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abidavisf's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I love a couple that just knows but, more than that, I love when the male main character is the one who absolutely knows that he’s in love and she is it for him, not in a possessive way, just in a ‘nobody else will ever compare’ way.
Before We Came is as dark as it is funny. Birdie and Lonan both experienced trauma at a young age, including a shared trauma, and both have lived very different lives that mean that they process that very differently. I would have liked to have heard more about Lonan’s childhood as well as is his existing relationship with his mother, but I suspect it isn’t something that he focuses on much. Instead, choosing to focus his attention on his found family with the Hayes’.
Though I really enjoyed the premise of Before We Came, the writing itself was somewhat lacking. Some areas felt rushed and there were a lot of typos or small continuity errors that affected the rhythm of the tale. What worked really well in this book was the character building, for the main characters at least. I’m intrigued to learn more about the side characters like Micky and Conway, and hope that they get their chance in later books to get their own happy endings.
Before We Came is as dark as it is funny. Birdie and Lonan both experienced trauma at a young age, including a shared trauma, and both have lived very different lives that mean that they process that very differently. I would have liked to have heard more about Lonan’s childhood as well as is his existing relationship with his mother, but I suspect it isn’t something that he focuses on much. Instead, choosing to focus his attention on his found family with the Hayes’.
Though I really enjoyed the premise of Before We Came, the writing itself was somewhat lacking. Some areas felt rushed and there were a lot of typos or small continuity errors that affected the rhythm of the tale. What worked really well in this book was the character building, for the main characters at least. I’m intrigued to learn more about the side characters like Micky and Conway, and hope that they get their chance in later books to get their own happy endings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Minor: Murder, Trafficking, Child abuse, Car accident, Child death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Suicide
kennedy_fontenot's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
petit_biblio's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
missdaniellexo's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Car accident, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Child death, Grief, and Murder
kearstenkeepsreading's review
I loved the basis of the plot of this book! Birdie is great and is handling what is an absolutely traumatic and insane time in her life with such grace and a lot less panic attacks than I would that’s for sure! But I really cannot bring myself to like Lonan even a little bit. He starts out as a player sleeping around which is fine but he truly has such little regard for these women it is gross. And the way he speaks to and about them is just not it. But even with all of that I was okay with him until he CALLED THE MEDIA AND LEAKED BIRDIES STORY SO SHE WOULDN'T LEAVE! This woman just found out that she was abducted by the woman who she thought was her mother and has been reunited with her long lost family after more than 20 years and instead of supporting her and giving her space to find her footing and be there for her you throw a hissy fit and call the media because you overheard a one side conversation. Dude grow up and ask her how she is doing and if she doesn’t tell you RESPECT THAT AND GIVE HER SPACE! Then he basically coerces her into staying with him at his place so she will be safe from the media. Who will keep her safe from you bro!? And then she tells him numerous times I’m not ready for a relationship and things are crazy I can only be your friend and he just ignores her REPEATEDLY and won’t just let her be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Child death
amylouisereads's review
dark
funny
tense
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? Yes
4.5
I absolutely loved this. I went into it completely blind after seeing a few people say it’s a series they wish they could read again for the first time.
The storyline was so unexpected and it gripped me instantly, I couldn’t put it down! I do wish we’d seen a little more of the investigation and how it all played out all those years ago, and it skipped a little fast towards the end but I still loved it.
The storyline was so unexpected and it gripped me instantly, I couldn’t put it down! I do wish we’d seen a little more of the investigation and how it all played out all those years ago, and it skipped a little fast towards the end but I still loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Murder, Child death, and Death of parent
alfarmer's review
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
3.75
An incredible debut novel. I went into this only knowing it was a hockey romance after a friend recommended it and it was a great time! I don’t want to give anything away if someone also wants to go in blind, but please read content warning. There are heavy topics throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Child death, and Abandonment
tguccione's review
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
An amazing debut novel! A hockey romance with a true crime backstory? Yes, please! I recommend this book to EVERYONE who will listen! Probably my favorite read of the year. Lonan is a top book boyfriend and Birdie is a great FMC. I was so emotional over their story right from the beginning.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Car accident, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide, Child death, and Murder
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