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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Aldo Moretta Is Lush 😍❤️
This book was just perfect, it ticked so many of my favourite things.
I laughed, smiled and cried 😭
Roll on the third book!
This book was just perfect, it ticked so many of my favourite things.
I laughed, smiled and cried 😭
Roll on the third book!
3.25
I liked this one better than Pretend You're Mine.
The portrayal of Gloria and her journey through domestic violence was, likely, fairly realistic and (I think) handled well. I love that she ends up in a hope-filled place, kicking ass. Note: if DV is a trigger for you, this one might be tough to get through.
I also liked Aldo, and I liked them together.
Per usual with Lucy Score, the chemistry's hot, and the side characters are great. Note: this book does rehash some of what happened in Pretend You're Mine (I enjoyed revisiting those scenes so that didn't bug me but just FYI).
Themes and tropes:
- Small town
- Semi-friends to lovers
- National Guard
- Past + present traumas (domestic violence, loss of a limb)
- Single moms (Gloria and Aldo both have them -- and they're great)
"Silence keeps it too powerful... Or at least that's what my therapist says. Keeping it a secret that no one else knows gives it this unholy strength. But talking about it? It's ugly and hard, but it takes the power away." (p. 236)
"So what then? Do you wait to find a partner until you are perfect? ... No. You choose a man -- or woman -- who will grow and change with you. Who will support you as you grow and change, not force you to stay the same." (p. 393)
I liked this one better than Pretend You're Mine.
The portrayal of Gloria and her journey through domestic violence was, likely, fairly realistic and (I think) handled well. I love that she ends up in a hope-filled place, kicking ass. Note: if DV is a trigger for you, this one might be tough to get through.
I also liked Aldo, and I liked them together.
Per usual with Lucy Score, the chemistry's hot, and the side characters are great. Note: this book does rehash some of what happened in Pretend You're Mine (I enjoyed revisiting those scenes so that didn't bug me but just FYI).
Themes and tropes:
- Small town
- Semi-friends to lovers
- National Guard
- Past + present traumas (domestic violence, loss of a limb)
- Single moms (Gloria and Aldo both have them -- and they're great)
"Silence keeps it too powerful... Or at least that's what my therapist says. Keeping it a secret that no one else knows gives it this unholy strength. But talking about it? It's ugly and hard, but it takes the power away." (p. 236)
"So what then? Do you wait to find a partner until you are perfect? ... No. You choose a man -- or woman -- who will grow and change with you. Who will support you as you grow and change, not force you to stay the same." (p. 393)
I am so mad at myself for not reading this book sooner. I read Pretend you're Mine and felt like I didn't need to read this as you get a glimpse of Gloria and Aldo's romance story in the first book. Boy, was I wrong. Lucy has done it again, making you feel everything the characters are going through and putting you on a roller coaster of emotions. Another home run must read.
Thank goodness it’s over
This book could have been a bonus epilogue for the first book in the series. I HATE having to read scenes I’ve already read before and that’s all this book is. Skip it if you value your time.
This book could have been a bonus epilogue for the first book in the series. I HATE having to read scenes I’ve already read before and that’s all this book is. Skip it if you value your time.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
I think the third act breakup was pointless and unnecessary. They did not need to break up in order to continue the plot. Also the constant jokes made about him being an amputee was just incredibly unnecessary. All that being said I loved Gloria and Aldo
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Thanks Netgally for the arc?
I think?
Literally, Pretend You're Mine and Finally Mine needed to just be ONE book with 2 POVs. Pretend You're Mine should have kept that time frame, and then we could have moved onto Finally Mine WITH A SEPARATE STORY LINE. I hated that the books overlapped scenes so much. It was like every chapter was just a repetition of the previous book.
Also, DO WE NOT BELIEVE IN CHARACTER GROWTH OR SOMETHING?????
Aldo is a controlling manipulative jerk face who literally only cared about himself. He's suppose to be the hero love interest but he just sucks.
Aldo needed to be Gloria's friend and help her struggle and move forward, he needed to be there for her and to let her cry. INSTEAD, he pushes a relationship on her, she decides she can do this, AND THEN HE CHANGES HIS MIND BECAUSE NOW HE HAS A SCAR??????? I freaking hated him so so much. Bro, GROW UPPPPP (literally every character in every Lucy Score book, GROW UP).
Gloria randomly went from not being able to set boundaries and then IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH is setting boundaries with everyone??? I don't know dude... seems fishy to me.
Pros: I liked the cat, it had the most depth as a character and personality.
Cons: literally everything else.
I think?
Literally, Pretend You're Mine and Finally Mine needed to just be ONE book with 2 POVs. Pretend You're Mine should have kept that time frame, and then we could have moved onto Finally Mine WITH A SEPARATE STORY LINE. I hated that the books overlapped scenes so much. It was like every chapter was just a repetition of the previous book.
Also, DO WE NOT BELIEVE IN CHARACTER GROWTH OR SOMETHING?????
Aldo is a controlling manipulative jerk face who literally only cared about himself. He's suppose to be the hero love interest but he just sucks.
Aldo needed to be Gloria's friend and help her struggle and move forward, he needed to be there for her and to let her cry. INSTEAD, he pushes a relationship on her, she decides she can do this, AND THEN HE CHANGES HIS MIND BECAUSE NOW HE HAS A SCAR??????? I freaking hated him so so much. Bro, GROW UPPPPP (literally every character in every Lucy Score book, GROW UP).
Gloria randomly went from not being able to set boundaries and then IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH is setting boundaries with everyone??? I don't know dude... seems fishy to me.
Pros: I liked the cat, it had the most depth as a character and personality.
Cons: literally everything else.
THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHINGGGGG
OK I became a Lucy Score stan long before I found this book BUT after reading the first in the series I had a fear that since these were her first books that maybe she would still be working out the kinks. I didn't absolutely love the first in the series (but I liked it well enough) and you got enough glimpses of Aldo and Gloria to be invested already so I was pleased to be able to review the second in the series for NetGalley.
Aldo and Gloria have known each other since high school. Due to another relationship in Gloria's life, they missed their chance to connect at that time. But when Gloria ends her 10 year long abusive relationship, Aldo knows he won't miss another chance. Because the universe seems to be working against these two, they reconnect just a couple of weeks before Aldo has to leave for deployment to Afghanistan. Before Aldo leaves he is already fully committed to Gloria. He is so loving and emotionally intelligent and patient when he leaves- he is fully secure that their connection will still be there upon his return. He encourages Gloria to experience life and to find out who she is outside of a relationship so that when he comes home he can show her who she is in a good relationship. The connection you feel from Aldo's side is so moving. This man has zero doubts that he is the one who can make her happy.
Aldo being the perfect MMC:
'I'd like to date you, Gloria'
The glug of water she'd just taken to was down the bitterness of disappointment came back out on a cough and ran down her chin.
Gently, he mopped her face with a napkin
'I'm sorry I don't think I heard you correctly.'
He grinned. 'That's not the reaction I was expecting. It'll be a fun story to tell our grandkids, though' - THIS MAN NEVER WAVERED
'he'd bought a dozen houseplants this week for the express purpose of having Gloria in his house weekly while he was gone.'
Lucy Score writing brilliance:
'Do you know how many people would do anything for a love like this? For even an ounce of what you two found in each other? Do you know how many would fight and claw and beg for this? And you throw it away like it's replaceable?'
You also get plenty of Harper charm from book one: 'Eat your burger. You're weak with hunger and stupidity'
Unfortunately- because once again the universe is against them- Aldo experiences so trauma while he is deployed and comes back feeling like he isn't good enough for Gloria. At this point it's Gloria's turn to fight for them. This is the story of them finding their way through all of their heartbreak to get back to one another.
I loved this book so wholeheartedly. Lucy Score had me crying at almost every stage and I could not put this book down. The characters are so damaged and the theme of the book- that damaged people can still love and be loved- is so beautifully betrayed.
OK I became a Lucy Score stan long before I found this book BUT after reading the first in the series I had a fear that since these were her first books that maybe she would still be working out the kinks. I didn't absolutely love the first in the series (but I liked it well enough) and you got enough glimpses of Aldo and Gloria to be invested already so I was pleased to be able to review the second in the series for NetGalley.
Aldo and Gloria have known each other since high school. Due to another relationship in Gloria's life, they missed their chance to connect at that time. But when Gloria ends her 10 year long abusive relationship, Aldo knows he won't miss another chance. Because the universe seems to be working against these two, they reconnect just a couple of weeks before Aldo has to leave for deployment to Afghanistan. Before Aldo leaves he is already fully committed to Gloria. He is so loving and emotionally intelligent and patient when he leaves- he is fully secure that their connection will still be there upon his return. He encourages Gloria to experience life and to find out who she is outside of a relationship so that when he comes home he can show her who she is in a good relationship. The connection you feel from Aldo's side is so moving. This man has zero doubts that he is the one who can make her happy.
Aldo being the perfect MMC:
'I'd like to date you, Gloria'
The glug of water she'd just taken to was down the bitterness of disappointment came back out on a cough and ran down her chin.
Gently, he mopped her face with a napkin
'I'm sorry I don't think I heard you correctly.'
He grinned. 'That's not the reaction I was expecting. It'll be a fun story to tell our grandkids, though' - THIS MAN NEVER WAVERED
'he'd bought a dozen houseplants this week for the express purpose of having Gloria in his house weekly while he was gone.'
Lucy Score writing brilliance:
'Do you know how many people would do anything for a love like this? For even an ounce of what you two found in each other? Do you know how many would fight and claw and beg for this? And you throw it away like it's replaceable?'
You also get plenty of Harper charm from book one: 'Eat your burger. You're weak with hunger and stupidity'
Unfortunately- because once again the universe is against them- Aldo experiences so trauma while he is deployed and comes back feeling like he isn't good enough for Gloria. At this point it's Gloria's turn to fight for them. This is the story of them finding their way through all of their heartbreak to get back to one another.
I loved this book so wholeheartedly. Lucy Score had me crying at almost every stage and I could not put this book down. The characters are so damaged and the theme of the book- that damaged people can still love and be loved- is so beautifully betrayed.
emotional
hopeful
medium-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