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iamonlybetty's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
tulelaaa's review against another edition
5.0
Polo is a MAN !!!!!!!! This story is definitely a 6star lmao. Karma is def a bitch
vanessanoel_'s review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
cbustos's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
pages_of_cedar's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
bookswhitme's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
zorasdusttracks's review against another edition
3.0
This was a frustrating read — definitely struggle love; with some trauma; but not so much romance: I’ve only started reading romance within the past year…needed a break from non-fiction and historical fiction. Unfortunately, this didn’t offer the escapism that I needed. I’m okay with contemporary romance where the story is well-rounded offering a bit of angst, but this just had me stressed and frustrated.
I really wanted more for Kendra. I didn’t understand her rationale of leaving Polo only to stay in some random “friend’s” cabin. She couldn’t ask Kim for help? That just seemed too convenient. Staying in that cabin puts her in the same situation that she was in with Polo — being cared for by another man. I really just wish her way to get away for a moment wasn’t via another man…even if it was temporary. After all those years she didn’t have any resources outside of Polo to rent a place of her own? I was initially hoping she was going to some sort of retreat or rehab. It’s unfortunate…She ultimately does get a hotel room, which is what she should have done initially. I don’t feel as though there was any real growth for her. Her choices proved that she was still this “fragile” person as Polo likes to refer to her — no real life experience to feel confident in navigating life on her own. Even if she still ended up with Polo in the end, it would have been good to see her do some things on her own before she decided to go back to him — focus on working through her issues in therapy. She mentioned going back to school, which she does ultimately do. However, it would have been good to see her focus on school; discover some interests; and come into her own as a woman.
Kendra saying all she wanted was to be different from her mother, but then making similar choices as her mother is regressive. It really did seem a bit out of character for her to be so reckless with her body. To have unprotected sex with one man and then the next day do the same thing with a different man is reckless and nasty — And she just conveniently missed a few pills during that time also? Convenient. I get her saying she did nothing wrong as far as sleeping with someone else, but not protecting herself and exposing herself and another partner is irresponsible and foul. These actions seemed so out of character for her.
It was ironic that while speaking with Kim, she expressed how although Polo cheated he was never reckless and always protected himself. It would have been interesting if the book focused on her learning to love herself — putting her on a path of self-discovery. She lacked self-awareness and self-love. I wish her and Polo just ended things, because the romance element was already non-existent in the story. I guess this is a HEA for someone, but it’s not one I would want for myself or wish for another person.
Unfortunately, Kendra ultimately just seemed to be stuck in a generational curse — no healing. Or maybe the healing will be in how she mothers her own child? I am a testament of how helpful therapy is, but it only does so much. I definitely wouldn’t have went to her mother’s husband’s funeral. I don’t know why she felt the need to do that. I don’t believe you always need to face someone for closure, forgiveness, or healing…sometimes it’s the work you do within yourself that makes the most difference.
I really wanted more for Kendra. I didn’t understand her rationale of leaving Polo only to stay in some random “friend’s” cabin. She couldn’t ask Kim for help? That just seemed too convenient. Staying in that cabin puts her in the same situation that she was in with Polo — being cared for by another man. I really just wish her way to get away for a moment wasn’t via another man…even if it was temporary. After all those years she didn’t have any resources outside of Polo to rent a place of her own? I was initially hoping she was going to some sort of retreat or rehab. It’s unfortunate…She ultimately does get a hotel room, which is what she should have done initially. I don’t feel as though there was any real growth for her. Her choices proved that she was still this “fragile” person as Polo likes to refer to her — no real life experience to feel confident in navigating life on her own. Even if she still ended up with Polo in the end, it would have been good to see her do some things on her own before she decided to go back to him — focus on working through her issues in therapy. She mentioned going back to school, which she does ultimately do. However, it would have been good to see her focus on school; discover some interests; and come into her own as a woman.
Kendra saying all she wanted was to be different from her mother, but then making similar choices as her mother is regressive. It really did seem a bit out of character for her to be so reckless with her body. To have unprotected sex with one man and then the next day do the same thing with a different man is reckless and nasty — And she just conveniently missed a few pills during that time also? Convenient. I get her saying she did nothing wrong as far as sleeping with someone else, but not protecting herself and exposing herself and another partner is irresponsible and foul. These actions seemed so out of character for her.
It was ironic that while speaking with Kim, she expressed how although Polo cheated he was never reckless and always protected himself. It would have been interesting if the book focused on her learning to love herself — putting her on a path of self-discovery. She lacked self-awareness and self-love. I wish her and Polo just ended things, because the romance element was already non-existent in the story. I guess this is a HEA for someone, but it’s not one I would want for myself or wish for another person.
Unfortunately, Kendra ultimately just seemed to be stuck in a generational curse — no healing. Or maybe the healing will be in how she mothers her own child? I am a testament of how helpful therapy is, but it only does so much. I definitely wouldn’t have went to her mother’s husband’s funeral. I don’t know why she felt the need to do that. I don’t believe you always need to face someone for closure, forgiveness, or healing…sometimes it’s the work you do within yourself that makes the most difference.
poiseandprose's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. This is Alexandria houses newest book. I enjoyed the cross over cameos and the lil twist was good-ish this one tried to have a better plot than most of her books which I appreciated you can see the improvement in her writing style.
aishb3's review
3.0
Yall this book pissed me off! I had to put it down lol I was like I know this girl isn't gonna keep letting him keep on with the BS. I was literally yelling at the screen like 🗣 Sis stand upppppp for yourself get up!
Anyways about 65% of the way through I was like imma give this a few days. Cuz she's gonna piss me off. Many of us have found ourselves in some dumb shit myself included. But girl! Come on now.
Anyways after my lile 2 day hiatus. I finished and yall it got better. Sis cheated back, I mean she still went back to Mr. Raggedy n shit but I was so much happier she went and found her healing. Her mom was the literal devil in disguise. I was so disgusted with her the entire time smdh.
And I was not expecting the plot to twist the way it did but I was cool with it like okay Karma kicked in. They got back together but he felt that KARMA and that mattered to me. Cuz love is redeemable after fuckery but get your get back.
Also Im typically okay with surprise pregnancies but this one....idk yall. I gave it a three cuz it wasn't terrible and I did want to finish it in the end. But it didn't not make me excited about the rest of this St. Louis Cyclones series....but imma read it tho cuz its Alexandria House!
Anyways about 65% of the way through I was like imma give this a few days. Cuz she's gonna piss me off. Many of us have found ourselves in some dumb shit myself included. But girl! Come on now.
Anyways after my lile 2 day hiatus. I finished and yall it got better. Sis cheated back, I mean she still went back to Mr. Raggedy n shit but I was so much happier she went and found her healing. Her mom was the literal devil in disguise. I was so disgusted with her the entire time smdh.
And I was not expecting the plot to twist the way it did but I was cool with it like okay Karma kicked in. They got back together but he felt that KARMA and that mattered to me. Cuz love is redeemable after fuckery but get your get back.
Also Im typically okay with surprise pregnancies but this one....idk yall. I gave it a three cuz it wasn't terrible and I did want to finish it in the end. But it didn't not make me excited about the rest of this St. Louis Cyclones series....but imma read it tho cuz its Alexandria House!