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natcat's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
A light fluffy romance, with some very sweet characters and, of course, the requisite happy ending.
I could have done with a bit more substance, honestly, the book made vague waves at some serious issues and concerns but was in no way interested with dealing with them, because it was very committed to being a light fluffy romance. Which is fine, but I think I would have preferred it if it hadn’t even dropped hints about those darker concerns and emotions, because I was just left thinking that it would have been much more interesting if the author actually had committed to them.
The main characters fell in love incredibly quickly, as is often the way in romance. I did mostly buy that they liked each other a lot, I wasn’t entirely convinced by the whole thing given that one characters perception of the other seems completely out of step with that character’s perception of themselves, and not in a way I thought was deliberate.Philip seems to see Ben as being sweetness and light all the time, whereas Ben’s POV reveals he he has a lot of doubts and works hard at being kind to people. It seemed an uneven sort of relationship to me. I think that goes back to my main dislike of this book, though, in that it just wants to be a sweet romance with no major obstacles or concerns, and I wasn’t quite in the mood for that. But I did finish it, and I did like the characters (particularly the side characters).
So, recommended if you want a frothy sweet romance, not recommended if you want a romance with more emotional depth.
As a minor note I was also irritated by the fact that the setting is introduced very vaguely as being somewhere in ‘the North of England’ and then absolutely nothing about it as described bears any relation to the North of England in any way, shape, or form.
I could have done with a bit more substance, honestly, the book made vague waves at some serious issues and concerns but was in no way interested with dealing with them, because it was very committed to being a light fluffy romance. Which is fine, but I think I would have preferred it if it hadn’t even dropped hints about those darker concerns and emotions, because I was just left thinking that it would have been much more interesting if the author actually had committed to them.
The main characters fell in love incredibly quickly, as is often the way in romance. I did mostly buy that they liked each other a lot, I wasn’t entirely convinced by the whole thing given that one characters perception of the other seems completely out of step with that character’s perception of themselves, and not in a way I thought was deliberate.
So, recommended if you want a frothy sweet romance, not recommended if you want a romance with more emotional depth.
As a minor note I was also irritated by the fact that the setting is introduced very vaguely as being somewhere in ‘the North of England’ and then absolutely nothing about it as described bears any relation to the North of England in any way, shape, or form.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Death, Homophobia, and Sexism
emily_mh's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was such a delight to read. I was genuinely looking forward to picking this book back up every time I put it down. It was just so wholesome and bucolic, and full of love - romantic, platonic and familial. Ben and Phillip were simply perfect for each other and it was a joy to watch them fall in love. The resolution to their story felt so fitting.
There were a couple of reasons I didn't rate this book more highly. I felt that it needed a touch more plot and more of the family element - with those two things, I think it would have truly blown me away. Regardless, I really enjoyed this read and cannot wait to pick up the second instalment in the series.
There were a couple of reasons I didn't rate this book more highly. I felt that it needed a touch more plot and more of the family element - with those two things, I think it would have truly blown me away. Regardless, I really enjoyed this read and cannot wait to pick up the second instalment in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Death, Grief, Ableism, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Rape, and Abandonment
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Excrement, Suicide, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
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