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bringmybooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Thank you to Edelweiss, Forever, & Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Abby Jimenez's books are just so. dang. FUN. I love how there are super serious topics presented in each of her novels, but that they are done in a way that lets you go through the tough things without feeling like you've been clobbered. This probably wasn't my favorite of the books, just because the logic/plot portion of it missed a bit for me (for the most part, I'm able to suspend disbelief for her plots, but this one felt a bit too far-fetched). That being said, I can definitely say that if you've liked her previous books, I would feel fairly confident recommending this one to you as well!
Overall Rating: ★★★★ / 4.13
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, Addiction, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
hanlov's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent
vanessagrausam's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
kaylahcc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
kell_xavi's review against another edition
4.5
There are great settings: the island and cabin where Maddy and Emma stay, the Dahl home with its family chaos, Justin’s studio, and the Mall of America replace the typical romantic scenes; the characters around each protagonist make things both more difficult, more real as well.
I love the way Jimenez introduces Justin through a Reddit post and flirty texting, and how much more weight they both have by the end.
This is a heavy book, more so than I anticipated. Emma’s mother is a hard character to write and a hard person to reckon with. Jimenez writes her through Emma’s eyes, mostly. This means that this volatile, neglectful, untrustworthy person is written with sensitivity, which I always appreciate when it comes to depictions of mental illness (Jimenez doesn’t diagnose Amber, and nor will I, except to say her behaviour reminds me a lot of Angelina Josie’s character in Girl, Interrupted). It also means that we hear about her through memories and coping mechanisms of a little girl, abandoned, and this is heartbreaking.
You’re not asking too much. You were just asking the wrong person.
Justin is quietly angry so much of the time, and I’m glad Jimenez wrote him that way. My own boyfriend is similar, and anger can hold a lot resilience, and resistance to things that are unfair. Anger can problem solve and it can love, and the flip side to Justin’s frustration is an unwavering heart that was moving to read.
I love Maddy’s dedication to her best friend. There were a few moments when I didn’t like Maddy very much: her approach isn’t subtle, and doesn’t feel supportive at first, but this is a love story between Emma and Maddy as much as anything else. Jimenez treats Emma with grace, and Maddy helps us see her toughness and care and joy, as much as her hurt.
The one irksome aspect of this book is how clean and similarly-concluded a few of the relationships are (those from Jimenez' previous novels, and those mentioned in the epilogue).
I cried more than once as Justin and Emma discovered and made amends with their dark parts. I was lucky to meet them and proud to let them go.
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
stormeno's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcoholism
Minor: Death of parent and Car accident
katyinscrubs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Abandonment, and Death of parent
amandab0514's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent
mrshaleypole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
beccabrune's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Death of parent