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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was unfortunately the underwhelming sequel to Waking Olivia.
This book follows good girl Erin, who we meet in Waking Olivia and is Olivia's best friend. Since Will and Olivia moved in together, she's harbored love-at-first-sight feelings for Brenden, Will's brother. While Brenden has always been a playboy who is not interested in marriage, those things might change for Erin.
Let's start with the one positive thing I have to say about this book. I did like Erin. I liked her in Waking Olivia and was invested in her plotline here. I cared about her and the things she was going through. It was satisfying to see her go from this character who let herself be walked all over to one who stood up for herself.
The romance between these two characters didn't make a lot of sense. It felt super forced and they barely had any actual romantic moments between them. The majority of this book is just about them having sex or just feeling way more focused on the sexual attraction these two felt for one another rather than a genuine romantic connection. I will say that there were quite a lot of sex scenes between them that took place off page, however, there weren't these sweet romantic moments when they weren't happening that would then make you root for the romance. I did however like how Brenden would be there for Erin when it came to her family and also how he was so insistent on it but that was about it.
Now I am usually one of the last people to say this, but this is one of the few books I've read where I just found the dual timeline entirely pointless. The majority of Brenden's chapters took place in the past where you get to find out what went down with him and Erin. The unfortunate part is they wouldn't ever talk in these flashbacks. It was Brenden just lusting after Erin until he made out with her. We also get to find out about a prior relationship he had but I don't know why we needed to see it dragged out in a flashback when we could've just heard it from Brenden when he confides in Erin about it. We could've had Brenden's chapters used to develop him as a character to make him feel more well-rounded at the end of the story.
This leads me to my next point which is that I just found Brenden to be so unlikable. He felt very different from his character in Waking Olivia and just wasn't fun to read about. He was not developed well enough by the end of the story that I couldn't believe the whole 180 he did all because he's in-lust with Erin. We're supposed to want these two together especially because Brenden is supposed to be better than Rob...but is he? These two spend most of the time wanting entirely different things and then we are suddenly supposed to believe that Brenden has completely changed his mind.
Overall, this was a letdown and not an enjoyable time. I'm glad I got to read it but I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more.
This book follows good girl Erin, who we meet in Waking Olivia and is Olivia's best friend. Since Will and Olivia moved in together, she's harbored love-at-first-sight feelings for Brenden, Will's brother. While Brenden has always been a playboy who is not interested in marriage, those things might change for Erin.
Let's start with the one positive thing I have to say about this book. I did like Erin. I liked her in Waking Olivia and was invested in her plotline here. I cared about her and the things she was going through. It was satisfying to see her go from this character who let herself be walked all over to one who stood up for herself.
The romance between these two characters didn't make a lot of sense. It felt super forced and they barely had any actual romantic moments between them. The majority of this book is just about them having sex or just feeling way more focused on the sexual attraction these two felt for one another rather than a genuine romantic connection. I will say that there were quite a lot of sex scenes between them that took place off page, however, there weren't these sweet romantic moments when they weren't happening that would then make you root for the romance. I did however like how Brenden would be there for Erin when it came to her family and also how he was so insistent on it but that was about it.
Now I am usually one of the last people to say this, but this is one of the few books I've read where I just found the dual timeline entirely pointless. The majority of Brenden's chapters took place in the past where you get to find out what went down with him and Erin. The unfortunate part is they wouldn't ever talk in these flashbacks. It was Brenden just lusting after Erin until he made out with her. We also get to find out about a prior relationship he had but I don't know why we needed to see it dragged out in a flashback when we could've just heard it from Brenden when he confides in Erin about it. We could've had Brenden's chapters used to develop him as a character to make him feel more well-rounded at the end of the story.
This leads me to my next point which is that I just found Brenden to be so unlikable. He felt very different from his character in Waking Olivia and just wasn't fun to read about. He was not developed well enough by the end of the story that I couldn't believe the whole 180 he did all because he's in-lust with Erin. We're supposed to want these two together especially because Brenden is supposed to be better than Rob...but is he? These two spend most of the time wanting entirely different things and then we are suddenly supposed to believe that Brenden has completely changed his mind.
Overall, this was a letdown and not an enjoyable time. I'm glad I got to read it but I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt
emotional
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
I enjoyed the characters but the whole back in forth on being together got a little tiring.
challenging
emotional
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
“Because I was dying to punch this motherfucker from the moment he spoke to her, and he just made it legal.”
Be still my heart! I loved Brendan and Erin’s story from start to finish. I don’t often care for books that jump between past and present timelines. I’m less patient and prefer to get right into the connection but I understand that sometimes the past is key. Erin and Brendan had a very rocky relationship from the start. They’ve both had some traumas in the past and Erin had absolutely no one she could rely on to help carry the burden, not even her fiancé Rob. Brendan is best friend’s with Erin’s fiancé but when Rob fails to step up and prioritize Erin, Brendan can’t help but to step in. The development of the friendship turned situation-ship turned relationship was everything I never knew I needed.
Be still my heart! I loved Brendan and Erin’s story from start to finish. I don’t often care for books that jump between past and present timelines. I’m less patient and prefer to get right into the connection but I understand that sometimes the past is key. Erin and Brendan had a very rocky relationship from the start. They’ve both had some traumas in the past and Erin had absolutely no one she could rely on to help carry the burden, not even her fiancé Rob. Brendan is best friend’s with Erin’s fiancé but when Rob fails to step up and prioritize Erin, Brendan can’t help but to step in. The development of the friendship turned situation-ship turned relationship was everything I never knew I needed.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
dnf @ 51%
Very boring and often borders on cheating. Erin has like 0 self-restraint.
Very boring and often borders on cheating. Erin has like 0 self-restraint.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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