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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
This one was meh for me. I enjoyed the audio on a long drive — loved you in Timeless, Matt Lanter — but it had Big Topics that just felt dropped and un-dealt with. Xavier had A Lot Of Shit he went through and needs therapy , but never had a single emotional breakthrough.
Also, why have the dog be the opening scene if you never, ever really engage with the dog again?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death
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:
No
I really love that Abby Jimenez can write a great love story but that it isn't overly fluffy - the characters go through realistic challenges and tough times. Their love story isn't the only thing happening in their lives (which in some romances it definitely is!). In this book I especially appreciate the care Jimenez took in writing about dementia. This story was a love letter to family - both biological family and found family.
The little issue I had with this one were the multiple ACOTAR references and all the social media talk. It is relevent to the current time, but I feel like it also dates the book and keeps it from being relateable several years down the road. Glad that I finally started reading ACOTAR so that I understood who they kept referencing lol
The little issue I had with this one were the multiple ACOTAR references and all the social media talk. It is relevent to the current time, but I feel like it also dates the book and keeps it from being relateable several years down the road. Glad that I finally started reading ACOTAR so that I understood who they kept referencing lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Medical content, Dementia, Grief
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This book didn’t feel remotely like a romance, which I feel it was marketed to be. It was so depressing… dementia, grief, heartbreak. Even the side characters were living world class tragedies - the sister as a single mom with no child support - the dad in love with a woman who doesn’t recognize him - the grandma who didn’t get medical treatment because she didn’t want her family to have to take care of one more person. The romance was also extremely depressing with Xavier living out the repercussions of childhood abuse and the threat of financial ruin. The older veterinarian so depressed from losing his wife he goes back to work at like 80 years old. Ugh! I actually hated this, this is not why I read romance. F*** this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
No
Abby Jimenez has done it once again. I absolutely loved this book. I found this one to be heavier than most of her other books. But it’s soooo worth it for the love story and the hope and inspiration that comes out of it! I love Samantha and Xavier so much and it was so easy to root for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Medical content, Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death
I wouldn’t have bought this had I known about the gigantic super detailed dementia plot. It’s really, really sad and hard to read and I cannot stress enough how much tears are not something I want in a romance. I don’t want to be reading a romance thinking about my grandma and my dad and the most difficult parts of my life. I also can’t stand the constant little TikTok references. “She changed my DNA” It was a date. “It was a core memory.” You can’t say that ten seconds after something ffs and also it was a first date. “He imprinted on me.” Are you Jacob in Twilight? “We had a trauma bond” Oh for god’s sake, you were stuck in a room together . And finally, “he looks like rhysand” please stop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5⭐️ | 0.5🌶️
Did this book wreck me?✅
Were there at least five points throughout my reading where I ugly cried? ✅
Is there a picture of me after the last ugly cry? 🤷🏻♀️😬 that’s between me & Snapchat.
Did I love this book? 💯
This was a 5⭐️ read for me. I also had an immersive reading experience, reading the physical book while listening to the audiobook, possibly amplifying my emotional response. But also, life is happening and there are certain parts of the book that hit close to home.
I’ll share one of my favorite, non-spoilery quotes which helped bring on the feels:
“[T]here is nothing more beautiful than being a witness to someone’s life. To know them inside and out and be with them through everything, share the same memories. Memories are everything. I want that.”
Did this book wreck me?✅
Were there at least five points throughout my reading where I ugly cried? ✅
Is there a picture of me after the last ugly cry? 🤷🏻♀️😬 that’s between me & Snapchat.
Did I love this book? 💯
This was a 5⭐️ read for me. I also had an immersive reading experience, reading the physical book while listening to the audiobook, possibly amplifying my emotional response. But also, life is happening and there are certain parts of the book that hit close to home.
I’ll share one of my favorite, non-spoilery quotes which helped bring on the feels:
“[T]here is nothing more beautiful than being a witness to someone’s life. To know them inside and out and be with them through everything, share the same memories. Memories are everything. I want that.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Alcohol