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avery_hutchinson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-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
4.25
Super spicy, great character arcs, and the BEST bonus epilogues
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Murder
neliadiedenise's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Murder, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
moendchen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Auch als stand-alone absolut überzeugend!
„Things we left behind“ ist zwar der dritte und letzte Teil einer Serie, jedoch haben die ersten zwei mich nie sonderlich gereizt und wurden somit gekonnt ignoriert. Der Abschluss hingegen wirkte zu interessant, um ihn mir entgehen zu lassen und ich bin glücklich ihm eine Chance gegeben zu haben.
Sloane ist eine sympathische und wortgewandte Frau Ende 30, die sich nach dem Tod ihres Vaters auf Ehemannsuche begibt und dabei permanent ihrem stinkreichen und verboten gut aussehenden „Erzfeind“ Lucian über den Weg läuft. Dass der Gute ihr Nachbar und Kindheitsschwarm war, ist nicht sonderlich hilfreich für ihre Gefühlslage und ihr verstaubtes Sexleben. Bis es mehr als hilfreich ist und schon geradezu zu Verbrennungen führt.
Die Dynamik der Zwei hält den Leser von Anfang bis Ende im Bann und lässt einen sowohl schmunzeln, ärgern und schwärmen und übertrifft jegliche Nebenhandlung.
Wer die ersten zwei Bänder auslassen möchte, um direkt zum Dritten überzugehen, kann dies getrost tun. Man liest sich schnell ein, bekommt ein sehr gutes Bild von der Freundesgruppe und den Hauptcharakteren der vorangehenden Bänder und der bänderübergreifenden Krimistory, die meines Erachtens stellenweise langatmig und unnötig verknotet war.
Die Autorin hat ein Talent dafür, hitzige Dialoge und Liebesszenen zu schreiben und springt geschickt zwischen POVs und Zeiten hin und her. Dennoch muss man sich auf ihren Schreibstil einlassen, da dieser öfters schon mal kitschig werden kann und einen vergessen lässt, dass die Geschichte von 40-Jährigen handelt und nicht von temperamentvollen 20-Jährigen.
„Things we left behind“ ist ein gelungener Liebesroman, wie man ihn nur noch selten liest und ich kann ihm jeden weiterempfehlen, der mal wieder Lust hat auf etwas kribbeln.
„Things we left behind“ ist zwar der dritte und letzte Teil einer Serie, jedoch haben die ersten zwei mich nie sonderlich gereizt und wurden somit gekonnt ignoriert. Der Abschluss hingegen wirkte zu interessant, um ihn mir entgehen zu lassen und ich bin glücklich ihm eine Chance gegeben zu haben.
Sloane ist eine sympathische und wortgewandte Frau Ende 30, die sich nach dem Tod ihres Vaters auf Ehemannsuche begibt und dabei permanent ihrem stinkreichen und verboten gut aussehenden „Erzfeind“ Lucian über den Weg läuft. Dass der Gute ihr Nachbar und Kindheitsschwarm war, ist nicht sonderlich hilfreich für ihre Gefühlslage und ihr verstaubtes Sexleben. Bis es mehr als hilfreich ist und schon geradezu zu Verbrennungen führt.
Die Dynamik der Zwei hält den Leser von Anfang bis Ende im Bann und lässt einen sowohl schmunzeln, ärgern und schwärmen und übertrifft jegliche Nebenhandlung.
Wer die ersten zwei Bänder auslassen möchte, um direkt zum Dritten überzugehen, kann dies getrost tun. Man liest sich schnell ein, bekommt ein sehr gutes Bild von der Freundesgruppe und den Hauptcharakteren der vorangehenden Bänder und der bänderübergreifenden Krimistory, die meines Erachtens stellenweise langatmig und unnötig verknotet war.
Die Autorin hat ein Talent dafür, hitzige Dialoge und Liebesszenen zu schreiben und springt geschickt zwischen POVs und Zeiten hin und her. Dennoch muss man sich auf ihren Schreibstil einlassen, da dieser öfters schon mal kitschig werden kann und einen vergessen lässt, dass die Geschichte von 40-Jährigen handelt und nicht von temperamentvollen 20-Jährigen.
„Things we left behind“ ist ein gelungener Liebesroman, wie man ihn nur noch selten liest und ich kann ihm jeden weiterempfehlen, der mal wieder Lust hat auf etwas kribbeln.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer
123aah456's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
My most anticipated read/release of the year and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect ending to the series and my new favourite book. I loved the first two books but the tension and torrid-pasts of Lucian and Sloane had been building for 1100 pages or so and I couldn’t wait to delve into their characters. I loved that we got some chapters set in the past (which differs from the previous two books where the mcs didn’t have a past with each other) and as usual, I loved that the chapters flitted between both mcs so you get both of their perspectives. Lucy wrote their backstory perfectly, it was heart-wrenching and felt like a valid enough reason to make them true childhood friends-to enemies-to lovers, but it didn’t make the characters irredeemable. Their history, present, and character growth in this book were incredible to read, would recommend it to everyone. Perfection!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Police brutality, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Violence, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infertility, Murder, Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Blood
coffeekitaab's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Lucian and Sloane ...and Simon Walton have my heart, ugly cried. A beautiful story and an easy 5*.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Violence
sami_leigh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
It was strange, having a secret with the boy I’d once loved and now sharing it with the man I couldn’t stand.
I should be the one sitting across the table from her. I should be the one taking her home, waking up next to her. Reading what she was reading. Yelling at the evil cat. It should be me in her life.
And for the first time in my life, I felt like the hero instead of the villain.
“Loving you has been a touchstone for more than half my life.”
🌸 First person dual POV
🌸 Enemies to lovers
🌸 Second chance / childhood friends
🌸 Both have secrets & stories behind their mutual hatred
🌸 Representation of working through trauma and anxiety associated growing up in domestic abuse
🌸 Nickname 🥹
🌸 Found family
🌸 Banter 👌🏻
🌸 Tension & spice 🥵
🌸 Small town vibes
🌸 ‘Touch her and I’ll kill you’ vibes
🌸 He. Falls. HARD.
🌸 Well established secondary characters; Knox & Daisy (Book 1), Waylay (Book 1), Nash & Lina (Book 2), Stef & Jeremiah, Emry, Maeve.
🌸 MC growth; overcoming past trauma, trust, risking a relationships & family, priorities, communication, self worth.
🌸 Epilogue
🌸 Bonus epilogue 10 years later
Available in audiobook, ebook and paperback.
⚠️ Violence (moderate), gun violence (explicit), death of a parent (past), death, blood (minor), parental abandonment, medical trauma (moderate), cancer (past, not MC), domestic abuse (past).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Cancer and Blood
lizzie_b99's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I haven't read the second title in the Knockemout series, but I definitely preferred this one to the first novel. Given their extensive history together, Sloane and Lucian's relationship seemed much more believable to me than Naomi's and Knox's (not that I don't love them, I do, the ending just seemed a bit fast given the time frame). I love Sloane/Lucian's banter and chemistry, and damn is this book steamy! I would have liked the epilogues to be a little more drawn out so that we could see a bit more of the life Sloane/Lucian build together. It felt a little rushed, like we got the precis of the main events in everyone's lives before the series was drawn to a close. Given the jump in time and the new characters who are introduced, the extended epilogue could have been a bit longer.
I do wish Score would expand upon Jeremiah and Stef's relationship and Maeve and Kurt's . I think these could potentially be turned into their own novels, which would add to the diversity of the series since as is it focuses on the relationships of straight white people. Maybe Score felt like those weren't her stories to tell, but I would've liked to see more from those characters.
My main critique is that the ending seemed a bit fast. I expected the final confrontations with Hugo to be a bit more drawn out. Some of the writing in this section leaned a little too heavily on tropes/stereotypical bad guy vs good guy dialogue than I'd like. Also, although the novel frames it in a cutesy, proof of love sort of way, Lucian's refusal to leave Sloane alone (despite her numerous objections) after the library fire made me uncomfortable. We're supposed to root for him because it's a romance novel, but if anyone acted like Lucian did in real life we'd call them a stalker and a danger to the person they "loved". I wish the other characters objected more to Lucian's behaviour at this point because refusing to give a person the space they ask for is not an expression of love.
I do wish Score would expand upon Jeremiah and Stef's relationship and Maeve and
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcoholism
one_more_chapter96's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’ve been waiting for Sloane & Lucian’s story since they were first hinted at in book 1, and this didn’t disappoint. Loved Lucian Rollins and his broody, sexy, thoughtful ways - and who couldn’t adore Sloane? I was kicking my feet, smiling, blushing & laughing (and crying!) all the way through it. A brilliant ending to the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
amandaredinger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Infertility