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emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While I enjoyed this book and flew through it, I did find it to be more juvenile than I had anticipated. It had a very YA feel to it and was very cringy at some parts. The author’s style of writing is not my favorite but is very easy to read. There were parts that didn’t feel believable, like the author didn’t know what she was talking about, and with such heavy subject matter, you would expect a weightiness to the writing but it all felt very light, even the parts that discussed assault. Overall I’d give it 3.75 stars and I do plan to read the second book. It wasn’t what I expected it to be but still enjoyable. I will say that I don’t plan to read anything else by this author other than the sequel to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Sexual harassment
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting
Minor: Pregnancy
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really didn’t feel anything from this book. Usually with a good romance book I catch myself smiling at their interactions or swooning over something the mmc says to her, but I never felt that here. It’s not even the age gap so much that I would have a problem with if I had felt like the characters actually really connected at all, but they didn’t seem to. The whole drama with Caleb seemed a bit ridiculous, and I don’t understand why she wouldn’t just break up with him instead of cheating. I thought it was ok enough for maybe 3 stars until the last 10% of the book, and now I’m not even sure I want to give it even this.
What kind of book uses a child’s death so lightly? As a plot device to cause problems in the relationship?! I was honestly a little disgusted that this was where the author went with it. Then Thayer and Caleb fighting made me roll my eyes. That final plot twist of “oh look, I’m pregnant!” finally put the nail in the coffin.
It honestly just felt like the author threw as much drama and tragedy into the book as possible
• Abusive father who died of cancer
• Mother gets cancer
• Sister’s toxic relationship
• Cheating on Caleb
• Forrest’s death
• More Caleb vs Thayer drama
• Accidental pregnancy
• Abusive father who died of cancer
• Mother gets cancer
• Sister’s toxic relationship
• Cheating on Caleb
• Forrest’s death
• More Caleb vs Thayer drama
• Accidental pregnancy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
Wow….
I came into this book with no expectation except an age gap romance but I left with my heart in pieces. I did not know I was picking up a 5 star read in my opinion but I’m so glad I took a chance with this story.
This is such a beautiful story between two unlikely people and hits so much deeper than I ever could have expected. The end is hard to digest, and the behaviors of the characters sucks but is so understandable.
I immediately started the second book because I just needed more. I’ve already recommended these books to multiple people and just…. Wow.
I came into this book with no expectation except an age gap romance but I left with my heart in pieces. I did not know I was picking up a 5 star read in my opinion but I’m so glad I took a chance with this story.
This is such a beautiful story between two unlikely people and hits so much deeper than I ever could have expected. The end is hard to digest, and the behaviors of the characters sucks but is so understandable.
I immediately started the second book because I just needed more. I’ve already recommended these books to multiple people and just…. Wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol
emotional
medium-paced
The age gap (18W & 31M) was hard for me to read. She could’ve been 20 with equally high stakes I feel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This review includes spoilers.
I read trigger warnings, so I mostly knew what I was in for, and I did enjoy the first 60-70% of Salem and Thayer's story, but the last 30% of the book was…a lot.
My biggest issue was the extremely tragic event that takes place towards the end of the book and the immediate aftermath.
Excerpt:
<b>"We were going to tell my mom!"
"We were <i>happy</i> and you certainly didn't give a shit before, so what changed?"
"My son died!"
"And that changes everything."
"I know this is devastating. I feel his loss too. But how does this have anything to do with us?"</b>
In my opinion, their actions confirmed that Salem still had some growing up to do and that Thayer was so consumed in his grief that there was no way he could possibly be in a healthy relationship.
I understand that book two takes place six years after the end of The Confidence of Wildflowers and I really hope we get to see Salem gain some life perspective and Thayer being to deal with healing from such an unimaginable loss.
I believe Salem and Thayer deserve a happy ending, but both have a lot of trauma to address. I hope we get to see that in The Resurrection of Wildflowers.
CWs:Childhood Sexual Abuse (non-graphic mentions), Sick Parent (Cancer), Death of a Child (Drowning)
I read trigger warnings, so I mostly knew what I was in for, and I did enjoy the first 60-70% of Salem and Thayer's story, but the last 30% of the book was…a lot.
My biggest issue was the extremely tragic event that takes place towards the end of the book and the immediate aftermath.
Excerpt:
<b>"We were going to tell my mom!"
"We were <i>happy</i> and you certainly didn't give a shit before, so what changed?"
"My son died!"
"And that changes everything."
"I know this is devastating. I feel his loss too. But how does this have anything to do with us?"</b>
In my opinion, their actions confirmed that Salem still had some growing up to do and that Thayer was so consumed in his grief that there was no way he could possibly be in a healthy relationship.
I understand that book two takes place six years after the end of The Confidence of Wildflowers and I really hope we get to see Salem gain some life perspective and Thayer being to deal with healing from such an unimaginable loss.
I believe Salem and Thayer deserve a happy ending, but both have a lot of trauma to address. I hope we get to see that in The Resurrection of Wildflowers.
CWs:
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Infidelity
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content