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kfmcf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I appreciated the dedication to ensuring the sailing aspects were truthful, but I think it added an unnecessary rigidity.
I liked the FL quite a bit. I related to her and felt the pain she was going through. The ML was fine. I think he needed one more layer besides Irish + nice + prosthetic. He was a little too perfect imo and that can get boring. There chemistry also felt a tad forced so that was a bummer. I did really appreciate that there wasn't the typical 3rd act conflict/blowout and all of the conflict was an inner or personal struggle on the FL's part.
Also - fair warning that this book just ENDS. There was very little lead up to the ending and then it was over. No epilogue (which would have been really nice to see how the FL was continuing to move on with her life).
Overall, I'm giving this book a 3 because I did enjoy it, it just isn't one I'll probably ever pick up again. I know the author has a sequel coming out this year that I do plan to read because I think her stories are intriguing. I'm hoping this one is a bit less technical.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Car accident and Colonisation
mrsbennettreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Suicide, Grief, and Car accident
sdupont's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
Moderate: Car accident
mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was highly recommend to me by a friend, and from the synopsis I was prepared for a beautiful story about self discovery and overcoming grief, with a little bit of romance splashed in.
Instead, this was very much a romance novel. I did actually really enjoy it, despite it not being quite what I hoped. I liked both of the main characters and had fun following them along on their trip, learning a bit about sailing and some of the Carribbean islands along the way.
I think this could have been a really great book if it had been a bit longer, allowing for deeper character development of Anna. I would have loved to have seen more of her self-discovery happen on page, rather than off, and have her love interest introduced a little later in the book.
That being said, I definitely think this is one for the romance lovers, particularly those who like romance based on forced proximity. There is also a loveable four legged friend that made my soul extra happy when reading this book
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
ngb1980's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The writing itself was good and interesting. I learned a few things about sailing (I really know close to nothing), but some things could have been explained a little instead of assuming every reader knows much about sailing. (Just a little criticism really.)
For the most part the romance was fairly low key actually, which is what I prefer. I may have rated this a 4 star instead of 3 had the cursing and sexual content been brought down or eliminated altogether. While I'm sure it was low compared to some, for me, it was too much.
I would not be able to recommend this book to a friend.
Moderate: Suicide and Grief
jessgreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
See more reviews at: https://jessgreads.wixsite.com
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
lauramarkey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery and Car accident
chellyduke's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Suicide and Grief
Minor: Death and Car accident
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Author: Trish Doller
Series: Beck Sisters, #1
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: March 2, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Quick • Fearless • Adventurous
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Ten months following the unexpected suicide of her fiancé, Anna finds herself at a complete loss. When she gets a reminder for the sailing trip Ben and her were supposed to embark on, she decides to pack up and go it alone. After just one night, she realizes there is no way she's going to be able to do this alone. Enter Keane, himself reeling from a life upended, who offers to help her set sail on the path Ben planned out. Together they set sail, finding ways to rebuild their lives, and find themselves.
💭 T H O U G H T S
My own partner died in 2020, so even before I began reading, I knew I shared a connection with the main character. But for me Float Plan lacked the emotional depth, I was hoping for, and which so many readers have alluded to. It felt as though the trauma surrounding Ben's suicide and Anna's grief took a back seat, while they should have played a bigger role. As a whole, the aspect of grief felt entirely rushed and inauthentic. Don't get me wrong, I know firsthand how every grief journey is different, but to me there was so much potential to develop emotional depth and grief awareness here. And maybe for the average reader, the author has accomplished that.
If I could put myself outside my own grief journey, I'd likely be more forgiving of that side of the story because there's certainly a solid story, welcoming cast of characters, and the writing has a good flow. I just constantly found myself yearning for more of Anna's relationship with Ben, and his life. The locals in each of the places they visited were a definite bright spot in this story.
Even though this one was underwhelming for me on a personal level, I will be keeping an eye out for the follow up book coming out this year.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• slow-burn romance readers
• anyone needing an escape
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Someone at his funeral told me that Ben will always be alive in my memories, but it's not the fucking same at all."
"'Eventually - and I say this from experience - you'll start building a new house beside the ruins of the old. When you're ready, you'll know.'"
"The stages of grief are not linear. They are random and unpredictable, folding back on themselves until you begin mourning all over again. I have bargained with a universe that is not listening. I have cried myself hollow. I have leaned into the belief that I can't live without Ben Braithwaite, but kneeling here in the sand on a beach four hundred miles from home says maybe I can - and that terrifies me."
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Sexual content, and Vomit
depression, death of a partnerrrubin97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed also reading about the different carribean islands as they sailed through the descriptions of the land and cultures they encountered
Graphic: Suicide and Grief