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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
Representation: FF side romance, lesbian side characters and Native American side character
I don't know why, but I'm always so pleasantly surprised by how much I love Emma Scott's romance novels. Emma consistently writes angst-ridden and emotional romances, which are genres that I've been staying away from these past few years. I prefer cute and sweet and not too much drama in my romance novels. However, after reading and loving so many of her books, I trust that the main characters will eventually get where they need to be–even if it takes the whole freaking book!
Alternately told in Issac and Willow's perspectives, In Harmony focuses on Willow moving to small-town middle America crippled by the massive secret of the trauma she went through back in New York City. Issac is the town outcast but is also an acting-prodigy. Willow sees one of his plays and immediately falls in love with acting.
What I loved the most about In Harmony was the slow-burn between Issac and Willow's relationship. Willow is in a very vulnerable place where she doesn't trust anyone and can't see herself being intimate with anyone. So, while she thinks Issac is beautiful, she's not entertaining the notion of dating him. Issac, conversely, is known in town for dating only college girls and not having any series relationships because his one focus is to get the hell out of the small town that never treated him right (and getting away from his drunk, abusive father). He's determined to leave his hometown behind and make it big in Hollywood. However, he can't help be wholly captivated by the new city girl with heartbreak in her eyes.
I loved how Emma let Willow heal before entering a relationship. I especially loved how sweet and wholesome the relationship was between Issac and Willow–they were so considerate and caring of each other.
I gave In Harmony five stars because I loved the slow-burn and howwhen Willow and Issac are separated for three years, Willow spends the time working on herself and not moping around. I've never been a fan of Shakespeare or plays in general, but, I swear, Emma created magic with her incorporation of Shakespeare in this novel! It made me want to read some plays which have never happened before. Also, the fact that Willow is an acting talent in her own right was just fantastic.
I will concede that the last 20% was SUPER fast-paced–there was way too much going on... I honestly had to re-read the ending because there were so many dramatic changes happening. I would've loved if Emma had taken the time (like she did with the rest of the novel) to wrap everything up slowly and to let the reader recover from the whiplash of emotions! However, In Harmony was still a 5-star read for me because it was so unique, and, honestly, the story just wowed me with how excellent the relationship and Heroine were. It's a rating that is mood-driven rather than analytic, but *shrug* I stand by it.
Overall, I seriously recommend In Harmony; you won't be disappointed.
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Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• No OW drama
• Does have OM drama
— the Heroine is told by the Hero that he's not interested, so-in an effort to be a 'normal' high school girl-she agrees to go to the dance with the OM. She ends it with him that night.
• Does have both the Hero and Heroine pushing each other away
• Does have a (3 year) separation between the Hero and Heroine
Possible Triggers:
• Rape (off-page, flashbacks are on-page)
• Severe PTSD
• Physical abuse (Parent abusing his child)
• Allusions to suicide
• Allusions to depression
Ending: HEA with an Epilogue
I don't know why, but I'm always so pleasantly surprised by how much I love Emma Scott's romance novels. Emma consistently writes angst-ridden and emotional romances, which are genres that I've been staying away from these past few years. I prefer cute and sweet and not too much drama in my romance novels. However, after reading and loving so many of her books, I trust that the main characters will eventually get where they need to be–even if it takes the whole freaking book!
Alternately told in Issac and Willow's perspectives, In Harmony focuses on Willow moving to small-town middle America crippled by the massive secret of the trauma she went through back in New York City. Issac is the town outcast but is also an acting-prodigy. Willow sees one of his plays and immediately falls in love with acting.
What I loved the most about In Harmony was the slow-burn between Issac and Willow's relationship. Willow is in a very vulnerable place where she doesn't trust anyone and can't see herself being intimate with anyone. So, while she thinks Issac is beautiful, she's not entertaining the notion of dating him. Issac, conversely, is known in town for dating only college girls and not having any series relationships because his one focus is to get the hell out of the small town that never treated him right (and getting away from his drunk, abusive father). He's determined to leave his hometown behind and make it big in Hollywood. However, he can't help be wholly captivated by the new city girl with heartbreak in her eyes.
I loved how Emma let Willow heal before entering a relationship. I especially loved how sweet and wholesome the relationship was between Issac and Willow–they were so considerate and caring of each other.
I gave In Harmony five stars because I loved the slow-burn and how
I will concede that the last 20% was SUPER fast-paced–there was way too much going on... I honestly had to re-read the ending because there were so many dramatic changes happening. I would've loved if Emma had taken the time (like she did with the rest of the novel) to wrap everything up slowly and to let the reader recover from the whiplash of emotions! However, In Harmony was still a 5-star read for me because it was so unique, and, honestly, the story just wowed me with how excellent the relationship and Heroine were. It's a rating that is mood-driven rather than analytic, but *shrug* I stand by it.
Overall, I seriously recommend In Harmony; you won't be disappointed.
Follow Me
Blog • Instagram • Goodreads • Facebook • BlogLovin'
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• No OW drama
• Does have OM drama
— the Heroine is told by the Hero that he's not interested, so-in an effort to be a 'normal' high school girl-she agrees to go to the dance with the OM. She ends it with him that night.
• Does have both the Hero and Heroine pushing each other away
• Does have a (3 year) separation between the Hero and Heroine
Possible Triggers:
• Rape (off-page, flashbacks are on-page)
• Severe PTSD
• Physical abuse (Parent abusing his child)
• Allusions to suicide
• Allusions to depression
Ending:
4.25⭐
Beautiful love story...touches the heart in all right ways.
Beautiful love story...touches the heart in all right ways.
"I was too tired to make something up. Pretending to be okay was f*cking exhausting."
In Harmony is a YA/NA romance about 17-year-old Willow who is struggling to overcome the unspeakable night when her innocence was stolen, and 19-year-old Issac who is fighting demons of his own. But when Willow and Issac are cast as Ophelia and Hamlet in the town production of Hamlet, they are forced to stop hiding from their pain and face it head on, both in real life and on the stage.
“Watching you act was like looking through a doorway into another world. A place where extraordinary things happen. I got to escape by watching you. So instead of a general compliment, I want to thank you for taking me somewhere else for a couple hours. I needed it.”
I found the way Emma Scott wrote In Harmony to be so creative, as she wrote it to mirror some of the elements of Hamlet, so that not only are we watching the characters act out the play, we are also offered a deeper understanding of Shakespeare's tragedy. Much like Ophelia, Willow is basically being told what to think and how she should feel by every person in her life, especially her parents. (Talk about a toxic relationship.) And much like Hamlet, Issac's pain from losing a parent can be felt through the pages. I really enjoyed the way Emma made those connections.
“I’ve seen firsthand what privilege can do when it wants something.”
I also feel the need to praise Emma Scott for the way she handled sexual assault with care and honesty. Sometimes authors approach this topic as a plot device to add drama to a book, but they miss the mark, leaving out all the different layers of anger and pain a victim may feel. Often times I read stories where a victim meets someone to sweep them off their feet, and they are immediately healed. Or worse, sometimes rape is glorified with blurry lines and non-consent is portrayed as sexy and dominate. (I wish I were making that up, but just last month, I read a new release that did exactly that.) In Harmony is a slow burn like no other, because Emma allowed Willow to be completely ready before she went there with Issac. Through Willow, Emma demonstrated the ways a sexual assault can affect a victims mental health and well-being and some of the steps that are necessary for healing.
"Do your thing. Whatever it is."
This coming-of-age story has very little steam and does have a very young adult feel to it, but I have no doubt I will be thinking about this story for awhile.
Free on KU and recommended for fans of angsty authors like Ella Fields and Kate Stewart.
Best song to listen to while reading this book: Sweet Redemption by Ron Pope.
"At the root of all madness is an unbearable truth."
In Harmony is a YA/NA romance about 17-year-old Willow who is struggling to overcome the unspeakable night when her innocence was stolen, and 19-year-old Issac who is fighting demons of his own. But when Willow and Issac are cast as Ophelia and Hamlet in the town production of Hamlet, they are forced to stop hiding from their pain and face it head on, both in real life and on the stage.
“Watching you act was like looking through a doorway into another world. A place where extraordinary things happen. I got to escape by watching you. So instead of a general compliment, I want to thank you for taking me somewhere else for a couple hours. I needed it.”
I found the way Emma Scott wrote In Harmony to be so creative, as she wrote it to mirror some of the elements of Hamlet, so that not only are we watching the characters act out the play, we are also offered a deeper understanding of Shakespeare's tragedy. Much like Ophelia, Willow is basically being told what to think and how she should feel by every person in her life, especially her parents. (Talk about a toxic relationship.) And much like Hamlet, Issac's pain from losing a parent can be felt through the pages. I really enjoyed the way Emma made those connections.
“I’ve seen firsthand what privilege can do when it wants something.”
I also feel the need to praise Emma Scott for the way she handled sexual assault with care and honesty. Sometimes authors approach this topic as a plot device to add drama to a book, but they miss the mark, leaving out all the different layers of anger and pain a victim may feel. Often times I read stories where a victim meets someone to sweep them off their feet, and they are immediately healed. Or worse, sometimes rape is glorified with blurry lines and non-consent is portrayed as sexy and dominate. (I wish I were making that up, but just last month, I read a new release that did exactly that.) In Harmony is a slow burn like no other, because Emma allowed Willow to be completely ready before she went there with Issac. Through Willow, Emma demonstrated the ways a sexual assault can affect a victims mental health and well-being and some of the steps that are necessary for healing.
"Do your thing. Whatever it is."
This coming-of-age story has very little steam and does have a very young adult feel to it, but I have no doubt I will be thinking about this story for awhile.
Free on KU and recommended for fans of angsty authors like Ella Fields and Kate Stewart.
Best song to listen to while reading this book: Sweet Redemption by Ron Pope.
"At the root of all madness is an unbearable truth."
This is the first book by Emma Scott I have read and I honestly can not wait to pick up another one by her books to read. I honestly couldn't put down this book.
I will start off by giving the warning that there is abuse in this book both physical and sexual in nature, as I know that this can be a sensitive topic for many. However it is in no way gratuitous, it is completely necessary for the story and handled respectfully.
The build up in the story made it almost impossible for me to put the book down and I found my self staying up late into the night just so I could find out what happened next. I laughed out loud in many parts and found myself genuinely caring about the characters Emma had built.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of In Harmony in exchange for an honest review.
I will start off by giving the warning that there is abuse in this book both physical and sexual in nature, as I know that this can be a sensitive topic for many. However it is in no way gratuitous, it is completely necessary for the story and handled respectfully.
The build up in the story made it almost impossible for me to put the book down and I found my self staying up late into the night just so I could find out what happened next. I laughed out loud in many parts and found myself genuinely caring about the characters Emma had built.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of In Harmony in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great romance, set against the backdrop of Hamlet. The characters come from immensely different backgrounds but find that a shared love of drama, and difficult past experiences bring them together. Willow is trying to hide from the world as she recovers from a traumatic experience in New York. Isaac is trying to escape the only town and circumstances he has ever known through his tremendous talent. When the two meet, sparks fly but can they overcome the roadblocks in their way? A great story with a satisfying ending!
Once again, Emma Scott has made me cry.
I knew this would be an emotional story. Both the hero and the heroine of this story were broken and suffering due to their circumstances. Willow was weighted down by the secret of her sexual assault, and Isaac was fighting to survive his father's physical abuse. This stuff was heavy and my heart broke and ached for both of them. Yet, Scott managed to infused this story with light and hope. It may have come in waves, but it was there.
One of the beautiful things Scott did was give both Willow and Isaac wonderful support systems. Isaac was lucky to find Martin and Brenda, who became his surrogate parents. They were there for him whenever he needed them, and gave him love unconditionally. It's hard to imagine what sort of man he would have become with them in his life.
Willow was lucky enough, that Angie took her under her wing when she first moved to Harmony. Angie became her best friend, biggest cheerleader, and her confidant. She gave without asking for anything, and supported Willow without expecting explanations. Angie's mother, Bonnie, was also a godsend. She was a therapist, who played a large role in Willow's recovery.
I also liked Willow's path to recovery. She was not saved by the boy. He supported her, along with a few others, but she saved herself. She found her inner strength, her voice, and her fire. It was a tough journey, and it was never depicted as easy or quick, and I appreciated how realistic it came across.
There were quite a few surprises in this story as well. I was not expecting some of the events, which went down regarding the assault to transpire that way, but I was happy about it. I didn't think Scott would take Willow's parents in the direction she did either, but again, I was happy with the way she handled that situation.
This book was a love story, but it was also about the healing power of connection and finding your inner strength. It was about believing it was never too late and not closing yourself off to possibilities. And it was about love, which can endure and last.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
I knew this would be an emotional story. Both the hero and the heroine of this story were broken and suffering due to their circumstances. Willow was weighted down by the secret of her sexual assault, and Isaac was fighting to survive his father's physical abuse. This stuff was heavy and my heart broke and ached for both of them. Yet, Scott managed to infused this story with light and hope. It may have come in waves, but it was there.
One of the beautiful things Scott did was give both Willow and Isaac wonderful support systems. Isaac was lucky to find Martin and Brenda, who became his surrogate parents. They were there for him whenever he needed them, and gave him love unconditionally. It's hard to imagine what sort of man he would have become with them in his life.
Willow was lucky enough, that Angie took her under her wing when she first moved to Harmony. Angie became her best friend, biggest cheerleader, and her confidant. She gave without asking for anything, and supported Willow without expecting explanations. Angie's mother, Bonnie, was also a godsend. She was a therapist, who played a large role in Willow's recovery.
I also liked Willow's path to recovery. She was not saved by the boy. He supported her, along with a few others, but she saved herself. She found her inner strength, her voice, and her fire. It was a tough journey, and it was never depicted as easy or quick, and I appreciated how realistic it came across.
There were quite a few surprises in this story as well. I was not expecting some of the events, which went down regarding the assault to transpire that way, but I was happy about it. I didn't think Scott would take Willow's parents in the direction she did either, but again, I was happy with the way she handled that situation.
This book was a love story, but it was also about the healing power of connection and finding your inner strength. It was about believing it was never too late and not closing yourself off to possibilities. And it was about love, which can endure and last.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
On the whole I’d say this book is probably 4 stars but I rated it 5 as I have a soft spot for H’s who are loyal to the h and never waver regardless of time.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
One of those books that I found myself having to put down occasionally as I could detect another ‘until’ was coming that I needed to brace myself for.