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rockyroad's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
mc_13's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Cancer, and Death
amanda_reads13's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ryot and Myla have it a rough patch in their marriage and Myla has thrown in the towel. The divorce papers come as a complete shock to Ryot and he gets the kick in the ass he needs to try to save his marriage.
I like that this book jumps between the past and present so we get the juxtaposition of their relationship starting and ending.
We learned that Myla has had a pretty rough childhood and has endured some trauma. For that reason she tries to push Ryot away thinking she cannot have a healthy relationship. Ryot has the patience of a saint. He takes his time proving to her that she can trust him. He is there for her in every way possible and shows her that he will always be there to protect her. After a career ending injury, he starts the Jock Report with his brother which moved them to California. This is when everything starts to fall apart. When he sees the reality of the situation, he is willing to throw it all away to save his relationship with Myla as that is the most important thing to him.
I really didn't like Myla for most of the book. She came across as very petty, childish, and immature. I understand that she had a rough childhood and had a hard time trusting, but she and Ryot went through a rough patch for a FEW MONTHS. Otherwise he was an incredible husband to her, he protected her, cared for her, and loved her. She tried to talk to him about her feelings, but obviously she didn't try hard enough. With all the trauma she experienced, she seriously needed therapy, had she given it more of a chance it could have benefited her. Instead she places all of her happiness on Ryot, that is not a healthy way of thinking. You need to be happy with yourself, you cannot put that on someone else. Then when Ryot goes through a major life change and probably a period of depression where he focuses on himself instead of her, does she support him? No. She pulls away and acts selfishly.
Myla seriously gives me whiplash. She doesn't know what she wants because she never truly took the time to discover who she was outside of their relationship. She flip flops so much on wanting to end and save her marriage.
I went back and forth on Nichole. I liked that Myla has someone unwavering in her corner for her whole life. At one point it seemed like her jealousy took over as she started to get in the way of the trust Ryot had built with Myla. In the end she was redeemed and we realize that all she wanted was to protect Myla.
I appreciated that we got to visit with Lottie, Huxley, Kelsey, and JP.
Tropes: second chance
I like that this book jumps between the past and present so we get the juxtaposition of their relationship starting and ending.
We learned that Myla has had a pretty rough childhood and has endured some trauma. For that reason she tries to push Ryot away thinking she cannot have a healthy relationship. Ryot has the patience of a saint. He takes his time proving to her that she can trust him. He is there for her in every way possible and shows her that he will always be there to protect her. After a career ending injury, he starts the Jock Report with his brother which moved them to California. This is when everything starts to fall apart. When he sees the reality of the situation, he is willing to throw it all away to save his relationship with Myla as that is the most important thing to him.
I really didn't like Myla for most of the book. She came across as very petty, childish, and immature. I understand that she had a rough childhood and had a hard time trusting, but she and Ryot went through a rough patch for a FEW MONTHS. Otherwise he was an incredible husband to her, he protected her, cared for her, and loved her. She tried to talk to him about her feelings, but obviously she didn't try hard enough. With all the trauma she experienced, she seriously needed therapy, had she given it more of a chance it could have benefited her. Instead she places all of her happiness on Ryot, that is not a healthy way of thinking. You need to be happy with yourself, you cannot put that on someone else. Then when Ryot goes through a major life change and probably a period of depression where he focuses on himself instead of her, does she support him? No. She pulls away and acts selfishly.
Myla seriously gives me whiplash. She doesn't know what she wants because she never truly took the time to discover who she was outside of their relationship. She flip flops so much on wanting to end and save her marriage.
I went back and forth on Nichole. I liked that Myla has someone unwavering in her corner for her whole life. At one point it seemed like her jealousy took over as she started to get in the way of the trust Ryot had built with Myla. In the end she was redeemed and we realize that all she wanted was to protect Myla.
I appreciated that we got to visit with Lottie, Huxley, Kelsey, and JP.
Tropes: second chance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
kimwalton83's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Infidelity
feelingmyshelf's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is maybe the greatest stand alone book I’ve ever read. These characters and their journey was simultaneously the most heartbreaking and heartwarming. I cried from their sadness and the warmth. Seeing a relationship from its beginning through 11 years was really special and goes way beyond the traditional HEA. Easily my favorite Meghan Quinn book to date!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Cancer
sarahball47's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was hoping for a little more of a peek into Kelsey and JP (that’s why I read this to begin with) but even without as much as I’d have liked, it was still a cute book. Something about Myla and Ryot I just couldn’t get into - I didn’t really relate to either which made understanding their positions tricky at times. Overall though, a solid 3 star read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, and Cancer
symonnereads's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What an emotional read! I cried! It was so beautiful to read as the couple fell in love. The chemistry the two characters had was amazing. It was a beautiful story from start to finish. My only issue with the story was the FMC was very immature in my eyes to the point where parts of her made it hard to read. Eventually she came around and I enjoyed her pov but it took way too long. Some actions of hers were just childish. But overall the story was beautiful, steamy, spicy and so damn good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Abandonment, and Cancer
sarahsbookstacks's review
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I liked it, but it was way heavier than I expected it to be. There was a lot of trauma, almost too much in a romcom.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Divorcerednosedreindeer7487's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Body shaming, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
dkgreads's review
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
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? Yes
3.75
Not my favorite Meghan Quinn. Mostly because while Myla’s emotions behind her decision were totally valid, the decision itself seemed super freaking rash considering her history with Ryot. And the stuff she did that two weeks she spent trying to distance herself from him before JP and Kelsey’s wedding was petty and childish, and REALLY annoyed me. Ryot made a mistake, sure, but that dude was ridiculously dreamy. Also, the whole Nichole thing at the end felt like it came out of left field and was kinda unnecessary, if you ask me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Body shaming, and Cancer