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rileyg18's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
lezreadalot's review against another edition
3.0
She knew fighting her feelings was a battle she couldn't win. The sky was on fire, and so was she.
This was enjoyable, but I think I'm running into that problem that I often do when I read a bunch of books by the same author; I start to notice little things particular to their style or their writing and I don't always like all of those things and I just... have a hard time getting into it? I started this because I wanted to read a light romance after finishing a super heavy book, and somehow ended up in a deep reading slump. I don't think this book had anything to do with it? But it did take me like two weeks to finish, which isn't the norm for me.
But like I said, it was enjoyable. It's an age gap, toaster over, mediumish burn love story. Lise Gold always fills her stories with lots of descriptions about the locations that the characters are in and their jobs and lifestyles, and that worked well for this. Their age difference did play a kind of a big part of the story, and I did like how it was addressed in a serious way, and all the possible problems were brought up. I really liked both Madison and Ally; they were really sweet together. Kids in stories can be hit or miss; this was mostly a hit.
I just didn't really enjoy this as much as anything else I've read by the author? One, because of the author burnout (she uses the exact same euphemism in every single book, every single time, as if no other word exists, and it started to get on my nerves a liiiiiitle bit) but also... idk. I guess I just wasn't as much in the mood for a light romance as I thought? It got a little binary in terms of Ally wondering if she's straight or gay, and seldom acknowledging that there's anything between that. (Though the book eventually did use the word bisexual.) Also there was a side plot where Ally's best friend Devon starts dating a trans woman and it gets a little ???? Don't get me wrong, it was cute and very much well meaning, just veeeery very clumsy in terms of some of the language used. I'm cis, so grain of salt etc. Just a few things that made me go 'uhhhh' a couple times.
I still had a mostly good time with this? It's a nice romance about finding love in an unconventional way. I like Lise Gold's writing (...mostly) and especially the atmosphere she sets when she takes us to different places. And it was nice seeing Kristine and Hannah a bit again.
misthios_pat's review against another edition
5.0
I knew Madison would be a MC here, but I was totally not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Probably because it wasn't centred on Hanna and Kristine or wasn't set mainly in Louisiana, like the first 3 books. But I liked it very much, especially with Madison being a very down to earth character, I liked how she thought and acted, she took the reins and was unapologetic, as she should. Together, they were sweet and hot and well... Now, Ally was a bit of a chicken ngl, but I do get why she would be, so her being all conflicted made total sense (my rant down here ↓ is about the other people), though it almost crossed the grating-on-me line. When she was able to let her hair down, it was the best. So was Theo, such a fun, smart kid and best lines haha. A whole mood.
The whole biology aspect of the book got me all chuffed, being a biologist myself (yeah, I had to flex).
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omg, I'm sooooo tired of the chicken shit bs characters spiel in books, "what if it doesn't workout?" then you move on to a new love in your life, for crying out loud
irl if doesn't work, you cry, then you move on with life and find someone else, you enjoy however long you have with someone if lasts until you die, good; if it doesn't you take all the good you hopefully experienced and find another person to share the good and love them with all your might, unapologetically.
I know the age gap thing, especially with a big gap and someone so young, can be a sore point to people, but jesus sometimes the whole back and forth starts to get old fast. I really get worked up with characters being idk, ageist. Let people love in peace for Pete's sake. But let me get something straight, depending on context the worry is very justified, a 23 something with someone that older is a bit of a
The whole biology aspect of the book got me all chuffed, being a biologist myself (yeah, I had to flex).
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omg, I'm sooooo tired of the chicken shit bs characters spiel in books, "what if it doesn't workout?" then you move on to a new love in your life, for crying out loud
irl if doesn't work, you cry, then you move on with life and find someone else, you enjoy however long you have with someone if lasts until you die, good; if it doesn't you take all the good you hopefully experienced and find another person to share the good and love them with all your might, unapologetically.
I know the age gap thing, especially with a big gap and someone so young, can be a sore point to people, but jesus sometimes the whole back and forth starts to get old fast. I really get worked up with characters being idk, ageist. Let people love in peace for Pete's sake. But let me get something straight, depending on context the worry is very justified, a 23 something with someone that older is a bit of a
queerlitloft's review against another edition
5.0
Western Shores is probably my favourite book of this series so far!
We get to know more of Madison (Hannah's half sister) and see her progress from being a student to venturing out into the real world, in her chosen career as a a marine biologist. We also meet Ally who is a widow and her son Theo, and thus starts a sweet yet smoking hot age gap romance, set in the idylic laid back beach town of Capitola.
There is sexual tension galore throughout this book but at the same time it's also a very chilled and relaxed story to become absorbed by.
As per usual for one of Gold's novels, i enjoyed the location and i loved the main characters even more so.
Madison and Ally's relationship comes across as genuine, it doesn't go from 0-100 in the space of a day. The potential problems that may arise in any real life age gap relationship are portrayed in a realistic manner, whilst still keeping romance at the heart of the story.
The inclusion of Devon and Chelsea's blossoming relationship was a welcome change. Devon's concern surrounding his feelings for dating a trans woman, nicely reflected his best friend Ally's misgivings about dating a woman, who is also 17 years her junior.
One of my favourite lines in the book is 'No one is perfect, but we're perfect together'. A simple sentence yet a very powerful message to take away from this story.
We get to know more of Madison (Hannah's half sister) and see her progress from being a student to venturing out into the real world, in her chosen career as a a marine biologist. We also meet Ally who is a widow and her son Theo, and thus starts a sweet yet smoking hot age gap romance, set in the idylic laid back beach town of Capitola.
There is sexual tension galore throughout this book but at the same time it's also a very chilled and relaxed story to become absorbed by.
As per usual for one of Gold's novels, i enjoyed the location and i loved the main characters even more so.
Madison and Ally's relationship comes across as genuine, it doesn't go from 0-100 in the space of a day. The potential problems that may arise in any real life age gap relationship are portrayed in a realistic manner, whilst still keeping romance at the heart of the story.
The inclusion of Devon and Chelsea's blossoming relationship was a welcome change. Devon's concern surrounding his feelings for dating a trans woman, nicely reflected his best friend Ally's misgivings about dating a woman, who is also 17 years her junior.
One of my favourite lines in the book is 'No one is perfect, but we're perfect together'. A simple sentence yet a very powerful message to take away from this story.
tricia_r's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
cheapmessandbeauty's review
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
netgyrl's review against another edition
5.0
Really fun to read a story that takes place right over the hill and a place I have actually visited many times... Capitola, CA. It's a very sweet love story. Well written. Just enough angst. The MCs are both adorable. I loved every word. Highly recommend.
shippychaos's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The plot moved very rapidly forward but it still read like a slow book. From start through epilogue, only 8 months passed in the story…
I read this through Kindle Unlimited, and it is not the most well written of this author’s books. The sex scenes were numerous and the most well written parts of the story. I wished for more character development - besides her attraction (and struggles with it) Ally has zero depth.
I read this through Kindle Unlimited, and it is not the most well written of this author’s books. The sex scenes were numerous and the most well written parts of the story. I wished for more character development - besides her attraction (and struggles with it) Ally has zero depth.