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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
This book is super sweet. Ashley and Madigan are both looking for well deserved fresh starts. They are actual adults(which drew me to this book in the first place) and are working through lots of things, including communication. I have recently started a few romances to immediately put back down because of too young/ immature characters. I really love all the baggage and experience these two bring. The spicy scenes also felt real and were quite fun.
I love the side characters, Ashley’s mom and daughter and the men from Madigan’s sober living home are all flawed and beautiful. I felt the storyline not focused on the romance was a bit silly and just served to provide drama but overall I enjoyed this story.
Also, are there still people who make mix-tapes and where can I find one??
ARC provided by NetGalley (thanks!) review happily given and written by me.
I love the side characters, Ashley’s mom and daughter and the men from Madigan’s sober living home are all flawed and beautiful. I felt the storyline not focused on the romance was a bit silly and just served to provide drama but overall I enjoyed this story.
Also, are there still people who make mix-tapes and where can I find one??
ARC provided by NetGalley (thanks!) review happily given and written by me.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just such a warm hug of a book with extremely believable characters and excellent relationship building and tension. Steamy, sweet, real. UGHHHHH SO GOOOODDDD
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Abandonment
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Death of parent
"His smile was unfairly genuine, like Mr. Rogers grew a beard, took a bunch of steroids, and spent six months covering his body in ink."
Writing a review for Come As You Are is harder than I thought it would be because I want to talk about EVERYTHING but don't want to spoil it. It's possibly my favorite book of the year for various reasons, first of which is the man referenced in the quote above.
Matthew "Mad" Madigan was everything you could ask for in a hero. He's older, in tune with his feelings, takes care of himself, takes care of his woman, and has a true heart of gold.
Other men may say they love you, but Madigan says, “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. I’ve never felt like this with anyone before. I don’t understand how I even lived before I met you, like my world was in black and white until you showed me color, and now everything just… glows.”
He's so brutally honest with himself and Ashley. He's a former rockstar who partied hard and played the field harder. Even though he's basically a monk now, those days still haunt him, and the way he expresses that to Ashley will make your heart bleed for him.
Ashley herself was amazing. I'm almost 40, and it was so refreshing to read about a heroine who's had a kid and lived half her life already. She has scars, a terrible ex, and a chip on her shoulder. Every time she felt insecure about her body, I felt that!
“I am not a food item!” Madigan cried. “I am a human being.”
Come As You Are was perfect for late 80s/early 90s kids. It was hilarious, heart-felt, and spicy enough that your Kindle may overheat, so be prepared! It also perfectly captures what it's like to be an addict. (Almost four years sober over here!)
I'll be fangirling over this book for a while. I hope you all find yourself a Mad Madigan who is willing to cuddle you all night and make you a mixtape just to see you smile.
Writing a review for Come As You Are is harder than I thought it would be because I want to talk about EVERYTHING but don't want to spoil it. It's possibly my favorite book of the year for various reasons, first of which is the man referenced in the quote above.
Matthew "Mad" Madigan was everything you could ask for in a hero. He's older, in tune with his feelings, takes care of himself, takes care of his woman, and has a true heart of gold.
Other men may say they love you, but Madigan says, “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. I’ve never felt like this with anyone before. I don’t understand how I even lived before I met you, like my world was in black and white until you showed me color, and now everything just… glows.”
He's so brutally honest with himself and Ashley. He's a former rockstar who partied hard and played the field harder. Even though he's basically a monk now, those days still haunt him, and the way he expresses that to Ashley will make your heart bleed for him.
Ashley herself was amazing. I'm almost 40, and it was so refreshing to read about a heroine who's had a kid and lived half her life already. She has scars, a terrible ex, and a chip on her shoulder. Every time she felt insecure about her body, I felt that!
“I am not a food item!” Madigan cried. “I am a human being.”
Come As You Are was perfect for late 80s/early 90s kids. It was hilarious, heart-felt, and spicy enough that your Kindle may overheat, so be prepared! It also perfectly captures what it's like to be an addict. (Almost four years sober over here!)
I'll be fangirling over this book for a while. I hope you all find yourself a Mad Madigan who is willing to cuddle you all night and make you a mixtape just to see you smile.
It's so nice to see a book with older characters! This was such a cute, semi-steamy romance! I also enjoyed that it was slow burn. The chemistry between Madigan and Ashley was delicious! It got a bit rushed at the end but even with that it was wonderful. I can't wait to read more by Jess K. Hardy!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
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:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No