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nuriaa_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Cancer
linnea_tornblom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Abandonment, Violence, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death, and Cancer
andeng's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Infidelity, Child abuse, Grief, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
amanda_reads13's review
- 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 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
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship