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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
The book was good but I felt that it REEEAAALLYYY dragged on in the end and I skipped the last couple chapters to get to the epilogue.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The writing is good and smooth. It makes the book an easy page-turner and the plot lines are entertaining. I definitely forgot the world around me while reading this book and it’s such a tremendous thing to achieve. With a debut novel nonetheless! I didn’t know until the end that it was a debut and it blew me away. The author has a true gift for writing.
I have to admit, I was a bit scared going in with the length of the book (+500 pages) and I started sweating when the actual plot started on Chapter 6 (The first five chapters are the ‘before’ part), because how much do you really need to say about the secret baby trope? Turns out, a lot. You don’t see how much progress you’ve done until you stop for the day and realise you’re already half-way through the book.
The secret baby trope requires drama, which can be a bit tricky because you can’t have not enough drama, but you can’t have too much either. That book had, in my opinion, the right amount (the shock of having a child and not knowing, the paternity test, the social media exposure, the other woman drama, etc.) It all added to the story.
The characters did, too. I absolutely fell in love with TJ, from his dramatic but justified speech to his kind words to his filthy mouth. The man stepped up in every sense of the words. He bent over backwards for his child, Phoenix, and his baby momma, Lola. From spending hours on the road just to see them to bringing Lola a new flavour of coffee just because she loves discovering new flavours of coffee. He really said ‘I’ll blow you all away’.
I connected to Lola so much. Her way of thinking, her fears, her reasonings, nearly everything about her I could see myself in her. Mad hat tipping to the author. TJ stepped up when he needed to but Lola? She’s a mom, through and through. She always put her son first and always did right by him.
Lola & TJ’s relationship is refreshing. They don’t focus on getting together now that they’re back into each other’s lives. They build trust, friendship, get to know each other before they even kiss. It’s a slow burn, but it’s all worth it in the end. I like that they don’t use the excuse of having a kid just to be together or even sleep together. They were willing to wait things out and sacrifice everything they’ve built for each other. If that doesn’t scream romance, I don’t know what will.
The side characters. Man, oh man. They’re incredible. TJ’s sister made me laugh so much. Lola’s best friends are so protective of her and her kid. TJ’s roommates / teammates are so quick to accept TJ’s situation and accommodate to it. I want friendships like that. What I absolutely adored about the side characters is that they’re so distinctive from each other. They’re very much present throughout the book, instead of having just the two MCs the whole time, and their uniqueness compliments the story so well. They’re distinctive in a way that you want to know more about them, but they don’t overshadow Lola, TJ and their story. I can’t wait to read their books, especially Saint’s!
Around the 75% mark, there’s a fight between the main characters and I was so scared (I get scared a lot, leave me alone) that it’d result in a third-act breakup. It didn’t! They do resolve it in a satisfying way and that makes for a good ending to the book. Speaking of, the ending? Utter perfection.
I nearly sobbed with happiness.
I have to admit, I was a bit scared going in with the length of the book (+500 pages) and I started sweating when the actual plot started on Chapter 6 (The first five chapters are the ‘before’ part), because how much do you really need to say about the secret baby trope? Turns out, a lot. You don’t see how much progress you’ve done until you stop for the day and realise you’re already half-way through the book.
The secret baby trope requires drama, which can be a bit tricky because you can’t have not enough drama, but you can’t have too much either. That book had, in my opinion, the right amount (the shock of having a child and not knowing, the paternity test, the social media exposure, the other woman drama, etc.) It all added to the story.
The characters did, too. I absolutely fell in love with TJ, from his dramatic but justified speech to his kind words to his filthy mouth. The man stepped up in every sense of the words. He bent over backwards for his child, Phoenix, and his baby momma, Lola. From spending hours on the road just to see them to bringing Lola a new flavour of coffee just because she loves discovering new flavours of coffee. He really said ‘I’ll blow you all away’.
I connected to Lola so much. Her way of thinking, her fears, her reasonings, nearly everything about her I could see myself in her. Mad hat tipping to the author. TJ stepped up when he needed to but Lola? She’s a mom, through and through. She always put her son first and always did right by him.
Lola & TJ’s relationship is refreshing. They don’t focus on getting together now that they’re back into each other’s lives. They build trust, friendship, get to know each other before they even kiss. It’s a slow burn, but it’s all worth it in the end. I like that they don’t use the excuse of having a kid just to be together or even sleep together. They were willing to wait things out and sacrifice everything they’ve built for each other. If that doesn’t scream romance, I don’t know what will.
The side characters. Man, oh man. They’re incredible. TJ’s sister made me laugh so much. Lola’s best friends are so protective of her and her kid. TJ’s roommates / teammates are so quick to accept TJ’s situation and accommodate to it. I want friendships like that. What I absolutely adored about the side characters is that they’re so distinctive from each other. They’re very much present throughout the book, instead of having just the two MCs the whole time, and their uniqueness compliments the story so well. They’re distinctive in a way that you want to know more about them, but they don’t overshadow Lola, TJ and their story. I can’t wait to read their books, especially Saint’s!
Around the 75% mark, there’s a fight between the main characters and I was so scared (I get scared a lot, leave me alone) that it’d result in a third-act breakup. It didn’t! They do resolve it in a satisfying way and that makes for a good ending to the book. Speaking of, the ending? Utter perfection.
I nearly sobbed with happiness.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Maybe teen pregnancy isn’t so bad if this it
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
No
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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