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yennn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Sitting down to write this review, I finally know how this ended up in my to-read pile - it’s the childhood friends to lovers trope. What I didn’t realise this book also offered because I never read blurbs was a weird splash of paranormal, and a crap ton of messy, pining romance spanning YEARS, including getting-married-and-having-kids-with-our-other-best-friend kind of messy.
There were quite a lot of different themes going on in this book, but the romance in particular was a rollercoaster, an absolute mess of unrequited feelings, regret, unspoken words, repressed emotions. My notes and bookmarks consist of things like ‘buy your married bestie professional clothes, it's normal’ and ‘tugging your bestie’s ponytail to make her look up at you is too hot to be neutral’ and ‘spoon your besties all night.’ and have shower sex with your besties
Admittedly, I was not the biggest fan of the female lead Mercedes…she’s a martyr that ultimately caused all of the above angst in the first place, and made it her personal mission to reject Noah. Yes, Noah contributed to the messy romance too, but he is just so sweet I forgive him.
Narrative wise, I really liked the use of flashbacks at the start of each chapter to slowly unveil the characters' pasts and motivations. The lead up to and ending of the book is predictable, but satisfying and gives me closure. A special shout-out to Mercede's wonderfully supportive family throughout it all.
Overall, if you're looking for a non-traditional, angsty, slow-burn romance, I offer The Smallest Part. I highly recommend checking out the content warnings beforehand.
j_the_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic book by Amy Harmon
If you've read The Law of Moses you must read this.
Such a great story of friends, family and love. Friendship that lasts a lifetime and finds the love that's always been there.
If you've read The Law of Moses you must read this.
Such a great story of friends, family and love. Friendship that lasts a lifetime and finds the love that's always been there.
rlstrayer1's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Paper People stars
RTC
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A new Amy Harmon book!
*buys out WalMart's stock of Kleenex*
RTC
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A new Amy Harmon book!
*buys out WalMart's stock of Kleenex*
bluebarryhoneybee's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so ugh. I really liked that. I love a good childhood best friends to lovers arc, but the added layer of Cora shacking up with Noah + her death + her child??? Immaculate. Made for some very desperate love, and I enjoy that.
I did kinda got annoyed by the flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter. Sometimes I just wanted to get into the current story right away, but then had to wait through the past drama. I didn’t dislike all of it, most of it I really enjoyed, but EVERY CHAPTER? Come on.
All in all, so cute. Kinda took me by surprise. The ending was a bit lukewarm, but I liked it. :)
I did kinda got annoyed by the flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter. Sometimes I just wanted to get into the current story right away, but then had to wait through the past drama. I didn’t dislike all of it, most of it I really enjoyed, but EVERY CHAPTER? Come on.
All in all, so cute. Kinda took me by surprise. The ending was a bit lukewarm, but I liked it. :)
diana_acc's review against another edition
4.0
No me atrapó tanto como el de Máscaras, pero siento que fue culpa mía que no me impliqué tanto en la lectura, con el otro lo sentí en todo momento.
Además siento que la sinopsis no le hace justicia, yo llegué creyendo que vería sufrir tanto a la protagonista por "el amor" que se tenían los amigos, y fue como que meh, por que para empezar Mercedes es una protagonista muy fuerte, entonces no es que vaya llorando por las banquetes el haber perdido a Noah, y después con ese inició fue algo que no me esperaba, entonces me sentí un poco engañada por que ya no sabía bien en donde iba a radicar el problema.
Tuvo un giro bastante bueno y siento que el papel de Cuddy y de Moses fue fundamental, pero que probabilidad hay de que te encuentres con 2 personas que tengan esas habilidades.
El epílogo fue ni muy muy ni tan tan, por fin fueron egoístas, pero sí creo que se pasaron un poquito al dejar afuera a Cuddy que es el que menos los había disfrutado y los quería a ambos y a Alma que es la que más los conoce a ambos. La idea del salón y la implicación de Cuddy fue genial.
Además siento que la sinopsis no le hace justicia, yo llegué creyendo que vería sufrir tanto a la protagonista por "el amor" que se tenían los amigos, y fue como que meh, por que para empezar Mercedes es una protagonista muy fuerte, entonces no es que vaya llorando por las banquetes el haber perdido a Noah, y después con ese inició fue algo que no me esperaba, entonces me sentí un poco engañada por que ya no sabía bien en donde iba a radicar el problema.
Tuvo un giro bastante bueno y siento que el papel de Cuddy y de Moses fue fundamental, pero que probabilidad hay de que te encuentres con 2 personas que tengan esas habilidades.
El epílogo fue ni muy muy ni tan tan, por fin fueron egoístas, pero sí creo que se pasaron un poquito al dejar afuera a Cuddy que es el que menos los había disfrutado y los quería a ambos y a Alma que es la que más los conoce a ambos. La idea del salón y la implicación de Cuddy fue genial.
vinoverse's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book, but I found that it got tedious for me around 75% through. It just stopped building and plateaued until the climax, leaving me annoyed and skimming through the flashbacks to get to the point and the hea. For the first 2/3 of the book I LOVED it, but it drug on a little too long for me.
mar_cortz's review
5.0
This book has been on my TBR for so long I didn’t even remember I had it, which is a little tragic to be honest. Once again Amy Harmon did it.
The blurb pretty much says everything that a reader needs to know before going in, without spoiling the story. Mercedes is a great character, she embodies the Latina spirit and character. Where others have failed to portray Hispanic/Latin characters, Amy has succeeded.
Mercedes is stubborn, has a strong character, it’s undeterred by her circumstances, is hard worker, opinionated but most of all she sacrifices everything for those she loves. She reminds me so much about the women in my family and their struggles and all they have given up in the name of other people’s happiness. I really loved her, at some point I wanted to make her understand but she had her own journey.
Noah is great, he is so lovable, patient and kind and wise beyond his age. He has lived and suffered, and I just kept praying he would get his happy ending.
I loved this book, I did. The story, the characters but most of all Abuela’s wisdom make of this one of the best books I’ve read. And I will definitely read it again.
The blurb pretty much says everything that a reader needs to know before going in, without spoiling the story. Mercedes is a great character, she embodies the Latina spirit and character. Where others have failed to portray Hispanic/Latin characters, Amy has succeeded.
Mercedes is stubborn, has a strong character, it’s undeterred by her circumstances, is hard worker, opinionated but most of all she sacrifices everything for those she loves. She reminds me so much about the women in my family and their struggles and all they have given up in the name of other people’s happiness. I really loved her, at some point I wanted to make her understand but she had her own journey.
Noah is great, he is so lovable, patient and kind and wise beyond his age. He has lived and suffered, and I just kept praying he would get his happy ending.
I loved this book, I did. The story, the characters but most of all Abuela’s wisdom make of this one of the best books I’ve read. And I will definitely read it again.
cosmicreadinggirl's review against another edition
2.0
I read this on a whim. It started off fine! I was enjoying it at first but once I got 50% through it went downhill for me.
bookishblasian's review against another edition
5.0
READ IT.
I've had this on my iPad for a while and I am so mad at myself for not reading it sooner! I loved Making Faces by Amy Harmon. I had no idea this one would have nearly the same effect on me. I read a lot of books that I absolutely love, but Ms. Harmon has a way with words! Seriously, I just looked at my last review and even back then she had me highlighting random words that I have never heard before.
This book.. I don't know, it touched my heart. It certainly wasn't what I expected it to be. There was a gasp moment regarding the homeless guy and I seriously couldn't stop reading after that moment.. I can't explain what this book just did to me, but it surely did something. Their stories were so well intertwined and I was so engrossed in the book that I never saw it coming. I don't even have enough words to say how this book affected me. Just read it.
I've had this on my iPad for a while and I am so mad at myself for not reading it sooner! I loved Making Faces by Amy Harmon. I had no idea this one would have nearly the same effect on me. I read a lot of books that I absolutely love, but Ms. Harmon has a way with words! Seriously, I just looked at my last review and even back then she had me highlighting random words that I have never heard before.
This book.. I don't know, it touched my heart. It certainly wasn't what I expected it to be. There was a gasp moment regarding the homeless guy and I seriously couldn't stop reading after that moment.. I can't explain what this book just did to me, but it surely did something. Their stories were so well intertwined and I was so engrossed in the book that I never saw it coming. I don't even have enough words to say how this book affected me. Just read it.
nzkiwishen's review against another edition
5.0
Anyone who knows me, knows that Amy Harmon tops my list of favorite authors. This book deserves five stars, not because she’s my favorite, but because it is a solid five star book.
Mercedes may be one of my favorite female characters ever written. She’s fierce, loyal, and loving, and has a great sense of humor that had me laughing out loud several times! Her friendship with Noah that lasted throughout childhood and into adulthood was spot on! Every relationship in the book felt real, and I guess that’s how I can best describe the book.
It was real. The families were real. The problems were real. The excitement, love, sadness, heartbreak...it all felt real. My emotions were close to the surface with this book. Amy’s ability to make readers feel what the characters feel, well, I’ve not found it in many other books.
I loved the whole story, loved the characters, loved the twists and turns it took, and I especially loved how each chapter unfolded. It was really special, starting each chapter with a “small part” of the characters’ early lives. ❤️
Mercedes may be one of my favorite female characters ever written. She’s fierce, loyal, and loving, and has a great sense of humor that had me laughing out loud several times! Her friendship with Noah that lasted throughout childhood and into adulthood was spot on! Every relationship in the book felt real, and I guess that’s how I can best describe the book.
It was real. The families were real. The problems were real. The excitement, love, sadness, heartbreak...it all felt real. My emotions were close to the surface with this book. Amy’s ability to make readers feel what the characters feel, well, I’ve not found it in many other books.
I loved the whole story, loved the characters, loved the twists and turns it took, and I especially loved how each chapter unfolded. It was really special, starting each chapter with a “small part” of the characters’ early lives. ❤️