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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC to read and review.
Tropes/Themes: Self-Reflection and Self- Acceptance, Gender Identity, Friendship
CW: Transphobia, Alcoholism, Racism, Abortion, Health Issues
I will start by saying I was scared to read this because it is WHOLEY outside my usual genre's, but I really enjoyed the story. It was gritty and relatable, and I enjoyed the growth of the characters throughout the book.
I enjoyed reading the family dynamics and how complex they were. The scene with Max and her dad was heartwarming. I also liked the discussion of the expectation for women to have children, and how a lot of times we are removed from the conversation. That came up a few times, and it is an important point because some people just assume everyone wants a kid at some point in their life or ask questions that aren't any of their business.
I really did not like Vincent's friend but I did enjoy the dual timeline POV with him reflecting on his behavior in the past.
I did the audio of the book and I highly recommend. If you enjoy stories of self exploration and the complexities of relationships I would suggest this one.
Tropes/Themes: Self-Reflection and Self- Acceptance, Gender Identity, Friendship
CW: Transphobia, Alcoholism, Racism, Abortion, Health Issues
I will start by saying I was scared to read this because it is WHOLEY outside my usual genre's, but I really enjoyed the story. It was gritty and relatable, and I enjoyed the growth of the characters throughout the book.
I enjoyed reading the family dynamics and how complex they were. The scene with Max and her dad was heartwarming. I also liked the discussion of the expectation for women to have children, and how a lot of times we are removed from the conversation. That came up a few times, and it is an important point because some people just assume everyone wants a kid at some point in their life or ask questions that aren't any of their business.
I really did not like Vincent's friend but I did enjoy the dual timeline POV with him reflecting on his behavior in the past.
I did the audio of the book and I highly recommend. If you enjoy stories of self exploration and the complexities of relationships I would suggest this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, Abortion
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am really going to read everything Nicola Dinan writes! Her characters are so compelling, and I just wanted to keep reading.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-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
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
emotional
reflective
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
I suppose intellectualizing our experiences is just another way to depersonalize them, strip them of pain we would otherwise feel and replace it with pain we can merely think about.
Fantastic character exploration and nuanced relationship dynamics that kept me turning the pages.
i think i just do not vibe with this author & that is okay
Some books require a slow burn before they fully captivate, but from the fourth chapter onward, I was thoroughly engrossed. The dual perspective between Max and Vincent is executed with remarkable fluidity, allowing the narrative to seamlessly shift between their points of view without disrupting the flow. I found myself deeply engaged in both perspectives, never once feeling detached or disinterested. The author excels in illustrating the subtle dynamics of human interaction, deftly highlighting the impact of casual, often careless conversation and the pervasive, intrusive thoughts that continually shape our inner lives.
“You can fall in love with an outline, you can even make a home with one, but there will come a time when you can’t deny the bones their flesh. No person is fewer than two things.”
What starts as a thin framework of emotional connection must inevitably confront the messy, human layers beneath. The characters can no longer remain content with the outline—they must reckon with their pasts, their insecurities, and the parts of themselves they would rather not face. Dinan beautifully shows how love, in its truest form, requires more than surface-level affection—it demands vulnerability, change, and, at times, the willingness to disappoint and be disappointed.
I loved this book, would read it again. It’s a book worth having on the bookshelf!
“You can fall in love with an outline, you can even make a home with one, but there will come a time when you can’t deny the bones their flesh. No person is fewer than two things.”
What starts as a thin framework of emotional connection must inevitably confront the messy, human layers beneath. The characters can no longer remain content with the outline—they must reckon with their pasts, their insecurities, and the parts of themselves they would rather not face. Dinan beautifully shows how love, in its truest form, requires more than surface-level affection—it demands vulnerability, change, and, at times, the willingness to disappoint and be disappointed.
I loved this book, would read it again. It’s a book worth having on the bookshelf!