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ironsandwine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Would recommend
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
hexentart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Teddy is so very relatable; his openness and huge heart have caused him a world of hurt and regrets.
He gave me very ND vibes, which made me love him even more.
Cole seems to have it all, but at what cost? He exchanged the shackles of his father's expectations for ones of his own making; rules to keep him safe and allegedly happy.
Yeah, no. Shackles are shackles, my dude.
Together they have the power to help each other heal, if they would only get out of their own way first.
This book wrecked me in the best of ways. I ugly cried more than once, wishing I could reach through the pages and give them both comfort and love. Maybe a Gibb's slap in the back of the head when needed too.
I would love to see a story where Nicko gets his own HEA. That man deserves to find someone to love him as fiercely as he longs to love another.
This book isn't for everyone. Far too many readers out there looking for their cookie cutter Queer characters, predictable tropes, formulaic romance, and sex, sex, SEX.
While this has some of those elements, it's more out-of-the-box than usual and that's what makes it even better, IMO. It's about heart, hurt, and healing. Yes, there's intimate scenes but those are a bonus, not the point.
As with their YA novels, Steven Salvatore has once again delivered a book with a sucker punch of heart and soul.
I can't wait to see what they write next.
YMMV, of course. ✌🏻
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Physical abuse, Bullying, and Sexual assault
mareliweb1's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
thelibraryofamy's review
- 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
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
nickoliver's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Plus, there was still so much left unresolved at the end, and I don't understand how Salvatore couldn't take a few more pages to wrap everything up neatly.
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
moxiereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I love fake dating, I really love it! It is my favorite trope. However, I struggled with this book and that is a bummer to me because I really wanted to love it! I thought Teddy and Cole had hilarious, charming moments, but I couldn't believe how long this book felt. It is 288 pages, the first 30% covers their one-night stand, and then it still felt long?! I struggled with the pacing and the rotating POVs- my ARC didn't list out their names sometimes so I would have to go back and read once I realized, 'wait, the POVs switched!'
I will give the author another try to in the future, but this one wasn't my favorite <insert sad girl tears here>
Graphic: Classism and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content