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dlsmk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Violence, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Suicide, Cursing, Grief, Alcoholism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Death, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Self harm, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
odalis_zt's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly I was so bored during this book and it took forever to get to the point!
lisa_readsromance's review against another edition
5.0
THE GUT WRENCHING FEELS
There was absolutely nothing i hated about this book....the Perfect Pull at your Heartstrings, punch you in the face, ugly cry story I've ever read in my life. From the story between Kellen and Charlotte, to the sadness of the person's absence. To the undeniable passion that stems from grief between Charlotte and Tate. This was just the best thing ever, and exactly what I needed. So there are a lot of trigger warnings in this book just so you know I would suggest you look at them before you dive into this. But for me it was just a breath of like fresh air. I cried a little, my heart ached, I felt anger, resentment, lust, undeniable passion, and the best sense of closure. If a book can make you feel all of that, then I think it's ONE HELL OF A READ!!!!!!
There was absolutely nothing i hated about this book....the Perfect Pull at your Heartstrings, punch you in the face, ugly cry story I've ever read in my life. From the story between Kellen and Charlotte, to the sadness of the person's absence. To the undeniable passion that stems from grief between Charlotte and Tate. This was just the best thing ever, and exactly what I needed. So there are a lot of trigger warnings in this book just so you know I would suggest you look at them before you dive into this. But for me it was just a breath of like fresh air. I cried a little, my heart ached, I felt anger, resentment, lust, undeniable passion, and the best sense of closure. If a book can make you feel all of that, then I think it's ONE HELL OF A READ!!!!!!
dpcorcoran's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this was a fantastic book. I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this but it was so much better. It’s a love story wrapped with grief, heartbreak and hope. I cried like 3 different times; that’s when you know it’s a good book. Highly recommend
beaudeeee's review against another edition
5.0
Easily a 5 star read. This is real and raw and beautiful. Read it. Devour it. You’ll love it.
theeclecticreview's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic Christmas gift for me. Ms. Huntington has created an exquisite love story from a heartbreaking tragedy. It's about an extremely broken and dysfunctional group of people who are wallowing in their guilt and fighting for their sanity over a young man's tragic death. To the rescue comes a lonely, intelligent, and unwavering young woman with a mission to carry out her best friend's wishes and find the love that is needed to heal them all.
Charlotte "Lottie" "Charlie" Richards has lost a lot over the years. From the accident that killed her parents and maimed her sister to her best friend's death, Charlie has carried her guilt for years. Her sister Leah hates her for the fire and her best friend's brother, Tate, hates her for keeping Kellan's secret for so many years. Charlie couldn't save Kellan, but she is determined to save Tate with the legacy Kellan left for the people he loved. But at what cost?
Tatum "Tate" Marchetti is an OBGYN who is called the "Miracle Doctor" by his patients, but his inner torment of losing the brother he couldn't save and dealing with his worthless POS sperm donor of a father leaves him angry and cold. When he meets his brother's only friend, Charlie, he dislikes her immediately with her strange clothes and quirky personality. But the more time he spends around her, the more she messes with his composure and control. Something he cannot give up at any cost.
Charlie's first meeting with Tate is a shocker with his crude and extremely inappropriate behavior. It confirms why his brother Kellan despised him so much. But the chemistry slowly builds as these two try to piece together why Kellan died. What I love about Charlie is that she doesn't hesitate to take his gift to her and unselfishly use it to help his brother and father deal with their demons and eventually find peace. She's a natural-born nurturer and so strong as she learns to live with so much grief and generously gives her time and compassion to the people that don't want her help. Tate is a cold fish at first until Charlie starts to get under his skin and frequently calls him out on his bullshit. He is torn at his attraction to her because of the age gap and her relationship with his brother as innocent as it was. Watching Tate spiral out of control is upsetting but necessary for him to open himself up to love. It's a slow burn getting there, but so worth the wait.
This story is by no means is just about Charlie and Tate, but about Tate and Kellan's selfish and entitled father who threw all his money away on drugs and alcohol. What Charlie does for him is nothing short of a miracle as he comes clean and makes amends.
And then there is Charlie's sister Leah with her scarred heart and her scarred body who blames Charlie for her problems. All she needed was a good kick in the ass to make her open her eyes and be grateful she still had a loving sister who was there for her despite everything she put her through.
This moving and unforgettable story threw the whole book at me so to speak. I laughed, I cried (a lot), and I cheered for all of the characters in this book to find happiness and peace after such a crushing event. I'm adding this as another favorite book in 2021. Pick it up. You won't regret it.
Charlotte "Lottie" "Charlie" Richards has lost a lot over the years. From the accident that killed her parents and maimed her sister to her best friend's death, Charlie has carried her guilt for years. Her sister Leah hates her for the fire and her best friend's brother, Tate, hates her for keeping Kellan's secret for so many years. Charlie couldn't save Kellan, but she is determined to save Tate with the legacy Kellan left for the people he loved. But at what cost?
Tatum "Tate" Marchetti is an OBGYN who is called the "Miracle Doctor" by his patients, but his inner torment of losing the brother he couldn't save and dealing with his worthless POS sperm donor of a father leaves him angry and cold. When he meets his brother's only friend, Charlie, he dislikes her immediately with her strange clothes and quirky personality. But the more time he spends around her, the more she messes with his composure and control. Something he cannot give up at any cost.
Charlie's first meeting with Tate is a shocker with his crude and extremely inappropriate behavior. It confirms why his brother Kellan despised him so much. But the chemistry slowly builds as these two try to piece together why Kellan died. What I love about Charlie is that she doesn't hesitate to take his gift to her and unselfishly use it to help his brother and father deal with their demons and eventually find peace. She's a natural-born nurturer and so strong as she learns to live with so much grief and generously gives her time and compassion to the people that don't want her help. Tate is a cold fish at first until Charlie starts to get under his skin and frequently calls him out on his bullshit. He is torn at his attraction to her because of the age gap and her relationship with his brother as innocent as it was. Watching Tate spiral out of control is upsetting but necessary for him to open himself up to love. It's a slow burn getting there, but so worth the wait.
This story is by no means is just about Charlie and Tate, but about Tate and Kellan's selfish and entitled father who threw all his money away on drugs and alcohol. What Charlie does for him is nothing short of a miracle as he comes clean and makes amends.
And then there is Charlie's sister Leah with her scarred heart and her scarred body who blames Charlie for her problems. All she needed was a good kick in the ass to make her open her eyes and be grateful she still had a loving sister who was there for her despite everything she put her through.
This moving and unforgettable story threw the whole book at me so to speak. I laughed, I cried (a lot), and I cheered for all of the characters in this book to find happiness and peace after such a crushing event. I'm adding this as another favorite book in 2021. Pick it up. You won't regret it.
wine_and_dine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
The plot was so good, and the first 25% was a rollercoaster. But it definitely did not have to be 700 pages - could have removed 200 pages and that still wouldn't have been enough. For the significant word count, the romance is VERY clunky - Tate is attracted to Charlie almost immediately, and their fast reunion after the third act breakup (worse trope ever) was really jaaring to the plot. Also, one minute Tate is saying he's beyond saving, and 20 pages later he is 'fixed' and him and Charlie are back together, have a 'perfect' relationship, AND CHARLIE IS PREGNANT!!!!! WHAT???? (again, bad flow of the book).
The romance wasn't the main plot for the majority of the book which I appreciated; it was more about suicide and overcoming your grief after a tragedy over the romance, however Tate was weirdly obsessed with Charlie's age and constantly referred to her as "kid" and "child" which made the romance less cute at the end.
HOWEVER, it was extremely funny, and some of the stuff Tate says sound like its coming from a 15 year old and I forgot he was mid-thirties. There was a lot of humour all over, and the insane amount of pop culture references was so funny.
The romance wasn't the main plot for the majority of the book which I appreciated; it was more about suicide and overcoming your grief after a tragedy over the romance, however Tate was weirdly obsessed with Charlie's age and constantly referred to her as "kid" and "child" which made the romance less cute at the end.
HOWEVER, it was extremely funny, and some of the stuff Tate says sound like its coming from a 15 year old and I forgot he was mid-thirties. There was a lot of humour all over, and the insane amount of pop culture references was so funny.
jf_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.0
leggothemeggoreads's review against another edition
5.0
Darling Venom
This may be the first book to ever make me cry. It broke me because I have been in Charlie’s shoes standing at the edge. And this book slowly puts you back together again. I wouldn’t call this enemies to lovers, maybe more like broken souls finding their way to each.
This may be the first book to ever make me cry. It broke me because I have been in Charlie’s shoes standing at the edge. And this book slowly puts you back together again. I wouldn’t call this enemies to lovers, maybe more like broken souls finding their way to each.