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luna_lovelace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I stayed up late last night because I could not put it down. I am usually wary of viral books, but this book deserves it. This book will have you giggling with hope and crying for justice.
There are a lot of heavy subjects that Bree and Archer have to deal with which makes my heart ache for them. They found each other at a vulnerable time in their lives and they each gave each other space to heal and learn how to trust again while still allowing feelings to develop.
I despised Victoria, she was cruel to a CHILD.
When you think history will repeat itself,
Truly a beautifully written story with raw moments that will leave Bree and Archer in your thoughts after finishing the book.
Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Murder, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, and Car accident
Minor: Alcohol, Rape, Cursing, Cancer, Pregnancy, Violence, and Terminal illness
lyndsmarie321's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, and Grief
meowdermix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Rape
marieova's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, and Rape
tcgav's review against another edition
My main issue is the author telling everything literally rather than showing. The writing is bad.
Other than that:
Weird infantilizing of the mute character even within sexually explicit scenes which feels particularly gross for me. Language at times was terribly ableist and weird, especially describing the MFC’s love for the MMC. Feels way too contrived to have
I am the target audience for this book like everyone recommended it to me for a sweet MMC and disability representation but it’s just so poorly executed in every way in my opinion, I couldn’t even finish it.
Graphic: Stalking, Infidelity, Death of parent, Murder, Grief, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Mental illness, and Car accident
Moderate: Ableism
kielirose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Rape
kelseamae's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
About half way through you'll start to realise Archer suffers from chronic Edward Cullen Syndrome - and he's down bad.
Spoilers ahead!!
This book is about 100 pages too long and at times felt like I was trudging through mud towards a finish line I was no longer excited to reach. On other occasions, mainly Archer's POV, the writing felt purposeful and was striking that emotional chord just right. Then, we'd be back with Bree and I'd stagger through pages of her fawning over Archer's washboard abs and wish for Sheridan to focus on the narrative she started 4 pages ago.
Dialogue was clunky and awkward one moment, then poetic and stood off the page the next. I was often off-put and took a red pen to multiple pages. I get the impression it was neglected by its editors somewhere in the middle where things get mundane and swimmy.
I'm personally afflicted by a debilitating case of lesbianism. All the talk of masculine scents and that bit in the bonus epilogue about cavemen near enough made me gag. I did speak to my own mother about this and turns out it's a me issue. Unsurprising.
What this book lacks in its external world building is not made up for by Bree and Archer's relationship, in my opinion. Somewhere towards the end, Bree mentions having "best friends" in town, implying a closeness with Melanie and Liza. Besides Liza's presence serving the story zilch, as an audience we're privy to them hanging out, what, 3(?) times the entire story. Yes, I know they often came to visit the diner but I genuinely liked them and thought they could have been incorporated much more effectively. Give me a dog walk with Melanie as Bree confides in her about kissing Travis or teaches her a phrase in sign language or something. Anything. They just sort of... existed.
Same with Natalie and Jordan. This is when my frustration with Sheridan's writing was reaching its peak. Why on Earth introduce us to Natalie, Avery and Jordan in Bree's first chapter and then proceed to feed us one liners about Natalie until they meet up for Bree to head back to Ohio. I was perplexed. I liked Natalie. Her "Hey babes" were keeping me going for the short while she was in Pelion. I can't help but think Sheridan forgot about them until she rememebered Bree is victim to an unsolved robbery gone awry and realised that storyline needed a resolution.
Archer Hale disappearing for 3 months to find himself was necessary and I enjoyed it as a twist. Him getting shot by Bree's ab*ser however... no. Hasn't the poor man been through enough? It felt like a means to an end and, yes, I'm angry about it. And right after Anne almost pops her cloggs? I don't have the words to explain the frustration I felt.
Would I recommend it? Potentially, to someone who loves YA romance with an interest in more mature themes. I'll never pick this book up again except to prove to my book group that the creases in the spine are from actually reading the book and not throwing it at a wall repeatedly.
Minor: Death, Blood, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Car accident, Sexual content, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Cancer, Grief, Gun violence, and Rape
kmonasmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As a person with PTSD, I didn’t like how it seemed that their PTSD was magically cured by love, when that’s not how it works. Sometimes having support helps, but it comes in unexpected waves and storms, and this wasn’t portrayed in the best way.
Also, as a person who works with Deaf people daily as an interpreter, I think more research on the language could have made it more believable to me. There were a lot of phrases that were used that wouldn’t be used if people were signing because it’s not a translatable phrase. ASL is not just a signed version of English.
With more research and effort to try to make these parts more realistic could have easily made this a wonderful 5 ⭐️ read.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Car accident, Gun violence, Sexual content, Confinement, Child abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape
clareasday's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Rape, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Murder, Car accident, Gun violence, Abandonment, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, and Death
rkass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Minor: Rape and Child abuse