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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The first book of this series was gifted to me by Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing in a welcome pack and I immediately fell in love with the series and instantly bought the second book and third book. Unfortunately, this book disappointed me so much I could have cried. I just wanted the vibes from the first book again.
This book still follows Don Tillman. He had never had a second date before he met Rosie. Now, he is back in Australia with his wife Rosie and his ten-year-old son Hudson. Don is in professional hot water . . . again. One of his lectures goes viral for all the wrong reasons because of this Rosie is about to lose the research job she loves, and Hudson is struggling at school. He is a smart kid, but socially awkward and not fitting in. Fortunately, Don’s had a lifetime of experience of not fitting in. And he’s going to share the solutions with Hudson. Don will need the help of old friends and new, lock horns with the education system and face some big questions about himself.
I loved the first book! The first book I will recommend and hold a pedestal. This shouldn’t have been a series! This book just felt like a filler to see what Don was like as a parent. Which involves his child taking a scalpel to school, lying to his parents, not feeling confident enough to tell his parents what he wanted to do and spent his evening in his parents' bar. I ended up skimming most of this book because it was things we already knew or was just being repeated. I missed his friends and the dynamic between them standing up for Don but also trying to challenge Don. If you were to ask me what happened in this book in 3 months, I probably couldn’t tell you. This book and the second book was just missing the spark and the magic that the first book held.
I would say the only one who saved this book was Rosie’s dad Phil and he was only in a few chapters where he was pushing for Hudson to be a normal kid and teaching him normal kid things. I’m so disappointed in this series. If the second and third had been the first book in the series, I probably would have binned this series and not carried on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Ableism
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Violence
madelnguttorms1's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Grief, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Infertility, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
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