You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoy Kayla Grosse as an author and this might be my favorite read yet from her.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
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:
No
I liked this book, but not as much as I wanted to.
It's mostly well written and I appreciated the raw depiction of having to grapple with a diagnosis that turns every moment into a guaranteed uncertainty. That situation is multilayered, complex and far-reaching in it's implications and consequences. And baggage, too, given how much had to be overcome even to get to that point. The internal processing of it all was my favorite part of the book, and while I wished to see more of it in the story, I can't even imagine how difficult it was to write, and it's a privilege to be able to read what's already there. That aspect of the book is definitely 5* on its own.
The problems that spoiled my impression were in the romantic plotline, which is the major component of the story, so there was no getting away from it. The whole relationship hinges on the guy falling madly and forever in love at first sight and being a single-minded dog with a bone about it for the rest of the book. Given the context and the situation in which that happened, I couldn't really suspend enough disbelief to buy it. Hints at fate-like coincidences around the whole thing didn't help matters. Unfortunately, doubting that detail undermines the whole plotline and Asher becomes just a convenient wish-fulfillment for all of Jesse's fantasies instead of an actual believable person. Consequently the whole romance devolves into an x-rated dollhouse play game.
Speaking of x-rated: The book also had a lot more descriptive sex scenes than it needed — quantity-wise, length-wise and descriptiveness-wise. Especially since the sex didn't really indicate any emotional development, so it was there just to fill the pages and make the book "spicy". Initially I hoped for emotional correlation, so I ended up reading some of it, and let's just say that the well-written comment from above does not apply here.
Percentage-wise the romance and the sex make up more than half of the book, and both of these aspects don't even make it up to 2 full *s. So I am landing somewhere around 3.3*s for the book and it's a bummer.
It's mostly well written and I appreciated the raw depiction of having to grapple with a diagnosis that turns every moment into a guaranteed uncertainty. That situation is multilayered, complex and far-reaching in it's implications and consequences. And baggage, too, given how much had to be overcome even to get to that point. The internal processing of it all was my favorite part of the book, and while I wished to see more of it in the story, I can't even imagine how difficult it was to write, and it's a privilege to be able to read what's already there. That aspect of the book is definitely 5* on its own.
The problems that spoiled my impression were in the romantic plotline, which is the major component of the story, so there was no getting away from it. The whole relationship hinges on the guy falling madly and forever in love at first sight and being a single-minded dog with a bone about it for the rest of the book. Given the context and the situation in which that happened, I couldn't really suspend enough disbelief to buy it. Hints at fate-like coincidences around the whole thing didn't help matters. Unfortunately, doubting that detail undermines the whole plotline and Asher becomes just a convenient wish-fulfillment for all of Jesse's fantasies instead of an actual believable person. Consequently the whole romance devolves into an x-rated dollhouse play game.
Speaking of x-rated: The book also had a lot more descriptive sex scenes than it needed — quantity-wise, length-wise and descriptiveness-wise. Especially since the sex didn't really indicate any emotional development, so it was there just to fill the pages and make the book "spicy". Initially I hoped for emotional correlation, so I ended up reading some of it, and let's just say that the well-written comment from above does not apply here.
Percentage-wise the romance and the sex make up more than half of the book, and both of these aspects don't even make it up to 2 full *s. So I am landing somewhere around 3.3*s for the book and it's a bummer.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tropes: Contemporary romance, one night stand to HEA, roadtrip, chubby MMC, plus size FMC, ADHD, Kawasaki disease survivor, ICD warrior
********************
Triggers: “Talk of death and dying, near-death experiences, past heart attacks, discussions of body image, weight loss, and disordered eating, medications discussed, Open-door spice (including dirty talk and oral,) light bondage
********************
Quote: “Please don’t let your fear of dying stop you from living.”
*******************
I was given an ARC of Jesse and Asher’s story in exchange for my honest opinion on the book. I can honestly state I love this book. It shouldn’t be a surprise; Kayla Grosse’s name is one that I see repeatedly listed as a recommendation for those looking for authors who write plus size characters. Some writers tend to make their fat characters clichéd and stereotypical, but not Ms. Grosse.
Asher is not your typical muscle bound, hard body hero. He’s described as having a “dad bod”. His ADHD rep is handled well and doesn’t become his personality. Jesse isn’t our typical virgin waiting for her Prince Charming. Her portrayal of a Kawasaki disease survivor is well done, we’re educated on the realities of living with the disease and we don’t even know it. It’s obvious the author poured a lot of love into these characters, and I feel it’s important to recognize that.
The plot set up was original, and the story flowed nicely through dual first person point of view. The dialogue was dynamic and engaging, even when the author was using her characters to show the realities of living with an ICD implant. I had trouble putting the book aside for day to day activities, and found myself staying up way too late for “just one more chapter.”
I strongly recommend this book, due April 17th, 2025. Movie rating R, 5/5 stars overall, 5/5 for romance, 0/5 violence, 3/5 spice, and 5/5 for the adorable cover image.
********************
Triggers: “Talk of death and dying, near-death experiences, past heart attacks, discussions of body image, weight loss, and disordered eating, medications discussed, Open-door spice (including dirty talk and oral,) light bondage
********************
Quote: “Please don’t let your fear of dying stop you from living.”
*******************
I was given an ARC of Jesse and Asher’s story in exchange for my honest opinion on the book. I can honestly state I love this book. It shouldn’t be a surprise; Kayla Grosse’s name is one that I see repeatedly listed as a recommendation for those looking for authors who write plus size characters. Some writers tend to make their fat characters clichéd and stereotypical, but not Ms. Grosse.
Asher is not your typical muscle bound, hard body hero. He’s described as having a “dad bod”. His ADHD rep is handled well and doesn’t become his personality. Jesse isn’t our typical virgin waiting for her Prince Charming. Her portrayal of a Kawasaki disease survivor is well done, we’re educated on the realities of living with the disease and we don’t even know it. It’s obvious the author poured a lot of love into these characters, and I feel it’s important to recognize that.
The plot set up was original, and the story flowed nicely through dual first person point of view. The dialogue was dynamic and engaging, even when the author was using her characters to show the realities of living with an ICD implant. I had trouble putting the book aside for day to day activities, and found myself staying up way too late for “just one more chapter.”
I strongly recommend this book, due April 17th, 2025. Movie rating R, 5/5 stars overall, 5/5 for romance, 0/5 violence, 3/5 spice, and 5/5 for the adorable cover image.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Yes