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4.57 AVERAGE
4.57 AVERAGE
This messed me up for days.
Oof that was rough. It really fucking was. I’m glad I finished it in an empty house cos I just let myself cry as I haphazardly got ready for work.
While difficult to accept, I’m glad the author was true to Take 1. We have to live with the “what if” right along with Kam.
God what a couple tastefully written explicit love scenes would have done to add to the gravity. It’s more than their intimate love story, but… damn.
Tragic, and glad I read it. Flawed characters and decisions, but seemed authentic instead of books with therapist babble from non-therapist characters.
Well day one after finishing this book. Listened to sad music and cried a lot yesterday. Day 2 I’m in my feelings, imagining a future that will never happen for fictional characters. Why is this fictional book wrecking me? Maybe I’m reconvening with grief I felt when a beloved coworker died by suicide. She was a shining star at our agency. Didn’t know her well, but she was wonderful and kind, made you feel liked. Didn’t help that I thought she was fucking gorgeous, too.
And Why do good people that are surrounded by people who love them feel like they need to isolate, are a burden? I actually love how flawed everyone is in this story. They love Dillon so much, but they don’t have to tools to understand her darkness so they get mad at her. Reminds me of my mom. She cares so much, but she’s afraid, so she lashes out in anger/fear when she doesn’t understand. And then Kam can only support the way she knows how, giving Dillon every chance to keep competing, but Dillon won’t talk to her, so Kam couldn’t know the pressure Dillon feels to deliver for everyone she thinks will hate her if she quits, because that’s all she knows. Miscommunication done well with devastating consequences.
Reading along I was like, why doesn’t this woman have a sports psychologist? I’m glad it mentions she does. And that’s so real to have a psychologist but they aren’t really helpful, or you don’t get much from sessions for whatever reason.
I keep remembering a quote from a show “the brightest stars often burn the fastest” or something like that.
Oof that was rough. It really fucking was. I’m glad I finished it in an empty house cos I just let myself cry as I haphazardly got ready for work.
While difficult to accept, I’m glad the author was true to Take 1. We have to live with the “what if” right along with Kam.
God what a couple tastefully written explicit love scenes would have done to add to the gravity. It’s more than their intimate love story, but… damn.
Tragic, and glad I read it. Flawed characters and decisions, but seemed authentic instead of books with therapist babble from non-therapist characters.
Well day one after finishing this book. Listened to sad music and cried a lot yesterday. Day 2 I’m in my feelings, imagining a future that will never happen for fictional characters. Why is this fictional book wrecking me? Maybe I’m reconvening with grief I felt when a beloved coworker died by suicide. She was a shining star at our agency. Didn’t know her well, but she was wonderful and kind, made you feel liked. Didn’t help that I thought she was fucking gorgeous, too.
And Why do good people that are surrounded by people who love them feel like they need to isolate, are a burden? I actually love how flawed everyone is in this story. They love Dillon so much, but they don’t have to tools to understand her darkness so they get mad at her. Reminds me of my mom. She cares so much, but she’s afraid, so she lashes out in anger/fear when she doesn’t understand. And then Kam can only support the way she knows how, giving Dillon every chance to keep competing, but Dillon won’t talk to her, so Kam couldn’t know the pressure Dillon feels to deliver for everyone she thinks will hate her if she quits, because that’s all she knows. Miscommunication done well with devastating consequences.
Reading along I was like, why doesn’t this woman have a sports psychologist? I’m glad it mentions she does. And that’s so real to have a psychologist but they aren’t really helpful, or you don’t get much from sessions for whatever reason.
I keep remembering a quote from a show “the brightest stars often burn the fastest” or something like that.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Trigger warning for suicide and sexual assault.
This one hurt. At first, I was a little bit unsure but fitting years into a book there has to be some jumping around but given I am soaked with tears, Jen Lyon has got me again
This one hurt. At first, I was a little bit unsure but fitting years into a book there has to be some jumping around but given I am soaked with tears, Jen Lyon has got me again
dark
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was pretty good. But now I am sad.
Final rating would be 3 stars. I read this over a weekend where I was home alone and trying to just read something easy and this seemed like it could be a good fit. This is an easy read in terms of the writing style - it could honestly probably be half the length. The ending is really depressing, so if you're looking for easy and lighthearted, I wouldn't recommend this one. The romance felt authentic and I enjoyed both of the main characters.
Final rating would be 3 stars. I read this over a weekend where I was home alone and trying to just read something easy and this seemed like it could be a good fit. This is an easy read in terms of the writing style - it could honestly probably be half the length. The ending is really depressing, so if you're looking for easy and lighthearted, I wouldn't recommend this one. The romance felt authentic and I enjoyed both of the main characters.
Spoiler
I'm not sure how I feel about the two endings. I feel like if Jen Lyon thought that ending one (the sad one) was the most authentic, then she should have just stuck with that. If she wanted to instead show an alternative to suicide where you make the other choice and have that be the message, then I think she should have just gone with the happier ending. I think having them both just cheapens it. Obviously, the sad ending hits worse if the alternative ending isn't there, but I'd personally rather have her just stick with one so there's at least a semblance of closure. Just my opinion.
emotional
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:
Complicated
This is not a romance. But it is beautiful and heartbreaking and soul shattering.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
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
This book was beautiful and so heartbreaking. Jen Lyon does such a wonderful job depicting athletes, I really appreciate the character depth and perspective. I understand why it ended the way it did but I don't have to like it. Overall loved this book despite the ending.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't want to rate this masterpiece. This book is an amazing experience.
I finished The Unfinished Line two weeks ago, and since then I've been wondering whether I finished the book or if this damn book finished me! Let me tell you, readers—those yet to read—it is not just any run-of-the-mill love story. This is a journey of two beautifully crafted main characters who see life through two very different lenses. As readers, we walk alongside them to share their love, their pain, and everything that comes with life.
So, why am I writing this review so late? Because this book left me with a void that needed time to fill up—or maybe it never will. I could still remember, after finishing this book, I cried so hard that I couldn't breathe for a few moments. Even today, as I write my view, my eyes well up remembering the last line of Scene 53, Take 2. In short, it's crushing. It will rip out your heart and stomp on it like it's nothing.
I am accustomed to Jen's rich writing style. And let me tell you, I have an enormous fictional character crush on Catherine and Amelia Walker. With UFL, it has to be Dillion Sinclair. Her characterisation is just outstanding—so very flesh and blood. There was never a moment while reading when I thought, "Oh, this is just a fictional character..."
This is mainly the story of a highly ambitious individual who is so very tunnel-visioned when it comes to her sport. I'm not discussing the whys because that would give away too many spoilers.
On the other hand, Kameryn Kingsbury is everything Dillion is not. Perhaps that keeps them glued together until, of course...
Kameryn Kingsbury is a breath of fresh air for Dillion and for us. She is what makes this highly charged narrative breathable. If I am in awe of Dillion, then I am in love with Kam. Her helplessness in front of Dillion's doggedness felt so palpable. And I hate Dillion for Take 1. Why? Why couldn't she see beyond her ambition? Why couldn't she accept that life is far more interesting with someone like Kam by her side? How could she be so selfish? Yes, Ms. Lyon, from where I stand (as far as Take 1 is concerned), I would say she acted selfishly. She constantly shut down Kam and never actually wanted to address the black hole inside her,
Before this review goes out of hand, I would like to say this is an amazingly written story, and one shouldn't restrict oneself from reading this masterpiece just because it falls under the Sapphic genre. Jen Lyon is a master storyteller. Period. Though my rational brain understands that Take 1 is 'THE END', my heart never agrees with it. One reason being, I couldn't accept Kam's torment. Her defeat to hold Dillion, to hold them. I couldn't see her swallowing the fact that she was not enough for Dillion,
My only disagreement is that Take 2 seemed too late and too little after the devastation that Take 1 brought to me.
My parting thought is this: life is a movie with no scope for "should have been," so we must spend it wisely and sometimes ponder the devastation we might cause by simply not considering those who tag along with us, no matter what.
If this review makes any sense to you, please read this book.
I finished The Unfinished Line two weeks ago, and since then I've been wondering whether I finished the book or if this damn book finished me! Let me tell you, readers—those yet to read—it is not just any run-of-the-mill love story. This is a journey of two beautifully crafted main characters who see life through two very different lenses. As readers, we walk alongside them to share their love, their pain, and everything that comes with life.
So, why am I writing this review so late? Because this book left me with a void that needed time to fill up—or maybe it never will. I could still remember, after finishing this book, I cried so hard that I couldn't breathe for a few moments. Even today, as I write my view, my eyes well up remembering the last line of Scene 53, Take 2. In short, it's crushing. It will rip out your heart and stomp on it like it's nothing.
I am accustomed to Jen's rich writing style. And let me tell you, I have an enormous fictional character crush on Catherine and Amelia Walker. With UFL, it has to be Dillion Sinclair. Her characterisation is just outstanding—so very flesh and blood. There was never a moment while reading when I thought, "Oh, this is just a fictional character..."
This is mainly the story of a highly ambitious individual who is so very tunnel-visioned when it comes to her sport. I'm not discussing the whys because that would give away too many spoilers.
On the other hand, Kameryn Kingsbury is everything Dillion is not. Perhaps that keeps them glued together until, of course...
Kameryn Kingsbury is a breath of fresh air for Dillion and for us. She is what makes this highly charged narrative breathable. If I am in awe of Dillion, then I am in love with Kam. Her helplessness in front of Dillion's doggedness felt so palpable. And I hate Dillion for Take 1. Why? Why couldn't she see beyond her ambition? Why couldn't she accept that life is far more interesting with someone like Kam by her side? How could she be so selfish? Yes, Ms. Lyon, from where I stand (as far as Take 1 is concerned), I would say she acted selfishly. She constantly shut down Kam and never actually wanted to address the black hole inside her,
Spoiler
ultimately succumbing to it.Before this review goes out of hand, I would like to say this is an amazingly written story, and one shouldn't restrict oneself from reading this masterpiece just because it falls under the Sapphic genre. Jen Lyon is a master storyteller. Period. Though my rational brain understands that Take 1 is 'THE END', my heart never agrees with it. One reason being, I couldn't accept Kam's torment. Her defeat to hold Dillion, to hold them. I couldn't see her swallowing the fact that she was not enough for Dillion,
Spoiler
that she couldn't matter when Dillion decided to put a full stop on everything, including her own life.My only disagreement is that Take 2 seemed too late and too little after the devastation that Take 1 brought to me.
My parting thought is this: life is a movie with no scope for "should have been," so we must spend it wisely and sometimes ponder the devastation we might cause by simply not considering those who tag along with us, no matter what.
If this review makes any sense to you, please read this book.