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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5 Stars
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Bowen is one of the few authors whom I can tolerate MF from.
This was quite the angsty installment, focusing on recovering addict Jude, who doesn’t have a lot of life options being a felon for manslaughter along with the intent to distribute drugs. There’s lots of questions surrounding his incarceration, and no one is more curious and in the dark than his ex-girlfriend Sophie, whose very dad was the one who arrested Jude way back when. Despite 3 years apart, the love between Jude and Sophie hasn’t faded one bit, and try as they might to avoid one another, they simply can’t.
As always, Bowen never fails on creating compelling male protagonists and Jude, despite his many many faults and mistakes, was still quite the sexy sympathetic character. He’s no longer hiding behind drugs, he struggles hard every day against his addiction, and he desperately wants to get better. However, that’s so much easier said than done, especially when Jude was ultimately responsible for making all the decisions regarding his current predicament. Though he knows he’s the worst thing for Sophie, he can’t ever tell her no.
Not surprising, Sophie’s character was a bit more challenging to relate to because who has come across a person who loves someone who is responsible for one of their family’s greatest losses? It’s hard as a reader to reconcile such conflicting feels, and Bowen deftly (perhaps unrealistically) manipulates things in Sophie’s favor so she’s able to move on and still have Jude. Admittedly, Sophie did have a few “female” moments which often irk me to no end when reading MF, but I was just thankful she didn’t drive me to drink, only exercising my eye rolls here and there.
So, as usual in these sorts of reads for me, the majority of the points go toward the male MC despite the inherent struggle of rooting for Jude under the circumstances. This was an admittedly difficult read, never sugarcoating what addiction can do to a person and the terrible consequences it can wrought but ultimately, it was also a story filled with redemption and a solid push for a second chance at life and love.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Bowen is one of the few authors whom I can tolerate MF from.
This was quite the angsty installment, focusing on recovering addict Jude, who doesn’t have a lot of life options being a felon for manslaughter along with the intent to distribute drugs. There’s lots of questions surrounding his incarceration, and no one is more curious and in the dark than his ex-girlfriend Sophie, whose very dad was the one who arrested Jude way back when. Despite 3 years apart, the love between Jude and Sophie hasn’t faded one bit, and try as they might to avoid one another, they simply can’t.
As always, Bowen never fails on creating compelling male protagonists and Jude, despite his many many faults and mistakes, was still quite the sexy sympathetic character. He’s no longer hiding behind drugs, he struggles hard every day against his addiction, and he desperately wants to get better. However, that’s so much easier said than done, especially when Jude was ultimately responsible for making all the decisions regarding his current predicament. Though he knows he’s the worst thing for Sophie, he can’t ever tell her no.
Not surprising, Sophie’s character was a bit more challenging to relate to because who has come across a person who loves someone who is responsible for one of their family’s greatest losses? It’s hard as a reader to reconcile such conflicting feels, and Bowen deftly (perhaps unrealistically) manipulates things in Sophie’s favor so she’s able to move on and still have Jude. Admittedly, Sophie did have a few “female” moments which often irk me to no end when reading MF, but I was just thankful she didn’t drive me to drink, only exercising my eye rolls here and there.
So, as usual in these sorts of reads for me, the majority of the points go toward the male MC despite the inherent struggle of rooting for Jude under the circumstances. This was an admittedly difficult read, never sugarcoating what addiction can do to a person and the terrible consequences it can wrought but ultimately, it was also a story filled with redemption and a solid push for a second chance at life and love.
This is one of those books that will haunt me for life. Easily a top 3 for me. I can't even describe the roller coaster of emotions I felt. My heart is still aching! I CAN'T wait for the next one!
The new narrators just brought this book to another level. I can't get over how amazing they did. They truly took on these characters and it showed.
It's just a messy, heavy, raw beautiful story. Even though this was a reread for me l was still full of anticipation for things to happen. This book brings out so many emotions. I forgot just how much it makes me feel.
I love Jude and Sophie so much. They have a rough road but it all comes together wonderfully.
Plus they have some insane chemistry!
Definitely recommend but check the trigger warnings prior to read!
emotional
sad
fast-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
This book was like a Phoenix Rising for me. It dealt with some hard subject matter to perfection. Drug addiction is a lifelong battle even while taking it a day at a time. This showed the struggle and also the victories.
Jude made some horrible mistakes that cost him time and bogged him down in guilt and despair. He never hoped to have a 2nd chance with Sophie. I'm so glad she saw the honorable and worthy person inside him.
This was a wonderful book about redemption and forgiveness, of not just others, but also yourself.
Jude made some horrible mistakes that cost him time and bogged him down in guilt and despair. He never hoped to have a 2nd chance with Sophie. I'm so glad she saw the honorable and worthy person inside him.
This was a wonderful book about redemption and forgiveness, of not just others, but also yourself.
This book was very hard for me to read. At the same time, it was also comforting. If you have ever known or loved someone with an addiction or if you’ve had an addiction, you will be able to feel for Jude and Sophie. This book will take you to that rock bottom place but does not keep you there for too long.
So bits were excruciatingly slow and drawn out, some scenes were steamy. We'll see if I read the rest of the series any time soon.