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beba_marie's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Domestic abuse
folkofthebook's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
And sometimes, that’s all it takes—one person who’s willing to listen to your heart, to the sound no one else has ever tried to hear.
i was in the mood for something romantic, a little dramatic and angsty, with some classic small town vibes, and this delivered.
archer and bree were very sweet. they were patient with each other's needs, were able to bond & comfort each other through their traumas, and seemed to be in sync (for the most part). archer managed to make me chuckle occasionally as well. most of the family drama was a bit predictable for me but still enjoyable. i didn't go in with super high expectations and this gave me what i expected for a contemp/dramatic romance.
It suddenly occurred to me that Archer Hale had taught himself an entire language, but hadn’t had a single person to talk to. Until me.
Loving another person always means opening yourself up for hurt. I don’t want to lose more than I already have, either, but isn’t it worth it? Isn’t it worth giving it a chance?
She asked me the sign for love and I spelled out your name.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, and Car accident
Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
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
ellie_girl2929's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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? Yes
5.0
This is my new favorite book. The amount of times I laughed, my jaw dropped, and I sobbed. I never cried this much from a book. It was perfect<33
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual assault, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse
elisa_atkins's review
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Gun violence
brandie_abbie19's review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Sexual content, and Murder
paperbacksandsnacks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Oh my goodness. This book was BEAUTIFUL.
It was so tragic but as with most tragic things there was such beauty within it. The characters were so well fleshed out. Archers back story… every time they flashed back I was crying. Honestly I was crying for a lot of the book.. I think the message of this book about how everyone needs a friend and to give people a chance is such an important one. Archer is mute but people have isolated him his whole life and thought he was a freak just for being different. All that resulted in was a loss on their side because they didn’t get to know such a smart and determined person. His character progression was gorgeous and done so well. The innocence that Archer has is portrayed wonderfully. As a man who has grown up in one house without interacting with anyone but his uncle he has a lot to learn and figure out. And Mia wrote that exploration incredibly.
And then we have Bree. A girl looking for a distraction who ends up finding a home. The things she does for Archer and the way she brings him out of his shell, honestly what a human. Especially as she’s also in the process of trying to rediscover and heal after her own traumatic event.
The supporting, older members of town were also so fun to read about. The way both Archer and Bree came together with their mutual trauma and lack of family was so sad but also they were able to utilise all they’d been through to help each other. I’ve never met a book with so much trauma and heartache, that was also filled with such love and unwavering support.
This book was way more than romance. There was big family drama and mysteries, friendship. Small town drama. And a lot of beautiful lessons. The writing was stunning and honestly, I started this book before bed. It’s currently 4.15am and I am writing this review after reading the book in one very sleepless sitting. I could not put it down. Pacing isn’t even fast. But it’s just addictive and gripping. I was laying in bed sobbing. I loved it. And truly that’s the best thing I can say about it. Fate is a beautiful thing, and I think we could all stand to believe in it a little more.
BRB. I’m going to go and wish on a dandelion.
It was so tragic but as with most tragic things there was such beauty within it. The characters were so well fleshed out. Archers back story… every time they flashed back I was crying. Honestly I was crying for a lot of the book.. I think the message of this book about how everyone needs a friend and to give people a chance is such an important one. Archer is mute but people have isolated him his whole life and thought he was a freak just for being different. All that resulted in was a loss on their side because they didn’t get to know such a smart and determined person. His character progression was gorgeous and done so well. The innocence that Archer has is portrayed wonderfully. As a man who has grown up in one house without interacting with anyone but his uncle he has a lot to learn and figure out. And Mia wrote that exploration incredibly.
And then we have Bree. A girl looking for a distraction who ends up finding a home. The things she does for Archer and the way she brings him out of his shell, honestly what a human. Especially as she’s also in the process of trying to rediscover and heal after her own traumatic event.
The supporting, older members of town were also so fun to read about. The way both Archer and Bree came together with their mutual trauma and lack of family was so sad but also they were able to utilise all they’d been through to help each other. I’ve never met a book with so much trauma and heartache, that was also filled with such love and unwavering support.
This book was way more than romance. There was big family drama and mysteries, friendship. Small town drama. And a lot of beautiful lessons. The writing was stunning and honestly, I started this book before bed. It’s currently 4.15am and I am writing this review after reading the book in one very sleepless sitting. I could not put it down. Pacing isn’t even fast. But it’s just addictive and gripping. I was laying in bed sobbing. I loved it. And truly that’s the best thing I can say about it. Fate is a beautiful thing, and I think we could all stand to believe in it a little more.
BRB. I’m going to go and wish on a dandelion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Car accident, Gun violence, Rape, Medical content, and Sexual content
josoko's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, and Cancer
Minor: Drug abuse