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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Reclusive autistic heroine (Ruth) is the scandal of her small town for sleeping around a lot but no one knows that before that she was in an emotionally abusive relationship with the town's golden boy. The hero, Evan, is new to town and turns out to be neighbours with Ruth and they gradually become friends when he starts cooking her dinner every night. I guess technically a slow burn but not really, they spend a lot of time together and the romantic/sexual interest is kind of acknowledged from the start of their friendship, it's more that Evan is careful of Ruth because he's protective and knows she's been hurt in the past. However, for all that, Ruth is not treated as a damaged damsel and when the sex comes she is very much the instigator and an active participant. It's great.
Looooove this book. One of the first 'proper' novels of Talia's that I remember reading and the first time I'd read a romance with an autistic herione. I really enjoyed it, both the MCs are very cute and endearing and soft hearted and I love that none of the conflict really comes from either of them, it's outside beefs. Basically from day one the hero just hearts her a lot but also *respects* her. It's just very cute and wholesome but also sexy, Talia is the number one at writing sexy nice guys and it actually hurts?
Looooove this book. One of the first 'proper' novels of Talia's that I remember reading and the first time I'd read a romance with an autistic herione. I really enjoyed it, both the MCs are very cute and endearing and soft hearted and I love that none of the conflict really comes from either of them, it's outside beefs. Basically from day one the hero just hearts her a lot but also *respects* her. It's just very cute and wholesome but also sexy, Talia is the number one at writing sexy nice guys and it actually hurts?
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Fantastic representation of a woman with autism and a man who supports and empowers her to find her voice again!
emotional
hopeful
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
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
I loved this. Ruth has my heart and Evan is an actual treasure.
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
Love Talia Hibbert books and this romance is no different! I love the representation of an autistic female lead. Seriously this was so cute. If you liked Get a Life Chloe Brown, you’ll like this one too!
This was perfect!
Talia Hibbert does it again and again. All of her books are so great. Ruth and Evan's relationship is perfect and wonderful and everything! These characters were so well written. I loved that there was representation all through this book. With Ruth and her family being black and Ruth having autism and the way Talia described everything from her perspective was just *chef's kiss* And the steamy scenes were so good. Like listen I will def being read this book again.
Talia Hibbert does it again and again. All of her books are so great. Ruth and Evan's relationship is perfect and wonderful and everything! These characters were so well written. I loved that there was representation all through this book. With Ruth and her family being black and Ruth having autism and the way Talia described everything from her perspective was just *chef's kiss* And the steamy scenes were so good. Like listen I will def being read this book again.
What a delicious treat of a book! I absolutely adored it, from beginning to finish. If it wasn’t for the fact I have a job and needed sleep, I think I easily would have devoured it in one sitting. Talia Hibbert’s writing is so gorgeous and lovely; there’s some wonderful descriptive writing, one-liners, funny bits...It’s just so good. There’s a description about the sky in Somalia that’s lovely, and a line that stuck with me was: “It wasn’t a solution, but then, Ruth wasn’t a problem”. It's also very, very easy to read. It’s well-paced, there are no slow moments, and the story develops nicely.
I loved Ruth. I loved everything about her, from her prickliness to her love of comic books, and her story was told so well. I enjoyed watching her change over the course of the book as she slowly opened up to Evan and began to stop punishing herself. I also empathised so much with her character on a few different levels. I loved the fact she wore pyjamas pretty much constantly (including having a pair of best pyjamas to impress Evan).
I also loved Evan. Evan! I think I spend so much time reading books with alpha type characters that I expect I won’t like someone who is very much not that stereotype, but Evan...Evan was lovely. I wish more romance men were like him. He’s so caring and sweet and respectful and loving, and I loved how he takes the time to get to know Ruth properly.
The development of their relationship was great and a real joy to read. They had so much chemistry and I liked that they both wanted to care for each other. The sex scenes were so hot, but were also so sweet, and realistic - I loved the parts of him wanting to learn her body and to learn what she liked. Their scenes were so touching and sensitively done. Also - she gave him a tulip! I loved it. Their relationship was easily one of my favourites I’ve read in such a long time.
It should also be said that the backstory - Ruth’s backstory - is particularly well-done. The subject is difficult, but is handled very sensitively and comes to a satisfying conclusion. Similarly, Finally - there was a plot twist to it that I didn’t see coming, so that was great, too.
On a separate note - I thought Evan’s backstory was very touching and emotional, especially combined with the side plot of Zach’s. It was very sad, but well-done. I also found I liked that
I would recommend it if you want a hot, sweet romance with a lot of chemistry, some funny bits and some angst.
Content Warnings:
I loved Ruth. I loved everything about her, from her prickliness to her love of comic books, and her story was told so well. I enjoyed watching her change over the course of the book as she slowly opened up to Evan and began to stop punishing herself. I also empathised so much with her character on a few different levels. I loved the fact she wore pyjamas pretty much constantly (including having a pair of best pyjamas to impress Evan).
I also loved Evan. Evan! I think I spend so much time reading books with alpha type characters that I expect I won’t like someone who is very much not that stereotype, but Evan...Evan was lovely. I wish more romance men were like him. He’s so caring and sweet and respectful and loving, and I loved how he takes the time to get to know Ruth properly.
The development of their relationship was great and a real joy to read. They had so much chemistry and I liked that they both wanted to care for each other. The sex scenes were so hot, but were also so sweet, and realistic - I loved the parts of him wanting to learn her body and to learn what she liked. Their scenes were so touching and sensitively done. Also - she gave him a tulip! I loved it. Their relationship was easily one of my favourites I’ve read in such a long time.
It should also be said that the backstory - Ruth’s backstory - is particularly well-done. The subject is difficult, but is handled very sensitively and comes to a satisfying conclusion.
Spoiler
I also appreciated the decision to have Daniel’s father apologise - even if his actions cannot be excused, I liked the decision to have his father understand the damage his son had caused. I haven’t really seen that done much in stories like this.Spoiler
I really liked that Ruth handled the situation herself at the end, and that Evan never really blew up at Daniel. It worked really well.On a separate note - I thought Evan’s backstory was very touching and emotional, especially combined with the side plot of Zach’s. It was very sad, but well-done. I also found I liked that
Spoiler
there was no real scene where he tells her everything. Sometimes, I think it’s nice to see a book where his story is what it is, rather than a grand secret to be revealed after an argument or something similar. It was what it was: Evan tragically lost his mother, and that was a part of his life, rather an a mystery to be unpacked.I would recommend it if you want a hot, sweet romance with a lot of chemistry, some funny bits and some angst.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
Intimate partner violence (sexual, emotional, verbal), cancer, ableist language.
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
No