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vj_thompson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Cursing, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Drug use, and Vomit
myhandmadehell's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The spice was plentiful and explicit. That’s how I prefer it so the book did not disappoint on that front. I’ve heard Tessa Bailey is referred to as “the queen of dirty talk” or something - some reviews here indicated that the dirty talk was cringey and awful, but I found it was fine at worst, pretty hot at best.
What I didn’t like:
Just their whole relationship really. Every conflict they had came from Brendan being incapable of having a relationship. I don’t hate a possessive MMC but possessive doesn’t have to mean abusive - and yes I said it, and tagged it in the spoilers. He is emotionally abusive of her. And based on the sheer number of times he physically restrains her from walking away from him, when she clearly wants to, I’d also consider tagging in a warning of mild physical abuse as well. In fact, Brendan doesn’t let her do much of anything that he doesn’t approve of. He doesn’t let her finish sentences when she’s struggling to explain her feelings (which are, to say the least, confusing and new to her). He doesn’t give her time or space to think through those feelings. He doesn’t allow her to adjust to her dramatically different life. This sounds extra picky, but he unilaterally buys her jeans she said she doesn’t like! It’s played off as cute and “spoiling her” but it’s just one more way Brendan outs himself as a controlling asshole.
Again, I know this is part of the fantasy for some readers, this gender essentialism that categorizes all actions, appearances, attitudes, and behaviors as solely “male” or “female”, and allows people to explore and revel in the idea of a woman submitting to a man’s emotional and intellectual dominance. And I’m not here to shame anybody for that.
Just saying, for those who didn’t know that this is a book that explores those themes, and it isn’t your cup of tea? It does, and it is pretty blatant.
2.75 stars, losing 2 for all of the above, losing 1 more for the sentence “even a casual mention of Brendan’s name and her pussy started pumping out a slow jam”, and gaining back 3/4 of a star for what turned out to be a reasonably good apology on his part - a good start but not the end of their struggles, I fear.
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
mhairi_reads's review
- 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
I can be in a room full of people that I know and still not feel like I belong.
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Medical content, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, and Child death
noellelovesbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings: Mention of grief/loss, death of a spouse, death of a child, death of a parent, and drowning.
I know I know I’m super late to reading this book and trust me, after finishing it, I regret that I didn’t read it sooner too. After hearing that Piper was inspired by Alexis Rose, from Schitt’s Creek, I knew that this was a book I needed to get my hands on. Already a fan of Tessa Bailey’s after reading the first two books in the Hot and Hammered series [I swear I keep meaning to get to book three] I was already sure I would love this story.
Within the first few pages, I already knew that I was going to love Piper and want to fight for her. I love that from the start we were able to see her insecurities and fears even when she couldn’t really see them herself. And thanks to the duel narrative, although Brendan was definitely a bit prickly to start, he’s really just a big cinnamon roll.
This book is one of the many examples of why duel narrative is my absolute favorite type of romance novel. The story could never have been as beautiful as it was if we’d only seen one perspective. Being able to see, and hear all their inner monologues, feelings, and thoughts made this story beautiful and heartwarming.
I loved that we were able to see the little changes in Piper that connected her to Westport and its people. We were able to follow along and cheer as Piper finally started finding herself as well as learning to trust herself and finding strength in who she is. At the same time, we’re able to see Brendan realize that maybe he doesn’t have to be so stuck in his routine. Maybe it’s time to let certain habits go so that instead of living in the past he can finally be present and open to new experiences and a hope-filled future.
The way Tessa wrote Piper you could see, from the start, she’s desperate for a true connection. All Piper wants is someone who sees and value’s her for who she is but with the experiences she’s had she’s terrified of opening up and being rejected. If it hurts being rejected by people, who don’t even know you that well, you’re going to be scared to make deeper connections.
Although irritable and prickly at the start Brendan sees little glimpses of Piper’s compassion as well as her insecurities. He realizes he loves seeing her grow more confident in town and in herself and just wants to be there to help show her just how amazing, and special, she truly is.
I love seeing Piper and Brendan slowly drift closer and open up to each other. Though they’re from two very different worlds they find that together they’re the happiest they’ve ever been. Obstacles may come up but their love, and trust, for each other just might get them through it all.
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, Grief, and Death
emmahe'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: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Child death
ashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy
constellation_library's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Apart from the gushy romance, which was well-written and quite spicy at times, there were moments that were emotional and heart-wrenching, particularly how Opal is described and her particular situation. If you know, you know. Grief was a big side-plot of the story, so go into it knowing that--grief at the loss of a parent, a child, and a spouse are big topics that are discussed in the story, but each loss happened before the story began, so at least that aspect of it isn't on page.
Overall, Tessa Bailey really blew me away, and now I am sifting through her backlist to see what else of hers I can dive into. This one and People We Meet on Vacation are two of the best romance novels I've read to date.
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Child death
ekcanales's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Such a sweet, light-hearted romance filled with a lot of character development, reconnecting with lost family members, and finding where one truly belongs.
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
mypatronusisajedi's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Child death and Death of parent