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noellegrace8's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A great romance read! The two main characters have serious chemistry and make one another better people. The writing is fantastic; their relationship comes to life on the page. And Jimenez really gets you to laugh with some of the depictions of scenes and characters' actions. She writes chronic anxiety well, what with the characters' constant mentioning of it and efforts to overcome issues in that area of their relationship. Plus, there are many quotable lessons learned within the course of the book, which I appreciated. I also felt interested by the big family that the main male love interest has, because larger families are kind of rare and I am 1 of 9.
I knocked off .25 for just a couple reasons. The first is that there is some contemporary language & concepts usage that is already not aging well. They're not offensive phrases or anything, but they're going to be considered cringey or dated after they stop being popular in a couple years. (Ex., using "epic" in drama talk)
I also thinkBriana's pregnancy toward the end is random and used a little too obviously as a plot device to create just another conflict for the new lovers, especially since Alexis and Kelly both are also pregnant. It seems as if the author is sort of saying that a relationship is actually at its most complete status, and most thrilling, when the couple gets pregnant, and I simply disagree with that blanket statement. Seeing the ex could have been a big enough issue on its own without that extra piece of backstory thrown in, especially one that is incredibly traumatic and therefore needed a building up throughout the novel if included at all.
And then, I'm also a bit mad that his ex-girlfriend and the younger brother didn't get more of what they deserved for their backstabbing behavior, even though Jacob got over it easily enough in the end and said he hadn't necessarily ever actually loved her. There are just some boundaries you don't cross, and they each could have chosen other people. And the family seemingly wanting to be okay with it was odd.
I don't factor audiobook performance into my star reviews, but I give both Kyla Garcia and Zachary Webber 5/5 easily. They are unique, not annoying, and did plenty of inflection without overdoing it.
I knocked off .25 for just a couple reasons. The first is that there is some contemporary language & concepts usage that is already not aging well. They're not offensive phrases or anything, but they're going to be considered cringey or dated after they stop being popular in a couple years. (Ex., using "epic" in drama talk)
I also think
And then, I'm also a bit mad that his ex-girlfriend and the younger brother
I don't factor audiobook performance into my star reviews, but I give both Kyla Garcia and Zachary Webber 5/5 easily. They are unique, not annoying, and did plenty of inflection without overdoing it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Death, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Addiction, Classism, Sexism, Eating disorder, and Blood
The content warnings are given at the beginning of the book, actually. General things to know are: a main character has anxiety, both main characters work at a medical facility and have come out of toxic relationships.pianokeys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Medical content, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
liciaaaaa's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Chronic illness, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Cursing, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Minor: Death and Vomit
jnaeraeshele's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage, Death, and Vomit
sarahflanders's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Cursing
kfmcf's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I feel like I read a different book than everyone else.
I liked "Part of Your World". I didn't love it, but I still thought it was sweet and enjoyable. This one *irked* me. For a few reasons:
1) there are slow burns and then there are books that just need a bit of editing to trim the fat. This was the latter. Was it egregious? No. But it was a bit of a slog.
2) Jacob's anxiety was pretty unbelievable. I suffer from pretty terrible anxiety, specially social anxiety and have had my own journey of working through it. Everyone is unique so I don't expect monolithic occurrences, but my issue really lies in the fact that we knew nothing about Jacob OUTSIDE of his anxiety. That was it. And it felt like Briana liked him because she could mold him to what she needed.
3) I remember having a little bit of a problem with Jimenez's writing in POYW (in the first series so much) but I thought she had grown as a writer. This prose felt really immature and also didn't feel natural for people under 40 to use as dialogue. Does anyone under 40 use "u" and "r" while texting?
4) This book was ableist. The dog's name is Lieutenant Dan as an homage to "Forrest Gump". Cute. However, when acknowledging this reference, he is just referred to as "the amputee from Forrest Gump." ??! Excuse me?! There are so many less offensive ways to saw who the character is - Gary Sinise's character, the man who loses his leg in the Vietnam War, Forrest's shipmate. Just...insensitive. And outside of Briana's family the diversity of the characters feels very shoehorned in and ingenuine. Can we stop just referring to characters as Asian? It's an entire continent with a plethora of countries and cultures.
5) This one is a spoiler. this is Jimenez's SECOND BOOK WITH A SURPRISE PREGNANCY. How is she forgiven for this when so many other authors are not? It's not done any better! It's telegraphed super early on when they're talking about naming a kid Xfinity and Briana says she likes the name Ava. And then the first time they have sex, it's unprotected. And why was EVERYONE PREGNANT. Alexis, I get, but Amy AND Kelly AND BRIANA. Oy. I'm exhausted by this. And I don't believe that they would magically be fine and stay together. They barely knew each other.
6) We get it. You own Nadia Cakes. 5 mentions is too many mentions. And even beyond that it was a lot of brand name and pop culture dropping, jeepers.
7) This is one of the most atrocious examples of miscommunication I have ever encountered. Tbh I am a miscommunication apologist BUT i do think that miscommunication has what i consider two paths it can go down: missed communication and withheld communication. Missed communication is par for the course for relationships. It's crossed wires, mistakes, saying the wrong things. Withheld communication is when you DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER AND FESTER OVER INCORRECT INFORMATION. Briana is a 35-year-old woman. This felt like high school nonsense. It was so so much of the book. It was the ENTIRETY of act 2.
I truly believe there was a solid and lovely idea here that just got muddled by mishandled tropes and overexaggeration. This is the 2nd strike for this author for me (looking at you "The Friend Zone") and I'll give her a 3rd, but oof...begrudgingly. And only because I liked two of her other books.
I liked "Part of Your World". I didn't love it, but I still thought it was sweet and enjoyable. This one *irked* me. For a few reasons:
1) there are slow burns and then there are books that just need a bit of editing to trim the fat. This was the latter. Was it egregious? No. But it was a bit of a slog.
2) Jacob's anxiety was pretty unbelievable. I suffer from pretty terrible anxiety, specially social anxiety and have had my own journey of working through it. Everyone is unique so I don't expect monolithic occurrences, but my issue really lies in the fact that we knew nothing about Jacob OUTSIDE of his anxiety. That was it. And it felt like Briana liked him because she could mold him to what she needed.
3) I remember having a little bit of a problem with Jimenez's writing in POYW (in the first series so much) but I thought she had grown as a writer. This prose felt really immature and also didn't feel natural for people under 40 to use as dialogue. Does anyone under 40 use "u" and "r" while texting?
4) This book was ableist. The dog's name is Lieutenant Dan as an homage to "Forrest Gump". Cute. However, when acknowledging this reference, he is just referred to as "the amputee from Forrest Gump." ??! Excuse me?! There are so many less offensive ways to saw who the character is - Gary Sinise's character, the man who loses his leg in the Vietnam War, Forrest's shipmate. Just...insensitive. And outside of Briana's family the diversity of the characters feels very shoehorned in and ingenuine. Can we stop just referring to characters as Asian? It's an entire continent with a plethora of countries and cultures.
5) This one is a spoiler.
6) We get it. You own Nadia Cakes. 5 mentions is too many mentions. And even beyond that it was a lot of brand name and pop culture dropping, jeepers.
7) This is one of the most atrocious examples of miscommunication I have ever encountered. Tbh I am a miscommunication apologist BUT i do think that miscommunication has what i consider two paths it can go down: missed communication and withheld communication. Missed communication is par for the course for relationships. It's crossed wires, mistakes, saying the wrong things. Withheld communication is when you DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER AND FESTER OVER INCORRECT INFORMATION. Briana is a 35-year-old woman. This felt like high school nonsense. It was so so much of the book. It was the ENTIRETY of act 2.
I truly believe there was a solid and lovely idea here that just got muddled by mishandled tropes and overexaggeration. This is the 2nd strike for this author for me (looking at you "The Friend Zone") and I'll give her a 3rd, but oof...begrudgingly. And only because I liked two of her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Suicide, Ableism, Death, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Blood, Infertility, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Miscarriage
laheath's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Another fantastic book from this author! Such a great cast of characters and some laugh out loud moments! The main plotline of the fake dating between Briana and Jacob was so cute and sweet, as they were both dedicated to the ruse and seemed to naturally support each other in the ways that each needed. Both were deeply scarred by their previous partners. Briana being emotionally traumatized by her father leaving when she was young added another layer to her distrust of men. Jacob is just the ideal teddy bear for her, as he is dedicated to his large family and his role as an uncle. Yes, there are some predictable moments in the plot, but they are so well-written that it doesn't matter. It was fun to see how things played out.
As before, the author includes some serious topics so there's a real-life aspect to the plot, not just a sweet romance. In this book, she addresses chronic kidney disease, organ donation, infidelity, abandonment, miscarriage, and panic attacks. Again she addresses each appropriately, using sensitivity readers and mental health advisors, according to her author's note (kudos for this!).
As before, the author includes some serious topics so there's a real-life aspect to the plot, not just a sweet romance. In this book, she addresses chronic kidney disease, organ donation, infidelity, abandonment, miscarriage, and panic attacks. Again she addresses each appropriately, using sensitivity readers and mental health advisors, according to her author's note (kudos for this!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Chronic illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Death, and Cursing
kshertz's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
This is an excellent romcom. I definitely love Dr. Jacob Maddox. Dr. Brianna got on my nerves a little bit though. I really enjoyed the storyline of the kidney donor and that they wrote letters back-and-forth. Is very sweet. It’s not super light hearted one but it’s a great romance novel. Not smutty enough for meeee.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Sexual content, Vomit, Child death, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
kenziewol's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Miscarriage
Minor: Death, Suicide, and Medical content
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