Reviews with content warning for Cancer - Untying the Knot

Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Untying the Knot by Meghan Quinn

24 reviews

bribreez's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Myla and Ryot met many years ago, had a random encounter while Myla was eating his grapes on his couch, while her best friend, Nichole was upstairs with Ryot’s brother, Banner. An interesting way they met, but from that moment on, Myla and Ryot liked one another. Fast forward, twelve years later, Myla and Ryot were married, in a new house, Ryot focused on his new thriving, successful business. Seemed like everything was going well right? Wrong. Myla asked Ryot for a divorce, and from there it snowballed into Ryot trying to fight to save his marriage, fix the issues between him and Myla. Marriage on the rocks, emotional, a different take compared to Meghan’s other books, but it was all fantastic.

Anytime I get another book by Meghan Quinn, I’m so excited and with Myla and Ryot’s story I couldn’t wait to dive in. From the moment I started the prologue, I found myself zooming through the pages, I was hooked right away! I always love when books have dual point of views because I get to read each characters side of their story, and also some details that later prove significant to the storyline. Myla and Ryot’s story was deep, emotional, and raw. Meghan wrote this book in her usual writing that I know and love from the sprinkles of humor, love, and of course spice, but there was an added level of emotional depth that took me by surprise in the best way possible. The story line of Myla and Ryot facing divorce might have sounded straightforward, but with Meghan behind the story, she created a unique story and characters with heart and the ability to pull you in right from the beginning.

I really loved seeing the past chapters because, it showed the different point in the years that Myla and Ryot were together. From their direct messaging, meeting up again on the night that Ryot got called to the Majors, to them dating and everything in between. The past chapters not only showed the progression in Myla and Ryot’s relationship, but how they initially were as they got to know each other. Based off the past chapters, Myla’s personality was highlighted more from her being outspoken, confident, and did as she pleased. Myla’s attitude was fun and I loved how she had her motto of not caring about what others thought, she went about her life living to the fullest, and her personality reflected that. Ryot seemed grumpy at the beginning, but with more time spent getting to know Myla, not only was he falling for her, but he started to unwind and relax compared to the high stress of playing baseball brought. Most stories usually focus on the meet cute, and all the nuisances of new love, but with Myla and Ryot it was about seeing everything from beginning, middle, and the present when the story takes past. Showing how Myla and Ryot were before they got married or even just before all the issues started in their marriage illustrated the beauty in their relationship and how different they had changed over the years.

Myla and Ryot had so much going on from the divorce to unresolved issues, and trying to navigate their lives with the new unknown facing them. Myla felt like there was no other way besides getting a divorce from Ryot, whereas Ryot couldn’t imagine his life without Myla. Each person had their own feelings towards their differences, but even with the petty arguments and passive aggressive behavior, Myla and Ryot still loved each other. Looking at the past chapters, it was easy to see the love that Myla and Ryot formed, so to see them in the present at odds with one another made me sad for them. I was just waiting for the moment they would reconcile with one another, but in the meantime, both Myla and Ryot had to overcome their differences/ issues.

The more I read, the more I realized just how different this was compared to Meghan’s other books. I absolutely love Meghan’s writing style, her books, and everything, and this story felt like a new branch off of her usual story, but with an added emotional pull. Myla and Ryot’s relationship was passionate, raw, beautiful, heartbreaking, and also had moments of joy, laughter, and all around lightheartedness. This book really did pack a punch when it came to some of the deeper emotional parts of the story. Now I understand what people meant when they said this was different compared to Meghan’s other books, but also how it left them all types of emotions from sad, happy, and straight up crying while reading this book.

Now reading this story in the illustrated version added so much more since I was able to have visuals of Myla and Ryot. While I would say that I’m an imaginative person, having actual pictures while I read is great! From some funny moments, to sad moments, and even the spicy scenes, I got to see it all. Honestly, if you’re able to get the illustrated book, I would say go for it. I personally got both because, I couldn’t decide on just one, and because I love Meghan Quinn so much, I wanted both. Anyways, back to what I was saying, the illustrated book was fantastic! Seeing Myla and Ryot in the book gave me a better idea as to how they looked, or were in certain situations. Of course, seeing the spicy scenes in this book was another level that had my heart rate spiking, and feeling genuinely hot and bothered haha (in a good way). The spice in this book was amazing! Even though there were some sad/heavy moments throughout the story, the spice didn’t diminish or take away from the main storyline. Meghan writes some of the best spicy scenes I’ve ever read, and this book took my breath away. So, you can imagine that when I saw the actual visuals for the spicy scenes, I was blown away, and was like, “WOW! So that’s what it looks like when they’re in that specific position” HAHA!

Oh my gosh, this was such a whirlwind of an emotional rollercoaster. I legitimately have a book hangover after reading this, and it’s totally worth it. The story was beautiful, heartfelt, emotional, focused on some heavy topics so please check trigger warnings. Most of all, Myla and Ryot’s story was unlike any I have read before. Yes I’ve read some books with the marriage on the rocks/ reconciliation trope, but the way that Meghan wrote this book was a different approach on it, and honestly blew me away. There were some moments, that I got a bit emotional, and made me look at Myla and Ryot’s relationship in a new light. With a mixture of everything from lighthearted, to sad, this story had a good balance. The illustrations were fantastic *especially during the spicy scenes haha. This book was overall phenomenal and I loved every second of it. Myla and Ryot ended on a great note, and I loved the epilogue seeing them living their life as a new chapters, and the endless possibilities to their happiness.

Content Warnings

onlyonebookshelf's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

avidreader87's review

Go to review page

medium-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

I wanted to LOVE this book, but it's just a like.

The author waited too long to make me like Myla. In the end I do get her and like her, but we were way too far into the book before I could find any redeeming qualities. I get that the book needed to move along, but the first 50% it just seemed like Myla was a jerk doing mean things (they both were, but the story telling around Ryot created so much more empathy for him) and there wasn't really a good basis for the divorce request. I just spent too much of the book hating everyone - I'm glad I didn't DNF and got the end, but eh.....

Content Warnings

scmp73's review

Go to review page

emotional medium-paced

2.5

I usually love Meghan Quinn’s books, but I’ve really struggled with the last couple. I even downloaded the audiobook thinking it would help get through, but it makes it worse hearing their ridiculous crap out loud. Both characters are so immature. I get Myla has past trauma, but my god, it’s not hard to tell your spouse what’s wrong when they ask. I get he should know because she’s tried to talk to him before. She’s frustrated he never listened to her, but when she has his full attention she decides just to be petty and tell him he should know. Honestly listening to Myla waffle the whole book was driving me crazy. She obviously needed therapy and lots of it. There’s a lot of emotional baggage, and a professional is needed to help her work through that.

The only saving grace with the audiobook is how they’re done; the male voice is read by the mail actor, even in the female POV chapters, and vice versa. It’s like an actual conversation. Most the newer Meghan Quinn books I’ve listened to and read have been set up the same way, and I really love that.

Content Warnings

More...