiet the baby down but they end up becoming friends
- Adrian is dumped by his girlfriend of eight months, after telling him she was married
- Cameos from previous series characters, much to my chagrin because FOUR KIDS?! REALLY, FOUR KIDS?! WITH THAT MEDICAL HISTORY?! LITERALLY FORK OFF
- Really dislike the making fun of “micro penises” & “nothing is that deep” mentality in here 😭
- cw: terminal illness, chronic illness (ALS), addiction, drug abuse, abandonment, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, hoarding
- steam 1/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Addiction, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Sexual content
cozyteareads's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump for around a month or so now and this book was so good that I read the last hundred pages or so in a single sitting. I had such a good time reading it, and it made me tear up a little at the end. There was always a thread of hope and joy through the entire story that made it so comforting to read. I adored it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Addiction
Minor: Car accident, Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Abandonment
bookwormingh's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Abby Jimenez is simply one of my favourite authors. Her books are absolute perfection.
Ugh I’m experiencing all the feels after reading this
Ugh I’m experiencing all the feels after reading this
Content Warnings
Minor: Terminal illness, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, and Grief