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tracey1981's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
This was an enjoyable read.
What I liked:
-One of the main characters had a really difficult childhood and I thought the character development was really good, as an exploration of what it's like to fall in love for a character who has not been well-loved ever before.
-The social context of short-term rentals/apartments becoming airbnbs felt and how the neighbours felt about it felt relevant and I would have liked more depth from that storyline
-I liked that not all feelings/challenges were wrapped up neatly at the end (especially Will's feelings in relation to his family)
-I liked the focus on sense of home and it also led to some interesting thinking for me about what we keep and what we let go of when it comes to material things
What I didn't like:
-overall lack of diversity amongst the characters
-sometimes I found the elder characters a bit cartoony but I know it's hard to fully flesh out a lot of secondary characters.
I'll definitely read more from Clayborn.
What I liked:
-One of the main characters had a really difficult childhood and I thought the character development was really good, as an exploration of what it's like to fall in love for a character who has not been well-loved ever before.
-The social context of short-term rentals/apartments becoming airbnbs felt and how the neighbours felt about it felt relevant and I would have liked more depth from that storyline
-I liked that not all feelings/challenges were wrapped up neatly at the end (especially Will's feelings in relation to his family)
-I liked the focus on sense of home and it also led to some interesting thinking for me about what we keep and what we let go of when it comes to material things
What I didn't like:
-overall lack of diversity amongst the characters
-sometimes I found the elder characters a bit cartoony but I know it's hard to fully flesh out a lot of secondary characters.
I'll definitely read more from Clayborn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
imds'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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, and Death
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
16kneidels's review
inspiring
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content
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
dkgreads's review
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
What a sweet little slow burn romance! I totally loved the found family vibes of Nora’s neighbors and kinda want to live in her building now ❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Abandonment
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
morganphoenix's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Cancer
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