Reviews

With Her Own Two Hands by Tasha L. Harrison

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bookedwithlex's review against another edition

2.5

please note that I listened to this book instead of reading it and it's not the best option in my opinion. the first book was such a good one and the narrators were lacking enthusiasm.

i really enjoyed the bipolar rep but that's all about i can think of about liking it. there were too many sex scenes for no reason?

serareadthat's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.5

brandece1's review against another edition

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3.0

With Her Own Two Hands was the book in the series that I was most excited for and sadly it was my least favorite. I liked so much about this book, but in the end there was A LOT going on (mostly on the MMC's end). I loved and appreciated the conversations on mental health, but there were times I was irritated with Julian due to him not really listening to Aggie. At times it felt very much like "my love will heal you" and I didn't care for that. I loved Aggie as the FMC, she is a character that I have loved since the first book. I wanted to love Julian and there were things I did really like about him, but he was a no for me as a whole. Honestly he had too much going on. I did love being back in the world the author created, and I was excited to see Aggie finally get her HEA. I will say like the other ones it was instalovey, and I wish there was more of an epilogue, but I'm hoping for more in the small town. As a whole I have been recommending this series and I will continue to recommend it.

lani_loves's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful 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

scrow1022's review

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4.0

Felt the angsting went on a little long (and for me also the specifics of crystals/Tarot), but I liked the approach to mental illness and past trauma, especially the inclusion of family dynamics and how they needed to change as Agostina was changing her own self-care. Really liked the characters and wanted to see them succeed.

oxtailandcabbage's review

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5.0

This is one of the best Romance books I've read in a long time. I am grateful for the author,for her ability to bring these characters to life and their stories. I love the gentleness,compassion that exist in this story between black lovers. I loved how mental health was addressed, family history, culture, men who are survivors of statutory rape, therapy in the black community, black joy. This book is steamy, sexy, funny. I will pass this book down to people I love. I feel privileged to have been able to read it. Highly recommend

karyssa223's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cleches's review against another edition

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hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

cakt1991's review

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emotional reflective 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

5.0

With Her Own Two Hands has sat on my TBR for almost a year, and while that’s not extraordinary for me, it is a big regret, given how much I enjoyed the series thus far. But it all worked out, as I recalled mention of tarot in Tasha L. Harrison’s promo tweets for the book, and I was on the hunt for a book with tarot or astrology for my “spooky” romance bingo.

And this just may be the best in the series yet. Both leads are multilayered and have serious issues to navigate. Agostina, nicknamed Aggie, the third of the Malone sisters at the center of this trilogy, deals with bipolar disorder, which can manifest in hypomania. I love how her various forms of therapy, both professional and self-imposed, are explored, and her arc is really about her constant battle every day to live her life and manage her demons. It’s a common (although slowly fading) stereotype that love is the cure-all, even for mental illness health issues, and I love the way the narrative pushes back against this, while also exploring how Aggie grows to become more open to the possibility of romantic love.

As for Julian, I love how his romantic past explores the true complexity of romantic relationships. He broke up with his former girlfriend, Yves, in spite of them both still having feelings for each other, due to the fact that she wanted to be in a polyamorous relationship, while he wasn’t into that. I love how it explores these complex issues without demonizing anyone, and even Aggie can see things from Yves’ perspective.

While I haven’t read many of Harrison’s books, and definitely none in a while, I love how she is able to balance the intense physical intimacy with a deeper emotional connection. There’s a sense of the developing connection between them and the elevating stakes for each of them.

The supporting cast is also top-notch. My interest was piqued when I saw that Yves was actually the focus of an older series Harrison wrote…will almost definitely have to pick that one up. And while this book can stand alone, I love how seamlessly and subtly it calls back to the other two. Aggie’s relationships with her sisters Soni and Birdie are so wonderful. It’s also fun to see how things are going for Soni and Birdie’s respective romances, including a cheeky remark about Saxon “still working his way off the Malone Sisters shit list.” (35) I had mixed feelings about him in particular upon finishing his book, but it’s a great example of how Harrison can execute a believable HEA for a flawed couple.

This book had me feeling all the feels, and I was satisfied to see these two broken people find their way to happiness with each other, scars and all. While the content means that this book might not work for everyone, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a romance that sensitively deals with mental illness.

Content Warnings

thefatpaperback's review

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

5.0

Content Warnings

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