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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
dark
emotional
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
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This had so much potential, but the execution wasn't the best. The book was too long and diluted the connection/romance between Justus and Annie. If it had just focused on them, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Annie's traumatic past was a huge part of the story, but it was exhausting being in her head/POV with all of her intrusive thoughts. This book was different from the others in the series and it was actually Annie who did the rejecting (though Justus and his wounded pride also get thrown into the mix). The book also felt much more tender and sweet since the Last pack operates so differently from the previous packs we've encountered. Tough and gruff Justus was a giant teddy bear golden retriever and I loved how gone he was for Annie. He was beyond patient even though he didn't fully understand what had happened to her, but all the small and big ways he showed he cared had my heart melting. I liked how this story slotted into the timeline with the others and their second chance felt more genuine since they worked to establish trust and really got to know each other. Overall, I didn't love this one, it was still entertaining.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
hopeful
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
The world building in the 5 Packs series is some of the best I've ever read. I've read tropes I don't normally like, just to come back to this world again. I love the second chance aspect to this story, the fact that it takes place over multiple years makes it even better when we get to the HEA. Annie is so sweet and her personal growth was so fun to read. Also Justus is maybe the ideal husband. Head over heels, willing to do anthring, thinks men who posture and chest thump are stupid? SENSATIONAL.
emotional
tense
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
This book was so incredibly sweet and Annie deserves such a sweet, considerate man who works to soothe her anxieties. This is a slow burn, second chance romance. The earlier rejection was mainly due to miscommunication/misunderstanding due to immaturity of young kids. Other than that, not much really happens and the large focus on the book is building a relationship slowly between Annie and Justus.
Annie has severe anxiety and PTSD from a horrible experience as a child. She is terrified of everything and tries to control every aspect of her life. Justus doesn’t really understand her but has good intentions. He picks up that she has PTSD from her actions, but the reveal takes quite a long time as part of the slow burn. It is definitely a “he fell first and harder” trope filled with little acts of service.
I'm a little frustrated that there was a "who hurt you?" moment, but never got the scene of Annie telling Justus what happened to her as a child. The book just keeps it at "one day I'll tell." I think that was just a small injustice since that is core to Annie's personality.
I honestly really liked the dichotomy between the “lost packs” and the “First Pack” and how they both have diverged so much in lifestyles from each other. It is interesting to see Justus’ perspective in being further from a more human life. It is a really nice message to not judge people by their lifestyles even if they are different from your own. In this case, women get treated far better in the last pack than in the Quarry Pack. I did really like the moments of Justus' POV where he would comment on how the women were treated poorly in other packs.
Annie has severe anxiety and PTSD from a horrible experience as a child. She is terrified of everything and tries to control every aspect of her life. Justus doesn’t really understand her but has good intentions. He picks up that she has PTSD from her actions, but the reveal takes quite a long time as part of the slow burn. It is definitely a “he fell first and harder” trope filled with little acts of service.
I'm a little frustrated that there was a "who hurt you?" moment, but never got the scene of Annie telling Justus what happened to her as a child. The book just keeps it at "one day I'll tell." I think that was just a small injustice since that is core to Annie's personality.
I honestly really liked the dichotomy between the “lost packs” and the “First Pack” and how they both have diverged so much in lifestyles from each other. It is interesting to see Justus’ perspective in being further from a more human life. It is a really nice message to not judge people by their lifestyles even if they are different from your own. In this case, women get treated far better in the last pack than in the Quarry Pack. I did really like the moments of Justus' POV where he would comment on how the women were treated poorly in other packs.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
best of the bunch
legit begging ms wells to find a new cover / title scheme, but justus was the best of all the male love interests in my opinion. immediately a big fan from the minute he and annie met, and continued to be a fan throughout.
this book answered some questions for me, but left others - like what’s up with kennedy being the blessed one, and when is she going to get her happy ending?? - but i loved the first pack, loved the use of plan b (finally!) and loved annie growing into her own.
legit begging ms wells to find a new cover / title scheme, but justus was the best of all the male love interests in my opinion. immediately a big fan from the minute he and annie met, and continued to be a fan throughout.
this book answered some questions for me, but left others - like what’s up with kennedy being the blessed one, and when is she going to get her happy ending?? - but i loved the first pack, loved the use of plan b (finally!) and loved annie growing into her own.
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My favorite in the series. Justus is adorable.