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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
The cover is so bad. Talia, I'm begging you to re-release this book with a faceless cartoon couple eating food on a couch or something. Maybe an illustration of a small town main street with a couple in silhouette? A lot of books are doing abstract blobs on the cover these days, you could do that! SOMETHING beside a photograph of a couple embracing. The cover is so embarrassing. The title is also meaningless. You could literally give this title to any romance book ever written- it's so bad.
I only picked this up because I've already read like 5 books by Talia Hibbert and they very consistently include disability rep and masculinity without toxicity. If you liked any of the books from the Brown Sisters series, you would also like this book (although you wouldn't know it from the cover!!!!)
This is very deliberately a small town romance, which is not a trope I love. There's a baddie in town, Daniel, who is kind of mustache-twirl level bad and for some reason he apparently has a lot of cultural capital in town. Evan, our male main character is new in town and is kind of like "Why does everyone give such a shit about what this ONE dude thinks?" and honestly - same. We never really get a good answer.
If you don't like miscommunication tropes, you may not love this book. I typically find it inexcusable when grown adults seem so oblivious when it's clear one of them has romantic feelings, but given Ruth's autism, it adds up and can withstand that scrutiny. As always, Hibbert, to my neurotypical mind at least, does a nice job immersing the reader in the way an autistic person engages in communication and relationshps without being preachy or overt.
I needed a little brain candy and this fit the bill. It was a fun read - I finished it under two days.
I only picked this up because I've already read like 5 books by Talia Hibbert and they very consistently include disability rep and masculinity without toxicity. If you liked any of the books from the Brown Sisters series, you would also like this book (although you wouldn't know it from the cover!!!!)
This is very deliberately a small town romance, which is not a trope I love. There's a baddie in town, Daniel, who is kind of mustache-twirl level bad and for some reason he apparently has a lot of cultural capital in town. Evan, our male main character is new in town and is kind of like "Why does everyone give such a shit about what this ONE dude thinks?" and honestly - same. We never really get a good answer.
If you don't like miscommunication tropes, you may not love this book. I typically find it inexcusable when grown adults seem so oblivious when it's clear one of them has romantic feelings, but given Ruth's autism, it adds up and can withstand that scrutiny. As always, Hibbert, to my neurotypical mind at least, does a nice job immersing the reader in the way an autistic person engages in communication and relationshps without being preachy or overt.
I needed a little brain candy and this fit the bill. It was a fun read - I finished it under two days.
Ahhhhhh this book! Evan is wonderful and precious and God knows I like tattoos - oh, and don't think I didn't notice him talking about having sex with "people" () - but Ruth... I am head over heels in love with Ruth. I love her prickliness, her humor, her nerdiness. Her arc as she figures out how be herself in the world is so well-written, and her voice is so fantastic. By the end of the book I just wanted her to have whatever she wanted (and to know that she deserves it). One of my all-time favorite romance heroines.
There were a few minor typos throughout the book, but I completely forgive that because of the one where Evan turned into "Evans". (To understand why that made me giggle, the author says the book grew out of this tweet)
This is my first book by this author, and I am already such a fan.
Spoiler
upon reflection, this makes perfect sense, since he is basically Steve Rogers - see below - and you will never convince me that Cap is not bi/pan/queerThere were a few minor typos throughout the book, but I completely forgive that because of the one where Evan turned into "Evans". (To understand why that made me giggle, the author says the book grew out of this tweet)
This is my first book by this author, and I am already such a fan.
I'm still very much of the opinion that Talia Hibbert can do no wrong. When I need a pick-me-up romance that is sexy AF, has fully fleshed-out quirky/hilarious/weird characters, and can still tackle serious issues with gentleness and care, Hibbert never lets me down. This has lingered on my TBR for years but I read it for a reading challenge prompt this month and it was the perfect way to round off my August reading!
RTC
RTC
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
emotional
funny
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
Enjoyable romance but nothing groundbreaking or earth shattering
emotional
funny
reflective
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:
Complicated
This was a wonderful introduction to a writer whose novels keep showing up as suggested reads. Ruth is a socially awkward introvert who was not born into her town's elite social strata. Her protective sister Hanna is her greatest protector, who isn't happy about the new guy trying to steal her role. Evan has an inexplicable desire to protect Ruth. The only thing he'd like more is to understand why his reclusive neighbor brings about such intense reactions with the other people of Ravenswood.
I love this book! It was beautifully written and made me both laugh and cry. I would highly recommend reading this book if you are in a bit of a reading slump, as it is very addictive.
Trigger Warnings ⚠️ for talk if cancer, loss of a parent and past abusive relationship⚠️
Trigger Warnings ⚠️ for talk if cancer, loss of a parent and past abusive relationship⚠️