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challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
No
This is a hard book to rate - it’s not a sweet, lighthearted romance but much more of a realistic story of two people who find each other but are just in the wrong place in their lives for this relationship. There is a lot of both on and off page family struggle - dementia, past abuse, sudden death, etc. - and how the characters react to those things plays a big part. Overall, it’s a good read but I wouldn’t place it alongside her other books for readability.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Abby Jimenez has a special knack for emotionally devastating love stories and this is no exception.
Loved
Loved
- The cat distribution system and dog witness protection
- Realistic depiction of the challenges that come with a long distance relationship
- Dr Hank and the complete circle of support that came with him
- Pooter
- The staff at the vet clinic
- No sugarcoating the struggles of being a full time caregiver for a family member
Meh
- I wanted more about Xavier’s friends/found family
- I wanted more dog in this book. If dog on cover, I expect full on dog, not just occasional dog
Disliked
- The TikTok/booktok references pulled me out of the book. Like I get that Rhysand is so hot right now, but three references in like twenty pages was excessive. Plus realistically I don’t think they will age well and feel like a grab for gen Z attention
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
Another knock out from Abby Jimenez. I absolutely adored this book. I refused to put it down and read it in one sitting. I was so engrossed in the story! I cannot pick a favorite of Abby's books because they are all so special. They all get the gold medal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Excrement
Minor: Animal cruelty
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Excrement, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Gaslighting, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.5 🌟
I think the book had potential, but the pacing was hard for me. The modern day slang thrown in wasn't my type of humor. But I will say it was an eye opening take on long distance relationships and living with those who have health disorders (like dementia)
I think the book had potential, but the pacing was hard for me. The modern day slang thrown in wasn't my type of humor. But I will say it was an eye opening take on long distance relationships and living with those who have health disorders (like dementia)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Dementia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
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:
No
This is my favorite Abby book yet, and that is really saying something. I swear with every book she just gets better and better. It's hard to explain why a romance in a book feels good and real versus not, but all I know is that in this book (and in most of her books really) Abby absolutely nails the feeling of falling in love and how it can physically be painful at times. The chemistry between Samantha and Xavier is immediate and palpable, and it doesn't feel like insta-love because we get both of their perspectives and they have this night that is just magical and chock-full of connection. The romance is beautiful and aching, and I appreciated that the circumstances keeping them apart didn't feel manufactured - it made it seem like a real love story where it is complicated to make things work because of a million life things. Samantha and Xavier are both immensely likable and easy to root for, and I found myself smiling really big at the end of this book.
And woof, Abby writes about heartbreak like no one else. Samantha and her family coping with and adjusting to their mom's dementia is incredibly intense and sad, and Abby doesn't shy away from what it would really be like - especially in a country where healthcare and care homes are so prohibitively expensive - to make the difficult choices about how best to support a parent who's struggling in that way. Abby also captures the weirdness of the transition from having a parent-child relationship with your parent to sometimes having a relationship of equals, but with all the same feelings as being your parent's child. Some of my favorite parts of the book were when the family had honest conversations about how they were coping - or not coping. I also really appreciated the way Xavier worked through the aftereffects of his abusive childhood, and there are scenes with him towards the end of the book that made me cry.
This has a bit less spice than some of Abby's other books, but I didn't mind because I feel like the romance dial was turned up to 100 (in a good way). The yearning! The longing! I loved this one so, so much.
And woof, Abby writes about heartbreak like no one else. Samantha and her family coping with and adjusting to their mom's dementia is incredibly intense and sad, and Abby doesn't shy away from what it would really be like - especially in a country where healthcare and care homes are so prohibitively expensive - to make the difficult choices about how best to support a parent who's struggling in that way. Abby also captures the weirdness of the transition from having a parent-child relationship with your parent to sometimes having a relationship of equals, but with all the same feelings as being your parent's child. Some of my favorite parts of the book were when the family had honest conversations about how they were coping - or not coping. I also really appreciated the way Xavier worked through the aftereffects of his abusive childhood, and there are scenes with him towards the end of the book that made me cry.
This has a bit less spice than some of Abby's other books, but I didn't mind because I feel like the romance dial was turned up to 100 (in a good way). The yearning! The longing! I loved this one so, so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
No
Firstly, I feel compelled to add my two-cents about some of the criticisms leveled at this book...
1) I'll concede that the ACOTAR references are a bit cringe. But as shorthand for "the hottest, broody man you've ever met" and only appearing a handful of times in the opening 10%, not a big enough deal for me to complain about it.
2) People being put off by the FMC's internet lingo. She's a social media marketer. It suits her character.
Now, onto what I really want to say...
I loved this. Abby Jimenez writes romance that's bigger than the two main characters. Not only is this a beautiful love story about Xavier and Samantha, but it's also about the people they love and the nature of memories and being a witness to the lives of those around you. As always, her green flag MMCs will get me every time and I found Samantha and her struggles so relatable. I thought the way in which caring for a person with Dementia was written was done so well.
I listened to the audiobook and the casting was perfect.
1) I'll concede that the ACOTAR references are a bit cringe. But as shorthand for "the hottest, broody man you've ever met" and only appearing a handful of times in the opening 10%, not a big enough deal for me to complain about it.
2) People being put off by the FMC's internet lingo. She's a social media marketer. It suits her character.
Now, onto what I really want to say...
I loved this. Abby Jimenez writes romance that's bigger than the two main characters. Not only is this a beautiful love story about Xavier and Samantha, but it's also about the people they love and the nature of memories and being a witness to the lives of those around you. As always, her green flag MMCs will get me every time and I found Samantha and her struggles so relatable. I thought the way in which caring for a person with Dementia was written was done so well.
I listened to the audiobook and the casting was perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-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
The premise is love is easy, life is hard and omg this story is heart warming and heart wrenching at the same time!!! Love the idea of parallel lives and wanting to live for moments that add up to memories!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Sexual content, Dementia
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Medical content, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual content