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bookedinsideout's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I really think after this one I’ve realized as much as I like Claire Kent, Noelle Adams just isn’t for me. The writing, the way the romance is written, the strangely vague sex scenes that involve a lot of lying on one another and “intimate stroking”… In this one in particular I wasn’t a huge fan of the hero, who talks about his promise to his cousin to take care of his widow and son even after the hero is already friends with the heroine (why bring patriarchal protection shit into it?) and who continually gets moody and withdrawn instead of just talking to her. (Or shaming the way she’s dressing to go out with her friends instead of saying he’s threatened by the idea of her going out to meet someone new because he’s romantically interested in her.) Stuff like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent
emlickliter's review against another edition
4.0
This one was sweet and sad. Noelle Adams did a great job showing the roller coaster of grief, and as a reader I was so invested in the characters as they had to move forward with their lives. Though Zoe was pretty fortunate that Josh had been able to provide for them enabling her to stay home with their son for a while after his death, I still thought one of the most interesting parts of the book was where she had to decide what to do with his company to preserve it for their son. A nice read with a sweet ending!
bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition
4.0
This is a tale of grief and second chance love depicted with realism. I listened to this book on audio and the narration was good. Zoe meets and marries Josh, their relationship is full and everything she hoped it would be until Josh dies from an aggressive cancer leaving Zoe with their little boy Logan, only a few months old. Zoe met Josh through her then friend Adam. Adam became estranged to both Zoe and Josh early on in their relationship, so she doesn't appreciate Adam's bossy and entitled approach to managing her life after Josh's death. Adam is a cold fish, everything precise, no emotion. Zoe is an open book, letting her emotions and grief spill out. One thing is clear though, Adam is grieving for Josh too.
Whilst this may sound a depressing premise for a book, it really isn't. Josh's death is told with minimal detail and in retrospect. The grief journey feels realistic and I warmed to both the characters in this book. Logan, Zoe and Josh's son is a well written addition and a great buffer between the two main characters.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog
Whilst this may sound a depressing premise for a book, it really isn't. Josh's death is told with minimal detail and in retrospect. The grief journey feels realistic and I warmed to both the characters in this book. Logan, Zoe and Josh's son is a well written addition and a great buffer between the two main characters.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog
mrsbooknerd's review
3.0
I was a tad anxious about this novel when I first started because our leading hero sounded like bit of a twit, but I think we broke through this conception early on.
The aspects that lowered the rating for me was the lack of progression and the repitition of some themes. Yes, I understand that Zoe missed Josh, but I felt that the story should have picked up further through her grieving process so that we didn't have the repitition of "Oh but it's too soon...!" over and over again.
I also felt like we understood Zoe's point of view more than Adam, I would have liked to know how he felt watching Zoe and Josh, being a parent to Josh's child... etc I wanted a more developed and deep insight into Adam.
The aspects that lowered the rating for me was the lack of progression and the repitition of some themes. Yes, I understand that Zoe missed Josh, but I felt that the story should have picked up further through her grieving process so that we didn't have the repitition of "Oh but it's too soon...!" over and over again.
I also felt like we understood Zoe's point of view more than Adam, I would have liked to know how he felt watching Zoe and Josh, being a parent to Josh's child... etc I wanted a more developed and deep insight into Adam.
christinel's review against another edition
3.0
This book isn’t subtle, but sometimes that’s what I like about romance novels - that you can go straight to a scenario that pushes your buttons and enjoy the vicarious emotions. It does make my life (which is overall pretty good) better to be able to escape in this way. This kind of book also serves as a palate cleanser between more cerebral offerings, so that I can come to a new book refreshed and focused.
Adams is especially good at writing heroes who pine and repress their deep emotions for a good reason, which ratchets up the emotional tension. I like the hero in this book (although why is he always wearing a ‘camp shirt’?). I like the way this couple talks out their problems pretty directly and respectfully and don’t misunderstand each other or pout.
I do find Adams’ gender roles a little conservative. Her heroes are often brilliant and passionate about their work and hobbies. Her heroines tend to be everywomen who are all about their romances and families. Sometimes I wish they just had a little more going on outside of that.
Adams is especially good at writing heroes who pine and repress their deep emotions for a good reason, which ratchets up the emotional tension. I like the hero in this book (although why is he always wearing a ‘camp shirt’?). I like the way this couple talks out their problems pretty directly and respectfully and don’t misunderstand each other or pout.
I do find Adams’ gender roles a little conservative. Her heroes are often brilliant and passionate about their work and hobbies. Her heroines tend to be everywomen who are all about their romances and families. Sometimes I wish they just had a little more going on outside of that.
christinel's review against another edition
3.0
This book isn’t subtle, but sometimes that’s what I like about romance novels - that you can go straight to a scenario that pushes your buttons and enjoy the vicarious emotions. It does make my life (which is overall pretty good) better to be able to escape in this way. This kind of book also serves as a palate cleanser between more cerebral offerings, so that I can come to a new book refreshed and focused.
Adams is especially good at writing heroes who pine and repress their deep emotions for a good reason, which ratchets up the emotional tension. I like the hero in this book (although why is he always wearing a ‘camp shirt’?). I like the way this couple talks out their problems pretty directly and respectfully and don’t misunderstand each other or pout.
I do find Adams’ gender roles a little conservative. Her heroes are often brilliant and passionate about their work and hobbies. Her heroines tend to be everywomen who are all about their romances and families. Sometimes I wish they just had a little more going on outside of that.
Adams is especially good at writing heroes who pine and repress their deep emotions for a good reason, which ratchets up the emotional tension. I like the hero in this book (although why is he always wearing a ‘camp shirt’?). I like the way this couple talks out their problems pretty directly and respectfully and don’t misunderstand each other or pout.
I do find Adams’ gender roles a little conservative. Her heroes are often brilliant and passionate about their work and hobbies. Her heroines tend to be everywomen who are all about their romances and families. Sometimes I wish they just had a little more going on outside of that.
bookphenomena_micky's review
4.0
This is a tale of grief and second chance love depicted with realism. I listened to this book on audio and the narration was good. Zoe meets and marries Josh, their relationship is full and everything she hoped it would be until Josh dies from an aggressive cancer leaving Zoe with their little boy Logan, only a few months old. Zoe met Josh through her then friend Adam. Adam became estranged to both Zoe and Josh early on in their relationship, so she doesn't appreciate Adam's bossy and entitled approach to managing her life after Josh's death. Adam is a cold fish, everything precise, no emotion. Zoe is an open book, letting her emotions and grief spill out. One thing is clear though, Adam is grieving for Josh too.
Whilst this may sound a depressing premise for a book, it really isn't. Josh's death is told with minimal detail and in retrospect. The grief journey feels realistic and I warmed to both the characters in this book. Logan, Zoe and Josh's son is a well written addition and a great buffer between the two main characters.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog
Whilst this may sound a depressing premise for a book, it really isn't. Josh's death is told with minimal detail and in retrospect. The grief journey feels realistic and I warmed to both the characters in this book. Logan, Zoe and Josh's son is a well written addition and a great buffer between the two main characters.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog
aimee70807's review
4.0
I felt like this book should have sucked me in and not let me go, but instead I felt distanced from the story. Could be I just wasn't in a receptive mood though.
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