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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
lighthearted
fast-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
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is an absolutely stellar take on the small town romance. The sense of community here is delightful and so well incorporated into the romance. The book absolutely hit the small town romance trope out of the park, I don’t think it was as successful with some of it’s other tropes. Particularly the fact this was Dawson’s first gay experience, I was glad he didn’t have a big gay freak out, but I wish there had been more to it. There was so much room for Dawson to be excited and scared about his queerness and all the new things he could experience, but that barely factored into the story.
Dawson has a lot of hang ups based on his most serious previous relationship. His ex girlfriend is clearly abusive and I hated that it was never described as abuse on the page. Dawson acknowledges her as manipulative and says he sometimes thought he was going crazy but never calls her emotional abusive. I think that had the author accurately defined how Dawson was treated a lot more could have been done with that plot to help him heal after the relationships. The abuse could have been a really cool way to develop Dawson more as a complex person, but instead that relationship was just used as a way to make Evan jealous.
Dawson has a lot of hang ups based on his most serious previous relationship. His ex girlfriend is clearly abusive and I hated that it was never described as abuse on the page. Dawson acknowledges her as manipulative and says he sometimes thought he was going crazy but never calls her emotional abusive. I think that had the author accurately defined how Dawson was treated a lot more could have been done with that plot to help him heal after the relationships. The abuse could have been a really cool way to develop Dawson more as a complex person, but instead that relationship was just used as a way to make Evan jealous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Looking for a book with adorable characters in a small-town, football loving, Midwest setting that you won't want to put down?
This is the book for you!
Evan and Dawson are adorable and you root for their love the entire time. While I usually don't like the friends with benefits turned romantic feelings trope, it fit well here and I enjoyed it.
I do wish the characters were older. Evan being 19 didn't feel right. He seemed older and more mature in the story and literally nothing else would need to change. He could have been a virgin at any age and put off his dreams to help family for any length of time. But this is me being picky. His age doesn't detract from the story because he absolutely doesn't act 19.
Otherwise, I found very litte to dislike about this story. It's sweet and doesn't just address the two MCs, but delves deeper into community and family.
I highly recommend this book.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the book for you!
Evan and Dawson are adorable and you root for their love the entire time. While I usually don't like the friends with benefits turned romantic feelings trope, it fit well here and I enjoyed it.
I do wish the characters were older. Evan being 19 didn't feel right. He seemed older and more mature in the story and literally nothing else would need to change. He could have been a virgin at any age and put off his dreams to help family for any length of time. But this is me being picky. His age doesn't detract from the story because he absolutely doesn't act 19.
Otherwise, I found very litte to dislike about this story. It's sweet and doesn't just address the two MCs, but delves deeper into community and family.
I highly recommend this book.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.