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now_booking's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I love romances featuring older couples kind of having a second chance at love and this is a great example. Here, Vance is freshly out of jail (for an act of rage defending his daughter), when he meets Jennifer, a divorcee just recovering from a toxic and abusive marriage and just finding herself. Sparks instantly fly and it’s love at first sight between the two.
I enjoyed the characters and their unique pasts and backgrounds which are seasoned by the fact that they’re in their late 40s/early 50s and have lived through a lot of traumatic life experiences. I enjoyed the secondary characters and their various dramas as well. I would have loved to know a little more about what went on with Meena and Tyrone and even Tyrone’s parents because there was more story there. But even dealing with Vance’s anger issues and Jennifer’s self-esteem made for an interesting and emotional read. I liked how much respect the characters had for each other and how they took responsibility for their mistakes and were good communicators. I would overall rate this about 3.5 stars because as much emotion as it had, I felt the relationship was a little rushed and I think some of the issues around their emotions were dealt with a little to quickly and things were a little too par and convenient. On the one hand, I liked how dramas were not left to linger. On the other hand, I feel like this could have felt more realistic at times- everything was too easy and surface level at times, and in a book like this, there was a lot of scope for more depth. There was also some toxic masculinity embedded in this, for example, the attitude towards Tyrone’s vibe. The endless “Kinging” and “Queening” also kind of put me off- I found it a little excessive, for my tastes.
Yet despite these few niggles, I really enjoyed this, and thought it was a great story overall and an enjoyable read. I recommend it as an emotional yet sexy and light-ish read. Trigger warnings for assault, violence, domestic abuse, harassment and a full list which can be found below.
I enjoyed the characters and their unique pasts and backgrounds which are seasoned by the fact that they’re in their late 40s/early 50s and have lived through a lot of traumatic life experiences. I enjoyed the secondary characters and their various dramas as well. I would have loved to know a little more about what went on with Meena and Tyrone and even Tyrone’s parents because there was more story there. But even dealing with Vance’s anger issues and Jennifer’s self-esteem made for an interesting and emotional read. I liked how much respect the characters had for each other and how they took responsibility for their mistakes and were good communicators. I would overall rate this about 3.5 stars because as much emotion as it had, I felt the relationship was a little rushed and I think some of the issues around their emotions were dealt with a little to quickly and things were a little too par and convenient. On the one hand, I liked how dramas were not left to linger. On the other hand, I feel like this could have felt more realistic at times- everything was too easy and surface level at times, and in a book like this, there was a lot of scope for more depth. There was also some toxic masculinity embedded in this, for example, the attitude towards Tyrone’s vibe. The endless “Kinging” and “Queening” also kind of put me off- I found it a little excessive, for my tastes.
Yet despite these few niggles, I really enjoyed this, and thought it was a great story overall and an enjoyable read. I recommend it as an emotional yet sexy and light-ish read. Trigger warnings for assault, violence, domestic abuse, harassment and a full list which can be found below.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Bullying, Addiction, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abandonment and Gun violence
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