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solacelight's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's missing some little spark, an emotional release of some kind, that keeps this book from being perfect. Would have loved to dive a little more into Naomi's family life as well. Otherwise, SO GOOD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Classism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Murder, and Incest
Emotional Incest from the mom. Reference to luau themed nights.entanglednovels's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. You Deserve Each Other deserves all the praise it gets. And I definitely don't hate Nicholas.
Trying to pinpoint a word to describe how this book made me feel is so difficult since there were so many emotions I felt during it. The closest I can come to I think is satisfaction. But it feels like so much more than that. Like watching double planets that have been knocked out of their orbit come back to each other. Their orbit isn't quite the same, and neither are they, but the gravitational pull is stronger than ever.
The journey that Nicholas and Naomi go on throughout this book is quite astronomical. It almost doesn't feel doable as you're reading it, but it is. I'm still finding it difficult to reconcile the Nicholas from the start of the book with the Nicholas from the end. Because they are like two completely different people. I think what makes it possible is that the growth is actually there. You can actually track it on each page in both characters. Yes, there are a few things I wish it had shown them discussing more, but we can assume not everything is brought to the table - or page, I guess.
It's also important that our MC, Naomi, isn't necessarily a likeable character. In fact, there are quite a few things she does that are not kind or things I agree with (although some take place before the book and are recalled). But to see her acknowledgement on the page, of how she hasn't been a supportive, loving partner either is so important. Realizing that in the same way Nicholas has been failing her, Naomi had been failing him. Now, trust me, I understand that there's only so much you can provide to a relationship that isn't reciprocated. There has to be support and give on both sides. Sometimes without the expectation of receiving back. Watching Naomi come to this realization was a breathe of fresh air, and her growth is amazing. I've found the lack of growth in the MC of some romance books is what doesn't give me that full satisfaction in reading. A lot of them are all about how the love interest needs to grow and adapt, and the MC is left waning and a little bit behind. Not Naomi.
I haven't genuinely laughed at a book like this in a long time. It's definitely not everyone's sense of humour, but some of it was brilliant. Despite some of the not nice things Naomi says, she is an absolute star when it comes to destroying Deborah, Nicholas's mother (who rightfully deserves to be destroyed). I'm not sure I've ever loathed a character in a romance book as much as I did Deborah. God, just thinking about her makes me angry. She is the embodiment of that white woman gif freaking out at the window and ripping down the curtains. Like for the ever loving FUCK Deborah, you don't need to be involved in every aspect of your adult son's life. Please, get your own goddamn life. She deserves every bit of the vitriolic responses Nicholas and Naomi give her.
Deborah aside, I've found a new favourite and I'm so excited to see what else Sarah Hogle writes. It'll be hard to live up to the spot Nicholas and Naomi now hold in my heart.
Trying to pinpoint a word to describe how this book made me feel is so difficult since there were so many emotions I felt during it. The closest I can come to I think is satisfaction. But it feels like so much more than that. Like watching double planets that have been knocked out of their orbit come back to each other. Their orbit isn't quite the same, and neither are they, but the gravitational pull is stronger than ever.
The journey that Nicholas and Naomi go on throughout this book is quite astronomical. It almost doesn't feel doable as you're reading it, but it is. I'm still finding it difficult to reconcile the Nicholas from the start of the book with the Nicholas from the end. Because they are like two completely different people. I think what makes it possible is that the growth is actually there. You can actually track it on each page in both characters. Yes, there are a few things I wish it had shown them discussing more, but we can assume not everything is brought to the table - or page, I guess.
It's also important that our MC, Naomi, isn't necessarily a likeable character. In fact, there are quite a few things she does that are not kind or things I agree with (although some take place before the book and are recalled). But to see her acknowledgement on the page, of how she hasn't been a supportive, loving partner either is so important. Realizing that in the same way Nicholas has been failing her, Naomi had been failing him. Now, trust me, I understand that there's only so much you can provide to a relationship that isn't reciprocated. There has to be support and give on both sides. Sometimes without the expectation of receiving back. Watching Naomi come to this realization was a breathe of fresh air, and her growth is amazing. I've found the lack of growth in the MC of some romance books is what doesn't give me that full satisfaction in reading. A lot of them are all about how the love interest needs to grow and adapt, and the MC is left waning and a little bit behind. Not Naomi.
I haven't genuinely laughed at a book like this in a long time. It's definitely not everyone's sense of humour, but some of it was brilliant. Despite some of the not nice things Naomi says, she is an absolute star when it comes to destroying Deborah, Nicholas's mother (who rightfully deserves to be destroyed). I'm not sure I've ever loathed a character in a romance book as much as I did Deborah. God, just thinking about her makes me angry. She is the embodiment of that white woman gif freaking out at the window and ripping down the curtains. Like for the ever loving FUCK Deborah, you don't need to be involved in every aspect of your adult son's life. Please, get your own goddamn life. She deserves every bit of the vitriolic responses Nicholas and Naomi give her.
Deborah aside, I've found a new favourite and I'm so excited to see what else Sarah Hogle writes. It'll be hard to live up to the spot Nicholas and Naomi now hold in my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming and Cursing
Minor: Infertility, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
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