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allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
You will never convince me the matriarch of this family isn’t a terrible person. I can only imagine there will be another book to give the brother his HEA, although things were wrapped up enough by the end of this one to say it’s done. So if it does continue I want none of that “she knew all along what she was doing” bull about their Gigi. She is rude and vindictive. She talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk. I love how Dylan, in this story, and Teague, in the last story, don’t put up with her and do not hesitate to call her on her hypocrisy.
Tavi is much easier to love than her sister was in the previous story. She didn’t need Gigi’s “tough love” to realize how terrible her family is and that money doesn’t make the person. For years, Tavi has been living a secret life. She gives her earned income to charity while using her trust fund to follow her dreams. It was sad to watch her flip between the real Tavi and the Tavi that the general public knows. Even her family doesn’t know the real her because they wouldn’t approve. Yet Tavi cannot seem to hide her true self from Dylan. He sees right through her façade and he loves to rile her up with hints that he knows her secret.
Dylan has been in love with his best friend for years. She’s now married to a man he cannot stand and he still pines. Or is she just safe? His mom is a wonderful woman but not a good example of what a real relationship should look like. His best friend’s parents aren’t any better at setting a decent example. Once Dylan and Tavi start spending time together, he understands what a real friendship should be. And eventually, what a healthy relationship should look like. The same goes for Tavi. To have someone care about her as a person instead of what she can do for them or how she makes them look is a novel experience for her.
There are a lot of trust issues that need to be addressed, mostly by Tavi, with good reason. It was wonderful to watch her open herself to finding happiness and to see Dylan start to forgive the child and teenager he was and accept that he doesn’t have to keep atoning for his 15-year-old self…and nobody should expect him to. All the while, other than Gigi, Tavi’s family is continuing to grow in their self-awareness and kindness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
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