Reviews

This is messy love, real and grity. What would you do if your best friends brother had a thing for you and was an unrelenting sexy guy who doesn’t listen when you try to push him away. He goes from your tormentor to the person who really sees you.

Macon’s not the screw up everyone thinks he’s just battling some massive enter demons and she’s the only one really noticing. This book may just break you a little but I know she’ll put us back together.

emjmondo_'s review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

shelabie's review

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lmh1491's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mandysspicyreads's review

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emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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

slreads's review

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dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

theaccidentalromanceblogger's review

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Book 1 in the Next Life duet, this one introduces us to the train wreck that is the relationship between Lennon and Macon and you'll be riveted by all the angst, teenage drama and toxic crap thrown all over masterfully by Brit Benson. Like all train wrecks, you can't look away.

Macon antagonizes Lennon from the moment they meet in school at the respective ages of 10 and 9. From there, this complex relationship will keep you invested. It has a touch of bully, a good dose of enemies to lovers, a dash of taboo and a hint of "it's always been you" and it will keep you on your toes.

Lennon is the people pleaser new girl in town, who doesn't want to do anything that can hurt her only remaining parent, her dad. That will include hiding her intense love of painting from him. Macon is Lennon's best friend's brother and he's a troubled soul from the start. As the story develops, you peel the layers of both characters and keep rooting for them to find a way to heal... and maybe be together.

Masterfully narrated in duet by Lidia Dornet (I need more of her in my ears ASAP) and J.F. Harding and it makes all the difference. Those two are fire together and you just can't stop listening. Kudos to J.F. for making me hate and love Macon at the same time - a feat indeed.

I loved it (though it ends in a doozy of a cliffhanger) and I'm ready to dive into book 2.

Side note: I know a lot of readers hated mean girl Sam, but I get her. Now, Claire... If you know you know...

Thanks, @mustloveaudio for the gift!

Content notes: on page - bullying, toxic and unhealthy relationships, drug and alcohol use and addiction, physical violence, drug overdose. Historical: suicide, physical and mental abuse of a child

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