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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really felt a wide range of emotions with this book, and I appreciated how both Helen and Grant felt like real people. Grant was also so sweet, I just wish the ending wasn't so long and I would have loved to have more time with the secondary characters.
stars: 3.5
well i obviously devoured this book! i love books in the third person (unlike what some reviews have been saying) and i don't think a lot of romance authors these days write in the third. the plot is different than others in the sense that it's very complex and emotional, and it honestly made me think about the morals of helen, grant, and even myself.
but there was just so. much. smut. like i devoured the book but i also had to skip parts of chapters because it got too much for me. my biggest pet peeve is when men "growl" in books and grant happens to growl a lot!
the writing in this book is so strong and beautiful when the characters were not having sex every second of the day, and i wish that the book could have brought out the theme of emotions and morality in ways other than sex with the guy that ran over your sister.
well i obviously devoured this book! i love books in the third person (unlike what some reviews have been saying) and i don't think a lot of romance authors these days write in the third. the plot is different than others in the sense that it's very complex and emotional, and it honestly made me think about the morals of helen, grant, and even myself.
but there was just so. much. smut. like i devoured the book but i also had to skip parts of chapters because it got too much for me. my biggest pet peeve is when men "growl" in books and grant happens to growl a lot!
the writing in this book is so strong and beautiful when the characters were not having sex every second of the day, and i wish that the book could have brought out the theme of emotions and morality in ways other than sex with the guy that ran over your sister.
kinda disappointing?? first 20% and last 10% were really good, middle 70% was a slog... i dunno Grant was just a really boring love interest which seems insane considering the whole premise of the book, but he just didn't seem very grounded in reality at all. also i hate hate hate the third-act car accident plot device, i guess in this book it was supposed to be a parallel but still it just always feels way too lazy. i did love all the stuff with helen's sister and family, and the screenwriting process was interesting to read about. but for a romance novel, i just wish the main romance seemed more realistic and dynamic.
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
*Ahem*
Mixed feelings here. The first time I’ve really contemplated a half star (still not breaking my rule … whole stars only).
First, the good: this is wonderfully written, with characters that are complex and male characters that actually have personality beyond just being rugged and mysterious and damaged, and there is a sincere and devastating image of sibling loss.
My issue: this should not be a romance. This book centres on two characters who are bonded through a shared traumatic event that has been experienced by each of them in distinct and completely different ways and explores how this has impacted their abilities to form secure attachments. It explores each of their pathological needs to not be needed or need anyone and it is incredibly affecting and compelling. Yet, I found that these character-centric storylines get lost to make way for the romance (which comes out of left field and seems to be borne out of pure physical attraction rather than shared interests or values), and there is not enough space left for them to resolve any of their personal traumas. The ending is rushed and tidily wrapped up and confusing. Overall, it could have benefited from more *time*. We don’t see Helen or Grant really grow together except in a way that now feels they have replaced their meaning-seeking behaviour with what, unfortunately, feels like a recipe for codependency. Their healing is presented as being reliant on the other person rather than being possible on their own.
We also don’t see true reconciliation or even a whole, real conversation between Helen and her parents and the family dynamic gets lost for the romantic relationship.
This could be better maybe if it was not marketed as a rom-com, because it is honestly a really tragic, sometimes hopeful, often lonely, drama.
There’s also way too much … you know.
Mixed feelings here. The first time I’ve really contemplated a half star (still not breaking my rule … whole stars only).
First, the good: this is wonderfully written, with characters that are complex and male characters that actually have personality beyond just being rugged and mysterious and damaged, and there is a sincere and devastating image of sibling loss.
My issue: this should not be a romance. This book centres on two characters who are bonded through a shared traumatic event that has been experienced by each of them in distinct and completely different ways and explores how this has impacted their abilities to form secure attachments. It explores each of their pathological needs to not be needed or need anyone and it is incredibly affecting and compelling. Yet, I found that these character-centric storylines get lost to make way for the romance (which comes out of left field and seems to be borne out of pure physical attraction rather than shared interests or values), and there is not enough space left for them to resolve any of their personal traumas. The ending is rushed and tidily wrapped up and confusing. Overall, it could have benefited from more *time*. We don’t see Helen or Grant really grow together except in a way that now feels they have replaced their meaning-seeking behaviour with what, unfortunately, feels like a recipe for codependency. Their healing is presented as being reliant on the other person rather than being possible on their own.
We also don’t see true reconciliation or even a whole, real conversation between Helen and her parents and the family dynamic gets lost for the romantic relationship.
This could be better maybe if it was not marketed as a rom-com, because it is honestly a really tragic, sometimes hopeful, often lonely, drama.
There’s also way too much … you know.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes