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rachbreads's review
4.0
Adam, the person who always sees me. The person who makes sure I’m always seen.
So while at its heart this is a book about family and sisters and overcoming trauma and coming out of your shell...I loved the romance SO MUCH. Adam is so cuddly and careful and wonderful and it's such a great take on a grumpy/sunshine dynamic that is approached with sincerity for the reasons they both are grumpy and closed off, and what it takes to open them both up. Kate Clayborn does romance with depth so well, and this story covered some really heavy topics while still being really touching and beautiful.
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
danireadsthings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Kate is a master of measured emotional pacing, creating characters with beating hearts and situations that feel true to life and never contrived.
The characters felt raw and real, showing all the complexity of their frayed edges and best efforts and shortcomings and strengths.
The FMC Jess refers to their group as a four points of a compass, and truly the supporting characters were just as integral as the MCs.
This isn't just a romance. It's a family drama, a mystery, and an emotional reckoning.
With every book Kate has written I've been astounded at her ability to write characters that feel layered and true, and this book shows how she continues to hone and master her craft.
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Mental illness
vickie0326's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
catsandmetaphors's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
annaforthebooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’ve read many of Kate Clayborn’s books, but this one felt unique even from the start. The romance between Jess and Adam is still central to the plot, but I also loved the mystery elements about Baltimore’s con and the mom’s disappearance, as well as the growth in the relationship between the sisters. It’s also refreshing to read about two introverted characters in a romance plot. We often see opposite personalities in these stories, so it was nice to have two characters who are quiet and reserved open up to each other.
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness
leann0330's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
This was a 5-star read for me, as most of Kate Clayborn’s books are! This is not a light-hearted rom-com… it’s an emotional rollercoaster that shows the trauma associated with abandonment and the difficulties in opening up yourself to love when you have done everything in your power to raise a sibling with as “normal” a life as possible. This book also goes into mental illness/bi-polar disorder/TBI, grifting, and terminal illness. But take heart! It is a happily ever after and if any two people deserve that, it’s Jess and Adam. Adam is patient, kind, protective, and just wants to be Jess’s person.
“I realize, with a startling sort of clarity, that I’d cut out my own heart before I treated hers carelessly.”
Jess is lonely, strong, selfless, and eventually learns to trust Adam and herself.
“I’m sorry,” I breathe against her neck. “I know I’m too—“
“You’re not too anything. You’ve never been too anything, for me.”
The story wraps up nicely although it could have gone into a little more podcast info at the end. I just always have a lot of questions when I’m done reading and I know I’ll think about this one for awhile!
Graphic: Mental illness and Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
cheypreston's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
emslitlibrary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Death, and Mental illness
sacrill's review
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Abandonment and Mental illness
Minor: Cancer
amateur_bookworm's review
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Grief and Mental illness