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cathyo_113's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Vanessa Price - the FMC - was a little too much for me. Here’s the thing, I respect the writing of the character in taking charge and having agency over her treatment for a potential disease that could kill her. My biggest issue is that she 1) assumes that by virtue of Adrian saying he’d watched a couple of her videos, she did not need to have a conversation with him about the potential for an ALS Diagnosis; and 2) I felt that she also set him up for failure in their relationship bc of the miscommunication above, and also in other ways she omitted info from him.
My other issue with Vanessa’s character is that she acted with what I perceive as cowardice toward the end of the book. Instead of having hard conversations or meeting the hard feelings head on, she runs. Literally escapes and leaves (almost) everyone.
Adrian Copeland - the MMC and cousin to Josh (from The Friend Zone) - needed therapy. And the author wrote that in at the last minute to lump in with the grand gesture at the end. But even with one month’s time of intensive therapy, such behavioral change may not always seem realistic. I also did not like the inclusion of the description of the benefits of psychotherapy in the epilogue. Should have been introduced sooner.
I felt that this book was slightly a redo of the Friend Zone, with a different major, life changing illness looming about the FMC’s head. Plus an MMC who was choosing to be with the FMC, in spite of it. I do think Adrian’s ultimatum was a dick move, but Vanessa withheld info and he could not act out a grand gesture and apologize.
I think I hate-read the remaining 75% because the 3rd act breakup was written in at that point. Why a 3rd break up at that point? It was so late in the story and took up space that could have better been used exploring therapy and other character development, as well as major declarations of love and support.
Also the ending in the epilogue only served to show that Vanessa should have seen a doctor sooner about her hand because it was serious, but not ALS.
I’m disappointed with this read because the last 40 pages gave me whiplash. I was only just processing Vanessa’s choice to leave when Adrian rushed in to make it an HEA.
My other issue with Vanessa’s character is that she acted with what I perceive as cowardice toward the end of the book. Instead of having hard conversations or meeting the hard feelings head on, she runs. Literally escapes and leaves (almost) everyone.
Adrian Copeland - the MMC and cousin to Josh (from The Friend Zone) - needed therapy. And the author wrote that in at the last minute to lump in with the grand gesture at the end. But even with one month’s time of intensive therapy, such behavioral change may not always seem realistic. I also did not like the inclusion of the description of the benefits of psychotherapy in the epilogue. Should have been introduced sooner.
I felt that this book was slightly a redo of the Friend Zone, with a different major, life changing illness looming about the FMC’s head. Plus an MMC who was choosing to be with the FMC, in spite of it. I do think Adrian’s ultimatum was a dick move, but Vanessa withheld info and he could not act out a grand gesture and apologize.
I think I hate-read the remaining 75% because the 3rd act breakup was written in at that point. Why a 3rd break up at that point? It was so late in the story and took up space that could have better been used exploring therapy and other character development, as well as major declarations of love and support.
Also the ending in the epilogue only served to show that Vanessa should have seen a doctor sooner about her hand because it was serious, but not ALS.
I’m disappointed with this read because the last 40 pages gave me whiplash. I was only just processing Vanessa’s choice to leave when Adrian rushed in to make it an HEA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Addiction
Moderate: Mental illness
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
- contemporary fictional romcom & final installment
- first-person dual POV of love interests
- Friends-to-lovers, nextdoor-neighbor, opposites-attract, & mega strong messaging of be-grateful-for-your-life story set in Minnesota
- FMC travel YouTube blogger/influencer Vanessa
- MMC lawyer Adrian (went on a date with Sloan in the last book) // Vanessa is fostering her younger sister’s baby, since her younger sister Annabel is struggling with addiction
- Adrian knocks on her door to ask her to quiet the baby down but they end up becoming friends
- Adrian is dumped by his girlfriend of eight months, after telling him she was married
- Cameos from previous series characters, much to my chagrin because FOUR KIDS?! REALLY, FOUR KIDS?! WITH THAT MEDICAL HISTORY?! LITERALLY FORK OFF
- Really dislike the making fun of “micro penises” & “nothing is that deep” mentality in here 😭
- cw: terminal illness, chronic illness (ALS), addiction, drug abuse, abandonment, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, hoarding
- steam 1/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Addiction, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Sexual content
bodagirl's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Drug abuse
qgg's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.75
Vanessa is famous on YouTube for travel vlogging and raising money for ALS, because she most likely has it, and will probably die soon. She’s suddenly homebound and taking care of her newborn niece. Adrian is a rockstar workaholic criminal defense lawyer, and why won’t that baby stop crying next door?
I think I’m starting to understand Abby Jimenez as a writer. The male main character is unrealistic in the same way that all MMC’s are: completely dedicated to their lady, totally invested in the relationship and willing to apologize and make drastic changes to fix a relationship problem after 2 days apart. This is what (nearly) all women read romance novels for.
However, her female main characters are more unrealistic. Vanessa has zero women friends. She has one younger sister who is absent for most of the book. Her younger brother is occasionally present but rarely supportive. She has a male friend who supports her rarely but is long distance. What is that mess? I have so few friends and I have a ton more support than Vanessa has. Yet she’s is almost endlessly cheerful with the rare brief sob? Not possible. Not with that diagnosis, no therapist and no support. The math is not mathing.
I think I’m starting to understand Abby Jimenez as a writer. The male main character is unrealistic in the same way that all MMC’s are: completely dedicated to their lady, totally invested in the relationship and willing to apologize and make drastic changes to fix a relationship problem after 2 days apart. This is what (nearly) all women read romance novels for.
However, her female main characters are more unrealistic. Vanessa has zero women friends. She has one younger sister who is absent for most of the book. Her younger brother is occasionally present but rarely supportive. She has a male friend who supports her rarely but is long distance. What is that mess? I have so few friends and I have a ton more support than Vanessa has. Yet she’s is almost endlessly cheerful with the rare brief sob? Not possible. Not with that diagnosis, no therapist and no support. The math is not mathing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Addiction, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Mental illness
hereiskyra's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Drug use, and Mental illness
annamay1021's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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: Addiction, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
nicolewithbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Mental illness
jillkaarlela's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Taylor Swift songs: “New Year’s Day”
Age rating: 15+ (extremely brief and vague steamy scene, 0.5/5🌶️)
CHECK TW!!
This book, as well as all of the other books in this interconnected stand alone series, deals will a difficult subject: terminal illness. The fmc believes she has ALS, as it runs on her family and she has a 50% chance of getting it and passing before she turns 30. So, she doesn’t seek relationships because she doesn’t think it’s fair to the other person if she thinks she will pass before she’s 30. This journey of accepting and giving true unconditional love, in sickness and in health, for no matter how long the other shall live will break your heart and put it back together again. This is definitely one of her novels you should read with care.
Again, Abby Jimenez draws inspiration from real life stories this book was inspired by a real person, Claire wineland, who was an activist and social media influenced with cystic fibrosis, who tragically died at 21 after complications after a lung transplant.
Overall, this was emotional and moving. It was not my favorite of Abby Jimenez’s books, but it was still good.
TW: terminal illness (ALS), she is forced to take care of her infant niece, abandonment of parent, parent death, OCD that manifests as hoarding, and drug addiction
Age rating: 15+ (extremely brief and vague steamy scene, 0.5/5🌶️)
CHECK TW!!
This book, as well as all of the other books in this interconnected stand alone series, deals will a difficult subject: terminal illness. The fmc believes she has ALS, as it runs on her family and she has a 50% chance of getting it and passing before she turns 30. So, she doesn’t seek relationships because she doesn’t think it’s fair to the other person if she thinks she will pass before she’s 30. This journey of accepting and giving true unconditional love, in sickness and in health, for no matter how long the other shall live will break your heart and put it back together again. This is definitely one of her novels you should read with care.
Again, Abby Jimenez draws inspiration from real life stories this book was inspired by a real person, Claire wineland, who was an activist and social media influenced with cystic fibrosis, who tragically died at 21 after complications after a lung transplant.
Overall, this was emotional and moving. It was not my favorite of Abby Jimenez’s books, but it was still good.
TW: terminal illness (ALS), she is forced to take care of her infant niece, abandonment of parent, parent death, OCD that manifests as hoarding, and drug addiction
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, Death of parent, Addiction, and Death
hrtgrimes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
xomandymoo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Medical trauma, Drug use, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Car accident, Addiction, Medical content, and Gun violence