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challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse
emotional
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
For me this was probably the most real life feeling book by Abby Jimenez. It dealt with the real life situation of a family coming to terms with how to care for a loved one. I would say this book was more literary fiction than romance because of that.The struggles of the main couple also felt real, and you were able to feel their pain of wanting to be together with them. This wasn’t a happy romance book and I appreciated that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Grief
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-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
This book had me in a chokehold or tears the entire read. Uh-maz-ing!!
Their first date had me as star-crossed for their romance as they were for each other. I feel like I should've been disappointed the solution to their distance problem was so simple, but it was payoff enough to see the realization happen.
This book was not in the least bit spicy, but that was ok with me based on the very serious dementia topic throughout.
It was a great read!
Their first date had me as star-crossed for their romance as they were for each other. I feel like I should've been disappointed the solution to their distance problem was so simple, but it was payoff enough to see the realization happen.
This book was not in the least bit spicy, but that was ok with me based on the very serious dementia topic throughout.
It was a great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Grief
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
This book was an emotional roller coaster—I laughed, cried, and swooned my way through it. The first date (even though it involved being accidentally locked in an escape room) was honestly so perfect. The book struck a beautiful balance between lighthearted moments and deeper themes, especially the tender portrayal of caring for a loved one with dementia. And the long-distance relationship? Absolutely tore me apart in the best, most aching way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Child abuse
sad
slow-paced
Lots of mixed feelings about this one…I love Abby Jimenez and will read anything she writes, but this one didn’t resonate with me. There was so much family drama that it overpowered the romance, and while I usually enjoy getting to know characters through their families, here it just felt like too much. The story felt super repetitive, some of the TikTok references made me cringe, and overall it felt like the tone stayed sad for too long. That said, I did love the animal rescue/vet angles and Hank totally stole the show in his short scene. Not my favorite Abby, book but okay overall and I could definitely see someone else loving it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Dementia
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Dementia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death
Minor: Infidelity
I wanted to like this more than I did. I felt like I didn’t actually get to know the couple that well beyond the fact that they missed each other. There was some fun banter (Abby does that well!) but honestly every character was pretty miserable for 95% of the book. Also I could not stand how black and white some of the characters were. Drowning puppies? Trying to murder pugs by locking them in hot cars ? Wtf was going on here?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Another solid book from Abby Jimenez. At times (often) I found myself annoyed by how difficult the main female character was being about the distance, but I get it. It’s not easy. And seeing how that was kinda half the plot line, I shouldn’t be surprised. But to be willing to throw away a good thing because it’s hard isn’t something I can relate to. They really weren’t even spending that much time apart when you look at the big picture. Yet she was willing to write it all off from the start. Meanwhile, dude is over here working himself to death. Not to try to one up a fictional character, but some of us have spent literal years apart, divided by whole countries. You can’t go a couple of months with a few states between you? Get real. And she was always like ‘it’s always going to be like this’, ‘it will never work out’… hate to tell you girl, but things change. Quick. Even if it’s 10 years, that goes by faster than you realize. Come onnnn. But in the end, it all worked out for her, so I guess being a spoiled little princess about it worked, so what do I know?
Aside from the whiny nonsense, the book was good. It was a nice break from fantasy books that were starting to give me a headache. I could appreciate the depiction of a family caring for someone with an illness and the challenges that come along with that. I feel like it was able to shine a light on things many don’t stop to think about. You would think that would put things into perspective a bit for the main character, but… I digress.
Aside from the whiny nonsense, the book was good. It was a nice break from fantasy books that were starting to give me a headache. I could appreciate the depiction of a family caring for someone with an illness and the challenges that come along with that. I feel like it was able to shine a light on things many don’t stop to think about. You would think that would put things into perspective a bit for the main character, but… I digress.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse