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thejadamonique's review
emotional
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
4.5
Love Kennedy Ryan and loved this book! Don't read many books with a couple who was together have to navigate being without each other but still being in each other's lives. Love the growth from the characters and a love story from a divorced couple. Only reason it's not a 5 is cause some small cliche moments and the focus seemed more on the sex initially rather than the relationship as a whole towards the end but still a great book!
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage and Death
itsjojo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
“Even when she fell, she stayed; when everything urged her to give up and go, she stayed for us, and she fought until she found herself again.” 💪🏽 ✨
I loved this book with my WHOLE heart! ❤️ The author did such a great job of portraying the different sides of grief and depression and how we all handle things differently. The story of Yas and Si so devastatingly beautiful. This book for sure made me feel things. This is my first Kennedy Ryan book, but I can already tell I’ll probably read anything she writes! 🫶🏽
“I’ve learned that life isn’t about taking what you deserve, it’s about getting all you can while you can because it’s short. Because it’s fickle. Because it takes when we least expect it.”
I loved this book with my WHOLE heart! ❤️ The author did such a great job of portraying the different sides of grief and depression and how we all handle things differently. The story of Yas and Si so devastatingly beautiful. This book for sure made me feel things. This is my first Kennedy Ryan book, but I can already tell I’ll probably read anything she writes! 🫶🏽
“I’ve learned that life isn’t about taking what you deserve, it’s about getting all you can while you can because it’s short. Because it’s fickle. Because it takes when we least expect it.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Grief, Child death, Death of parent, and Death
genesis_'s review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
auteaandtales's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one is probably on me because I’m not the biggest fan of second-chance romance, mainly because I think it’s hard to find a balance between having something that was strong enough to break them up but not bad enough (or ridiculous enough) that they can’t be together again. Also, I feel like it’s challenging to create an existing chemistry between two characters that the reader will believe, and not only that but you don’t get to see that chemistry build up, it’s like a lot of their interactions happened off-screen which is not my jam. Watching an emotional connection form always feels special to witness.
I think the extremely challenging topics in this book were handled well, although I have never been through anything like that before so I’m not the person to ask, and I think the breakup made sense, but the thing I struggled with was that I felt no chemistry. It didn’t feel natural. Not to say that none of this tugged at my heartstrings, a lot of this book is very emotional. I especially appreciated the relationship between Yasmin and Deja and the discussions on therapy and grief.
I loved the friendships, as well, and I’m really excited to get to know them more in book two! I enjoyed a lot about this book, and I even enjoyed them a lot together, I just wish we got some more banter and emotional bonding between them instead of what felt like was mostly a sexual bond, because I’m sure there’s more to them than that.
But my first Kennedy Ryan book is complete and I look forward to reading more, as I liked the writing style and the humour and the way difficult things were handled as well as the relationships in the ‘background’ characters. Also, there was a bit of miscommunication, but it was nice seeing adults communicate properly for the most part as well.
I think the extremely challenging topics in this book were handled well, although I have never been through anything like that before so I’m not the person to ask, and I think the breakup made sense, but the thing I struggled with was that I felt no chemistry. It didn’t feel natural. Not to say that none of this tugged at my heartstrings, a lot of this book is very emotional. I especially appreciated the relationship between Yasmin and Deja and the discussions on therapy and grief.
I loved the friendships, as well, and I’m really excited to get to know them more in book two! I enjoyed a lot about this book, and I even enjoyed them a lot together, I just wish we got some more banter and emotional bonding between them instead of what felt like was mostly a sexual bond, because I’m sure there’s more to them than that.
But my first Kennedy Ryan book is complete and I look forward to reading more, as I liked the writing style and the humour and the way difficult things were handled as well as the relationships in the ‘background’ characters. Also, there was a bit of miscommunication, but it was nice seeing adults communicate properly for the most part as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Miscarriage, and Mental illness
larndarn's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
clg7585's review
emotional
hopeful
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
Minor: Death, Child death, and Grief
adri_enne's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
halfass_reviewer's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Child death
booksalacarte's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Before I let go 5⭐️ 3🌶️
Second Chance Romance
Divorce
Found family
Therapy
Grief
Ptsd
This was such a beautifully heartbreaking, and at the same time, heartwarming book. The characters were so well flushed out and full. The writing was full of poetic inner monologues and glaringly real dialogue.
It felt like a love letter to therapy and the power that it has.
The character of grief is profound in this book. As someone who has lost in a similar way, not skirting around the grief but instead staring it in the face and explaining it in such a poetic way… it was so cathartic to read grief in such an open way.
I loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Alcohol, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death, and Grief
jg34's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
THIS is. a. Love. story!!! It’s not pretty but it is also is beautiful. Does that make sense? Am I on a weird high after this book? I went on a JOURNEY.
This book deals with grief and loss in a heart breakingly real way. You can feel the pain through the pages (or headphones in my case). We catch this broken family two years after two tragic losses that tore them apart. They are rebuilding themselves and their relationships. They are opening up and putting in work in ways that were too painful before. And we get to watch it all!!
I love and feel for Yaz. After losing two family members back to back she is paralyzed by pain. Life keeps moving without her though and in her grief she makes the decision to end things with Josiah. A decision she bears the guilt for as she sees Josiah trying to move on and unable to trust Yaz anymore.
Josiah hides his pain. He keeps things running and needs Yaz and feels like a failure that he cannot fix her and bring the family back to how it was before. After Yaz gives up on them, his heart is broken and that loss is something he cannot cope with.
We watch them work through this with maturity and grace. It’s messy, kids are involved, friends and family opinions play a role, but can they come out on top????
Clearly this is not a lighthearted romance. Be ready for tears. But it’s worth it.
Final takeaway: everyone needs therapy!!!!
This book deals with grief and loss in a heart breakingly real way. You can feel the pain through the pages (or headphones in my case). We catch this broken family two years after two tragic losses that tore them apart. They are rebuilding themselves and their relationships. They are opening up and putting in work in ways that were too painful before. And we get to watch it all!!
I love and feel for Yaz. After losing two family members back to back she is paralyzed by pain. Life keeps moving without her though and in her grief she makes the decision to end things with Josiah. A decision she bears the guilt for as she sees Josiah trying to move on and unable to trust Yaz anymore.
Josiah hides his pain. He keeps things running and needs Yaz and feels like a failure that he cannot fix her and bring the family back to how it was before. After Yaz gives up on them, his heart is broken and that loss is something he cannot cope with.
We watch them work through this with maturity and grace. It’s messy, kids are involved, friends and family opinions play a role, but can they come out on top????
Clearly this is not a lighthearted romance. Be ready for tears. But it’s worth it.
Final takeaway: everyone needs therapy!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent