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challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read Credence first and although that book has flaws the writing and character development was much better than this one. It has a “happy ending” but not my favorite. MMC bothers me so much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i shouldnt have enjoyed this as much as i did... has nsfw content, btw! the age gap was... crazy but why'd i actually root for them ?? miss penelope made characters that were so easy to relate to & get attached to. cole :( im glad he got his good ending !! & man i loved pike more than i should've... idk. did i cry bc im a hopeless romantic? yes. i can understand why penelope is so popular altho there were some lines that made me giggle bc i couldn't take it seriously. also,,, im ngl... miss jordan giving pike an ultimatum irked me but that's always just been something i hate! anyway. it's a fun read. is it maybe problematic bc of the age gap (19 & 38) maybe? whatever. it's an entertaining read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Child abuse, Violence
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Look, I didn't know how this was gonna go. I was pretty hesitant to try this book because "ex boyfriend's father" was not a trope I've ever been interested in (I still don't think it is). I think I just had some really cheesy porn plots in my head so I couldn't imagine how this trope could possibly work without just being pure smut with no plot (which is fine sometimes too... just not what I needed to get on board with this trope).
But this book surprised me so much! It made me believe the story. Like, I could actually see how this might happen. The torment and inner conflict the main characters felt was so gratifying, especially on Pike's part. I really felt for him. And Andrew Eiden's narration was immaculate.
I didn't always love Jordan, but she felt like a believable mature-for-her-age 19 year old. If she hadn't had her occassionally immature behaviors that were frustrating and annoying, then she would have felt older than she really was supposed to be. So it all kinda still worked for me. Ultimately, I could believe the characters and their romance, even if my societal conditioning was always in the back of my head trying to resist it.
There's a line Dutch says part way through:"The way you two look at each other... is like you have your own language." And man, I just felt that. Love is love is love. Sometimes people just make you feel whole.
The 🌶️🌶️🌶️ was 🔥! And this book had so. much. angst. The pacing really worked in this one too.
I may never read another book like this again but I am 100% satisfyed that I read this one. *phew 🥵🥴
But this book surprised me so much! It made me believe the story. Like, I could actually see how this might happen. The torment and inner conflict the main characters felt was so gratifying, especially on Pike's part. I really felt for him. And Andrew Eiden's narration was immaculate.
I didn't always love Jordan, but she felt like a believable mature-for-her-age 19 year old. If she hadn't had her occassionally immature behaviors that were frustrating and annoying, then she would have felt older than she really was supposed to be. So it all kinda still worked for me. Ultimately, I could believe the characters and their romance, even if my societal conditioning was always in the back of my head trying to resist it.
There's a line Dutch says part way through:
The 🌶️🌶️🌶️ was 🔥! And this book had so. much. angst. The pacing really worked in this one too.
I may never read another book like this again but I am 100% satisfyed that I read this one. *phew 🥵🥴
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse
*domestic abuse and infidelity doesn't occur between the main characters; toxic relationship is more between the main characters and their exes (as opposed to between the two main characters)
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first half of this was so slow I almost thought about not finishing it but I tried again at another time and it did start to get good at 50%, but some things bothered me and gave me the ick. To clarify I'm NOT trying to yuck anyone's yum and I'm usually ok with the age gap trope but the fact Jordan is only 19 felt super unnecessary. And Pike trying to act like her dad all the time? I don't know about this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reading an age gap romance where the fmc (19) is younger than me (20) was certainly an experience
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"We want it, but we know we shouldn't."
Jordan has never had it easy in life. Even on her birthday she ends up at the local theater, watching an 80s movie alone because no one else remembered the day. That is, until she meets Pike Lawson, who lights up her night until she realizes he's her boyfriend's father. When she ends up moving into Pike's house, what ensues is a careful dance back and forth between the two of them, wondering if their attraction is a fleeting taboo thought or something more.
Well, I can safely say this was NOT the book I was expecting. I've seen Birthday Girl float around the book community for years, mostly people insisting it was wildly steamy, or so taboo they couldn't even get through reading it. And it really... wasn't either? This entire story was heartbreakingly beautiful, from the way I rooted for Jordan from the beginning to the protectiveness Pike felt for her from the start. The taboo aspect didn't feel that strange to me, overall, Jordan was an adult, with plenty of adult experience under her belt that made her feel years past nineteen. One of my notes joked that the characters treated Pike like he was eighty - when he isn't even FOURTY in the pages. Maybe I'm corrupt, but honestly, this wasn't taboo at all.
As for the ex's dad angle... Cole sucked. I don't know what else to say. He was insufferable and I kept hoping Pike would throw a punch in to knock some sense into his son's head. Jordan deserved better and I think that made the entire reading experience ache for me. It was SUCH a slow burn that I wanted desperately for her to get what she deserved. All the girl wanted was a clothesline in her backyard and for someone to remember her birthday. We got there in the end, but God was that a lot of pain for me. Ultimately, it isn't a five star, but I did love it. It just missed a spark for me somewhere, but the end soothed a lot of the hurt from the last few chapters and the conflict.
All in all - is Birthday Girl the wild tryst everyone says? No. But it's a good story. And I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about two characters who deserve to find their happiness with each other. Even if it takes a lot of pain to get there, the payoff is worth it.
Content Warnings: Sexual content, Toxic relationship (current), Infidelity (mentioned, not between MCs), Domestic abuse/Physical abuse (mentioned in past)
Jordan has never had it easy in life. Even on her birthday she ends up at the local theater, watching an 80s movie alone because no one else remembered the day. That is, until she meets Pike Lawson, who lights up her night until she realizes he's her boyfriend's father. When she ends up moving into Pike's house, what ensues is a careful dance back and forth between the two of them, wondering if their attraction is a fleeting taboo thought or something more.
Well, I can safely say this was NOT the book I was expecting. I've seen Birthday Girl float around the book community for years, mostly people insisting it was wildly steamy, or so taboo they couldn't even get through reading it. And it really... wasn't either? This entire story was heartbreakingly beautiful, from the way I rooted for Jordan from the beginning to the protectiveness Pike felt for her from the start. The taboo aspect didn't feel that strange to me, overall, Jordan was an adult, with plenty of adult experience under her belt that made her feel years past nineteen. One of my notes joked that the characters treated Pike like he was eighty - when he isn't even FOURTY in the pages. Maybe I'm corrupt, but honestly, this wasn't taboo at all.
As for the ex's dad angle... Cole sucked. I don't know what else to say. He was insufferable and I kept hoping Pike would throw a punch in to knock some sense into his son's head. Jordan deserved better and I think that made the entire reading experience ache for me. It was SUCH a slow burn that I wanted desperately for her to get what she deserved. All the girl wanted was a clothesline in her backyard and for someone to remember her birthday. We got there in the end, but God was that a lot of pain for me. Ultimately, it isn't a five star, but I did love it. It just missed a spark for me somewhere, but the end soothed a lot of the hurt from the last few chapters and the conflict.
All in all - is Birthday Girl the wild tryst everyone says? No. But it's a good story. And I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about two characters who deserve to find their happiness with each other. Even if it takes a lot of pain to get there, the payoff is worth it.
Content Warnings: Sexual content, Toxic relationship (current), Infidelity (mentioned, not between MCs), Domestic abuse/Physical abuse (mentioned in past)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse