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briana7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Racism
pamnc's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
cheypreston's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
felishacb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Everyone was right! This book is engaging and hot. I love to read stories where a woman overcome and takes back her life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
I freaking loved this book and I think about it often. A few notes I wrote on my phone while I was reading it:
- The scene where Mia tells Rachel the story of her daughter's obsession with lions and she mentions how she learned that lionesses take their young for weeks at a time to a different place to keep them away from danger but then bring them back to that same place of danger. Mia asked her why a mother would do that to her baby and she responds with "because she's not a mother, she's a lioness." The deeper discussion throughout the entirety of the story that women have been conditioned to give themselves up for others, particularly their children.
- We teach our kids t be self-sufficient, empowered, confident - but we lose that in ourselves in the process. Sometimes it takes them throwing it back in our faces to realize we are our own person (when Nathan shows up at the photography studio and Faith tells Rachel it's okay to love him and do this for herself).
- Finding yourself is a lifelong journey and it's never too late to start again.
The audiobook was great and I cannot wait to see this on the screen!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, Mental illness, and Grief
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
4.5
Fans of Kennedy Ryan will love this book- it packs drama, depth, and emotion in a similar style as she does. This books is like if Scandal had a crossover episode involving the art world. I enjoyed this book and am kicking myself for not having read it sooner. While the romance isn’t completely central to the plot you get to see how Rachel and Nathan’s relationship unfolds. You definitely find yourself rooting for them from the jump despite the circumstances standing in their way. Regina’s debut novel is excellent and I’m intrigued to see what she writes next. I for sure would recommend this book if you are looking for a romance that delivers complexity and drama.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Drug use
Minor: Cancer
bbygirl21's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was a good read. It was kinda slow for my tastes for the first half of the book and then picked up in the second half. I'm also realizing to don't much care for long chapters in books (which this book has)but that's just my preference. I still thought it was a great book with a great storyline. I'd definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
bandherbooks's review
4.0
scandal is right. Regina Black kept me on the edge of my seat while narrator Mela Lee slayed all of the characters' voices. i had started in in print eons ago, but finished off after using an audible credit with the narration and what a great choice. one of my favorite audiobooks of 2023!
this skimmed the line between domestic fiction and romance, but landed firmly in romance with the HEA//HFN between Rachel and Nathan. Whew was I worried though, especially after that shocking moment during the art fundraiser. The way back from there, masterful!
for those leery of the age-gap of it all, I really appreciated Nathan was mid-20s and had his own business and support system. The juxtaposition of Nathan appearing to be blue collar (based on his choices, not his lack of family or financial support if you chose differently) versus Rachel's apparent "high society" veneer when she in fact was unhoused, financially insecure, and with a child she had at 16 was so deftly woven! I also very much appreciated that Nathan's mother, and Rachel's peer, isn't demonized. She's a society bitch but she's not one-dimensional.
All in all, this was such a great debut and I hope for far more from the author, AND it would translate so well to screen.
One thing I will directly point out, because it is sort of my own personal issue, is that i was not suspecting Nathan's father to CW (view spoiler). I didn't look up content notes, but i also didn't really see this mentioned elsewhere, so just FYI
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC; i also purchased the audio with my own money
this skimmed the line between domestic fiction and romance, but landed firmly in romance with the HEA//HFN between Rachel and Nathan. Whew was I worried though, especially after that shocking moment during the art fundraiser. The way back from there, masterful!
for those leery of the age-gap of it all, I really appreciated Nathan was mid-20s and had his own business and support system. The juxtaposition of Nathan appearing to be blue collar (based on his choices, not his lack of family or financial support if you chose differently) versus Rachel's apparent "high society" veneer when she in fact was unhoused, financially insecure, and with a child she had at 16 was so deftly woven! I also very much appreciated that Nathan's mother, and Rachel's peer, isn't demonized. She's a society bitch but she's not one-dimensional.
All in all, this was such a great debut and I hope for far more from the author, AND it would translate so well to screen.
One thing I will directly point out, because it is sort of my own personal issue, is that i was not suspecting Nathan's father to CW (view spoiler). I didn't look up content notes, but i also didn't really see this mentioned elsewhere, so just FYI
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC; i also purchased the audio with my own money
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
jtpgdavey's review
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Racism
Minor: Misogyny