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aplace_inthesun's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
4.0
As usual I’ve gone about a series the wrong way starting with book 4, but I guess that’s an indication for you if I’m bothering to go back and was there backlist titles. I was fortunate to see this one pop up on Amazon for 99c for the kidney version for a couple of days - well worth the investment if you ask me.
Willa is a scholarship athlete but she’s dependent upon succeeding in her classes to be eligible for the scholarship. She’s failing a class and isn’t being given much help by the Professor. She’s told to borrow notes from Ryker, a quiet, aloof classmate who promptly ignores her when she approaches him to borrow the notes. Given Willa’s status around the campus she’s a bit put out the Ryker isn’t more helpful - and so commences their at odds relationship. He of course, is totally oblivious and the reader soon finds out why. They are paired up for the rest of the semester and begin to realise there may be a little more to their relationship.
Ryker is a great character who is confronting some pretty significant obstacles. He’s given up a lot and Willa is a reminder of these things. In turn, Willa’s mother is terminal - and as her only family member Willa is grappling with a future life without her mother as her champion and protector. It’s a bittersweet, and at times confronting story, without being in your face. There’s underlying themes of hardship but also strength, courage, and being grateful.
This is a great start to the series even if you read it out of order!
Willa is a scholarship athlete but she’s dependent upon succeeding in her classes to be eligible for the scholarship. She’s failing a class and isn’t being given much help by the Professor. She’s told to borrow notes from Ryker, a quiet, aloof classmate who promptly ignores her when she approaches him to borrow the notes. Given Willa’s status around the campus she’s a bit put out the Ryker isn’t more helpful - and so commences their at odds relationship. He of course, is totally oblivious and the reader soon finds out why. They are paired up for the rest of the semester and begin to realise there may be a little more to their relationship.
Ryker is a great character who is confronting some pretty significant obstacles. He’s given up a lot and Willa is a reminder of these things. In turn, Willa’s mother is terminal - and as her only family member Willa is grappling with a future life without her mother as her champion and protector. It’s a bittersweet, and at times confronting story, without being in your face. There’s underlying themes of hardship but also strength, courage, and being grateful.
This is a great start to the series even if you read it out of order!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
sofiarmz13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, War, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
decklededgess's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trigger warning: audism, meningitis leading to loss of hearing/deafness, cancer, death of parent, sexual content, alcohol, sexual content
This was such a spectacular start to the series. It's one of the few genuine hate to love/enemies to lovers I've read that has actually pulled off a short "enemies" period without compromising the trope at all.
Willa and Ryder were such spectacular leads. I loved the learning curve for both of them as they start to like each other as people but are still so confused that they're on the verge of murder every time they have a conversation. It's chefs kiss.
Aiden's meddling ass got a great intro here too because I was ready to kill him. It sets him up really well for the third book because Aiden and Freya's marriage problems bleed through a bit here too.
LOVEEEEE
This was such a spectacular start to the series. It's one of the few genuine hate to love/enemies to lovers I've read that has actually pulled off a short "enemies" period without compromising the trope at all.
Willa and Ryder were such spectacular leads. I loved the learning curve for both of them as they start to like each other as people but are still so confused that they're on the verge of murder every time they have a conversation. It's chefs kiss.
Aiden's meddling ass got a great intro here too because I was ready to kill him. It sets him up really well for the third book because Aiden and Freya's marriage problems bleed through a bit here too.
LOVEEEEE
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved the first 70% of this book. Then I hated it. Willa has all of the characteristics that I should like in in heroine, but I ended up really hating her. She is bold, brash, strong, knows what she wants for her future, brilliant, and is so emotionally stunted that in the end, she cannot function without the man (and a friend who basically manipulates her into therapy). I loved the part of the book with their frienemyship and friendship, but the minute that Rider started transitioning the couple into more relationship type territory, Willa as a character became barely tolerable to me. I loved Rider and his brazen attitudes, he was a bit of a himbo at times, but loveable the whole way through. I am very excited to read about other members of the Bergman family, but if there are any more characters like Willa I won't be able to make it through.
I do think a lot of these are my personal pet peeves and that not everyone would have these problems with her.
I do think a lot of these are my personal pet peeves and that not everyone would have these problems with her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Sexual content
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