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wilybooklover's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.5
This was just the kind of slow, quiet read I love. Introspective, contemplative, and utterly focused on the main characters and their emotions. The writing was just gorgeous, too. So lyrical and romantic and evocative. Reading this book felt like a comforting hug.
Will and Nora were so adorable together. Love at first sight is not ordinarily my favourite trope to read but I loved the way it played out here, how it was still a slower-burn. Reading the way Will felt so much but so desperately didn't want to turn into his parents, the way that Nora clung to the past and was so averse to change, and the way they both overcame those struggles to become stronger together was so heartwarming. I really enjoyed that although they faced multiple conflicts with each other there wasn't a huge dramatic fight and breakup near the end that derailed the romance. And I'm always here for a hurt/comfort trope and a found family aspect in any book.
The only thing that I didn't quite enjoy was the involvement of so many side characters in the resolution of the final couple of conflicts, nor the very public nature of Will's declaration (public grand gestures horrify me, in all honesty, although the heroine loved it so...).
Will and Nora were so adorable together. Love at first sight is not ordinarily my favourite trope to read but I loved the way it played out here, how it was still a slower-burn. Reading the way Will felt so much but so desperately didn't want to turn into his parents, the way that Nora clung to the past and was so averse to change, and the way they both overcame those struggles to become stronger together was so heartwarming. I really enjoyed that although they faced multiple conflicts with each other there wasn't a huge dramatic fight and breakup near the end that derailed the romance. And I'm always here for a hurt/comfort trope and a found family aspect in any book.
The only thing that I didn't quite enjoy was the involvement of so many side characters in the resolution of the final couple of conflicts, nor the very public nature of Will's declaration (public grand gestures horrify me, in all honesty, although the heroine loved it so...).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Blood and Terminal illness
analenegrace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I've become a fan of Clayborn over the last few months, and while I loved this one, it wasn't my favorite of hers so far. The MCs are well-fleshed out, and the side characters are fun and quirky in a way that feels real, especially Gerald and Sally! Clayborn has a gift for writing her Men MCs; she seemingly puts more effort into them, and they end up being the character I'm rooting for rather than the women.
Plotwise, I was really rooting for a more complete anti-gentrification plot, and the fact that the book ended with them having an STR rental again was just not what I was hoping for, although I appreciated that he did longer-term STRs, but still, as someone from a city dealing with gentrification and having an Airbnb Crisis, I was really hoping for a different solution. I loved the little tricks Nora and the other residents played on Will in the first half because it brought a lot of life to the book that was silly and fun.
The romance between Will and Nora was great, and I loved his grand gesture that was a throwback to that first almost meeting when they were teenagers, but I wish we would have gotten them both to have emotional resolutions with their parents, at least personally, rather than them just getting over their commitment issues and living happily.
I do think that while I was reading this book I really enjoyed it, but the ending, especially with the STR plot, felt really unsatisfying for me, but I look forward to reading the rest of her books this year.
Plotwise, I was really rooting for a more complete anti-gentrification plot, and the fact that the book ended with them having an STR rental again was just not what I was hoping for, although I appreciated that he did longer-term STRs, but still, as someone from a city dealing with gentrification and having an Airbnb Crisis, I was really hoping for a different solution. I loved the little tricks Nora and the other residents played on Will in the first half because it brought a lot of life to the book that was silly and fun.
The romance between Will and Nora was great, and I loved his grand gesture that was a throwback to that first almost meeting when they were teenagers, but I wish we would have gotten them both to have emotional resolutions with their parents, at least personally, rather than them just getting over their commitment issues and living happily.
I do think that while I was reading this book I really enjoyed it, but the ending, especially with the STR plot, felt really unsatisfying for me, but I look forward to reading the rest of her books this year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Medical content and Abandonment
kyleethecatlady's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Death, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment
frantically's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
just ALL the found family feels
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness and Blood
quasinaut's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A fun but maybe-too-forgettable romance. I like having a cast of quirky characters, especially nosy neighbors (even if I'd abhor them in my personal life), to round out the story so it's not all about the destined couple-to-be. This felt particularly necessary here because Will and Nora are drawn together by an immediate attraction, and of course none of the minor obstacles in their path will keep them apart.
I suppose my main complaint is that it just felt too easy; a character would make a hard decision once, and then have no trouble making it happen. I also don't tend to like/believe "love at first sight" stories, but I knew what I was getting into with this title, so the fault is my own for perhaps wanting more build up! Minor spoiler:I do adore the idea that they wouldn't have been right together if they'd met as teens. They needed to grow as individuals so that when they really met as adults, they'd actually be suited for each other!
I suppose my main complaint is that it just felt too easy; a character would make a hard decision once, and then have no trouble making it happen. I also don't tend to like/believe "love at first sight" stories, but I knew what I was getting into with this title, so the fault is my own for perhaps wanting more build up! Minor spoiler:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Blood
mmiller18's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death
meganpbennett's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Will first met Nora when he was a teenager, but it wasn't really a meeting - she was throwing tomatoes at a squirrel and he was sitting under a tree watching. It was cuter than it sounds. Flash forward and Will's just inherited his uncle's apartment in a very small apartment building, for no reason that Will can figure out. After all, his uncle refused to help his mother, so why did he leave the apartment to Will? And Nora, she now lives in her late grandmother's apartment - the same one from earlier - working remotely and not changing a thing in the apartment.
Will, not wanting a thing to do with the inherited apartment, decides the best thing to do is to rent it out. And the neighbors do not approve. Including Nora, who Will thinks he might have fallen for all those years ago. Can they work through the renovations and problems?
Will, not wanting a thing to do with the inherited apartment, decides the best thing to do is to rent it out. And the neighbors do not approve. Including Nora, who Will thinks he might have fallen for all those years ago. Can they work through the renovations and problems?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Blood
stromjm's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Medical content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, and Cancer
angelareads's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content and Panic attacks/disorders