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thesmutsister_emma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As y'all well know (or at least can see rather clearly) I am in quite the reading slump. I have struggled reading all year and have not had many books I truly have loved. After a week of reading this though, strap in bitches because WE ARE BACK AND, FRIENDS, ARE WE BACK IN THE BEST OF WAYS. I am feral over this book and oh god I love it so fucking much.
The Characters
Chloe:Chloe, girlie, I don't know that I could relate more to a character when it comes to the general "fuck around and find out" attitude while also just maintaining the most deadpan sarcasm and I LOVE IT. And her notes and lists and organization skills? All over it. Have y'all seen my new digital planner yet? I have my whole week mapped out the best that I can to a T. And if you roll in changing shit on me, I WILL be skressed. S I get it, girlie, I really do.
Red: Redford. Oh my god. If my heart could belong to a man more... fuck if I know would happen. He honestly is the absolute best and I cannot wait for y'all to attempt to change my mind. The way he loves Chloe and gives her exactly what she needs while not making her seem incapable due to her fibromyalgia is so beautiful. And at the end, his whole thing about how he will survive without her, he just doesn't want to? Y'all if there was ANYTHING that I read that I need to take to heart, it was that shit.
Things I Loved
I honest to fuck loved the whole book. I don't have any complaints and will now and forevermore be shouting about this book from the fucking rooftops.
Things I Didn't Love
As I said, no issues. I literally cannot think of one. My whole heart belongs to this book.
The Final Verdict
I know I threaten y'all frequently about reading books, but this one? This one is for fucking real. If you do not go read this book right now we are no longer book besties and I will be promptly unfollowing you the second I find out. Now, go. Before I change my mind and make you listen to me recount the entire book, Southern mannerisms and all.
Graphic: Chronic illness and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Medical content, Physical abuse, Ableism, Alcohol, Drug use, and Racism
acwhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Abandonment, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug use, Death, Racism, Physical abuse, and Sexism
lovealwaysadi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Medical content, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Classism, and Drug use
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Car accident
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
Minor: Medical content, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Chloe and Red are both adorable characters, with lots of their own baggage. Seeing them work through things together as well as on their own was wonderful to read. And their email banter had me grinning the entire time.
I can’t wait to get to know Chloe’s family better in Talia Hibbert’s other books!
If you’re looking for a cute, funny, heartwarming, and sexy read look no further!
Graphic: Chronic illness, Classism, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Violence, Car accident, and Racism
nefariousbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
it was funny, having ME/CFS this is the first time I saw an MC who faced similar everyday challenges that me so I loved that, the lvoe interest made me wonder if I could be with a man after all. sex scenes are 10/10.
oh and the relationship trauma is portrayed beautifully.
what else could one want from a romance book, really
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Ableism, and Toxic relationship
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Ableism, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Medical content, Drug use, Racism, Car accident, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
divine529's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This follows our main protagonist Chloe Brown, who has fibromyalgia, who almost gets hit by a car and uses that as a wake up call to "get a life" and she creates a list and enlists her lovely superintendent Red to help her with her list and things go from there.
I absolutely loved the chronic pain/illness and healing from a toxic relationship representation in this. As someone who can relate to both of those things, I really loved both Chloe and Red and saw myself in both of them.
I also loved the ending of this book. I know a lot of people really struggle with the miscommunication trope, but I thought it fit really well with the characters and their experiences and it was done well. Plus miscommunication is something that's pretty common in real life too.
As for the romance, overall I liked it, since it shows a healthier relationship and promotes loving people as they are without wanting someone to change, and all kinds of body positivity and all of that was great, however, there were some things that I felt like were just a bit much (for me personally). I don't mind smut in books, but I'm not a huge fan of public sex and lust at all times. It just makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. I also wish that things between Red and Chloe were a bit more fleshed out as the pacing felt off at times (I particularly would've loved to hear more about when they first met and what it was that made them dislike each other so much, we got a little, but I needed just a little more)
I also wish we got to spend more time with Chloe's family (I know Dani and Eve get their own books, but I wanted more of their interactions with each other) and with Red's family and with Annie and Vik. I really enjoyed all of the interactions we got, but I would've loved for more.
All in all, I really enjoyed this (and honestly read this at exactly the right time) and I'm looking forward to picking up the others!
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Medical trauma, and Physical abuse
Minor: Grief, Car accident, Sexism, and Ableism
cady_sass's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Update 4/17/23:
I am SO glad I gave this one a shot! It’s so fun and sexy but also relatable and inclusive. The main protagonist is chronically ill and not “traditionally” pretty/thin (ie western beauty standards) but neither of those things are the focus- they just are. And a love interest who just gets it and is a human about it? The bar is on the floor, ladies, I know. But that’s sexy and hell.
Also, side notes: I’m not sure why but I thought (perhaps some mixture of the title and cover art? Idk) and it is NOT. this book is spicy as hell. 🥵
Take my audiobook sensitivities with a grain of salt but I actually believe this audiobook is legit horrible so just skip that and read the book/ebook
Graphic: Cursing, Medical content, Body shaming, Classism, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
ecravens's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, and Drug use