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alex_bousquet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It read like a YA book with some added sex scenes. Everyone says this book made them sob but maybe I'm cold as ice because at no point did I cry. I felt bad for what archer went through as a child yes, and bree witnessing her father's death. Insta-love trope. And the ending was so cliche and predictable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Medical trauma, Ableism, Death, Grief, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Violence
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Drug abuse, Murder, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
lindsaymck's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
This book is rare in the way it blends romance and mystery.
Bree’s connection to and desire to understand and love Archer is contagious and I credit that to powerful storytelling. The truths behind both Archer and Bree’s traumas are sprinkled throughout the book, but in a way that makes SO much sense. It is as if the reader is being told these painful stories as we gain the trust of the people sharing them. We learn of Bree’s experiences sooner because she is further along on her path to healing and she is able to support Archer in gradually revealing what happened to him and how it forever changed his life.
Archer experiencing new things for the first time (and Bree’s perspective about how honored and hungry she is for those “firsts”) is really original and incomparable to any other relationship I’ve read about. The way we see these “firsts” and the other pivotal moments of their relationship through both POVs is what I wish every author would do!
Two parts in particular will stay with me long after I close this book. The first:
“Bad things don’t happen to people because they deserve for them to happen. It just doesn’t work that way. It’s just… life. And no matter who we are, we have to take the hand we’re dealt, crappy though it may be, and try our very best to move forward anyway, to love anyway, to have hope anyway… to have faith that there’s a purpose to the journey we’re on. And try to believe that maybe more light shines out of those who have the most cracks.”
The second is when Bree shares with Archer how her mom’s embroidery helped give her perspective when life becomes chaotic.
“Sometimes I think of those little pieces of fabric whenever life feels messy and difficult to understand. I try to close my eyes and believe that even though I can’t see the other side right then, and the side I’m looking at is ugly and muddled, there’s a masterpiece that’s being woven out of all the knots and loose strings. I try to believe that something beautiful can result from something ugly, and that there will come a time when I’ll get to see what that is.”
This book is special and one that I know I will think about. The use of sign language and the author showing the difference between speech and sign by italicizing the signing was something I really appreciated and enjoyed. The ending was a TRIP, but no spoilers!
Bree’s connection to and desire to understand and love Archer is contagious and I credit that to powerful storytelling. The truths behind both Archer and Bree’s traumas are sprinkled throughout the book, but in a way that makes SO much sense. It is as if the reader is being told these painful stories as we gain the trust of the people sharing them. We learn of Bree’s experiences sooner because she is further along on her path to healing and she is able to support Archer in gradually revealing what happened to him and how it forever changed his life.
Archer experiencing new things for the first time (and Bree’s perspective about how honored and hungry she is for those “firsts”) is really original and incomparable to any other relationship I’ve read about. The way we see these “firsts” and the other pivotal moments of their relationship through both POVs is what I wish every author would do!
Two parts in particular will stay with me long after I close this book. The first:
“Bad things don’t happen to people because they deserve for them to happen. It just doesn’t work that way. It’s just… life. And no matter who we are, we have to take the hand we’re dealt, crappy though it may be, and try our very best to move forward anyway, to love anyway, to have hope anyway… to have faith that there’s a purpose to the journey we’re on. And try to believe that maybe more light shines out of those who have the most cracks.”
The second is when Bree shares with Archer how her mom’s embroidery helped give her perspective when life becomes chaotic.
“Sometimes I think of those little pieces of fabric whenever life feels messy and difficult to understand. I try to close my eyes and believe that even though I can’t see the other side right then, and the side I’m looking at is ugly and muddled, there’s a masterpiece that’s being woven out of all the knots and loose strings. I try to believe that something beautiful can result from something ugly, and that there will come a time when I’ll get to see what that is.”
This book is special and one that I know I will think about. The use of sign language and the author showing the difference between speech and sign by italicizing the signing was something I really appreciated and enjoyed. The ending was a TRIP, but no spoilers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gore and Grief
Minor: Rape and Alcoholism
agreen1727's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had higher hopes for this one as it’s recommended constantly. I gave it 4 stars so I definitely didn’t hate it but I sure didn’t LOVE it either. It’s a unique story but I felt like there are some gaps. Why couldn’t Archer get the surgery to fix his voice when he got older? There was a lot that felt like foreshadowing during the story but it ended up just being the way the author was writing. There were a couple of phrases that were overused throughout and the repetition bothered me sometimes. Otherwise it was cute and unique, just not sure why so many people are in LOVE with the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcoholism, Car accident, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Death of parent
thechaoticreader_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
antidietleah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing
skyfullofstarzz's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Loved it especially the very angsty and emotional dialogues but also the fact, that the two main charcters actually communicated with each other
Gotta admit it was to much smut for my liking, but that's just a personal thing because I picked this book up for the angst
Also quite some comments about "male scent", "male instincts", etc..so if you ont't like that and can't ignore it mybe not the best choice for you
Gotta admit it was to much smut for my liking, but that's just a personal thing because I picked this book up for the angst
Also quite some comments about "male scent", "male instincts", etc..so if you ont't like that and can't ignore it mybe not the best choice for you
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Ableism, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Minor: Vomit
lyndsmarie321's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars** As advertised, this is one of the top 100 romances on Goodreads. Yes, it was a page-turner. Yes, it kept my interest and felt like a wholehearted ending to a love story. And there were some steamy scenes. But the characters were frustrating at times & sometimes I felt like saying "coulda warned ya!"
And one last thing: why (WHY!) does every single chapter have to mention Bree getting a shower (either alone or with Archer)?! She comes home from work and showers. She showers before going to Archer's. She showers when she's sad & when she's happy. It's great to know Bree is always clean & follows basic human showering routines but why must it be mentioned in EVERY.DAMN.CHAPTER?!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, and Grief
mo_nyx's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
- 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
4.5
I went into this book without any details. I'm glad I did.
Watching Archer and Bree fall in love was beautiful. Seeing them face their own trauma was heartbreaking.
The story is so tender, and I love both of them so much.
Watching Archer and Bree fall in love was beautiful. Seeing them face their own trauma was heartbreaking.
The story is so tender, and I love both of them so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Violence, and Car accident
eafitzmaurice's review
5.0
I loved this book. Bree’s love and patience with Archer is what I believe love should be. She truly embodied the aspect that love and relationships are teamwork. I also loved that Archer stepped away to grow. He recognized that he couldn’t lean on Bree to become who he needed to be and that was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Murder, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Car accident