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bzliz's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Edit: I came back to bump this rating a smidge higher after doing so for Astrid’s book also. I was too harsh the first time around and this deserves 4 stars because I did really like it.
Original review:
Delilah and Claire are at opposite ends of their lives- Delilah is a photographer trying to find success in New York after a pretty lonely, loveless childhood following her father’s death. Claire had a child young and she never got to experience her wild 20s, which is part of why she finds the courage to go hit on Delilah in the bar, completely unaware that the subject of her flirtation is her best friend’s sister.
This book has a bunch of great romance tropes, like the classic only one bed and the characters seem plucked right out of a TV movie script. The villains are very villainy and nobody seems inclined to stop their bad behavior. Isabel is super controlling of Astrid and downright neglectful of Delilah and Spencer spends every scene he’s in ordering Astrid around like she’s his servant. It’s pretty Cinderella-y, but if the two sisters were both Cinderella at the same time.
Now for the negative: The characters in this spend a LOT of time drinking, it’s practically a personality trait. It feels like an excuse to have Claire and Delilah act on their attraction to each other when they’re both too afraid of getting too attached otherwise. And the villains are- as I mentioned- very villainy. Isabel I can maybe squint at and understand her motivations but I can’t figure out why Spencer acts the way he does. He’s just there to be generally terrible and to give Delilah a reason to feel bad for Astrid.
My favorite character development came near the end asAstrid and Delilah realize they’ve both hurt each other while blaming the other the whole time. I loved seeing their baby steps to fixing their shattered relationship. I would love to see a book more about repairing that relationship.
Original review:
Delilah and Claire are at opposite ends of their lives- Delilah is a photographer trying to find success in New York after a pretty lonely, loveless childhood following her father’s death. Claire had a child young and she never got to experience her wild 20s, which is part of why she finds the courage to go hit on Delilah in the bar, completely unaware that the subject of her flirtation is her best friend’s sister.
This book has a bunch of great romance tropes, like the classic only one bed and the characters seem plucked right out of a TV movie script. The villains are very villainy and nobody seems inclined to stop their bad behavior. Isabel is super controlling of Astrid and downright neglectful of Delilah and Spencer spends every scene he’s in ordering Astrid around like she’s his servant. It’s pretty Cinderella-y, but if the two sisters were both Cinderella at the same time.
Now for the negative: The characters in this spend a LOT of time drinking, it’s practically a personality trait. It feels like an excuse to have Claire and Delilah act on their attraction to each other when they’re both too afraid of getting too attached otherwise. And the villains are- as I mentioned- very villainy. Isabel I can maybe squint at and understand her motivations but I can’t figure out why Spencer acts the way he does. He’s just there to be generally terrible and to give Delilah a reason to feel bad for Astrid.
My favorite character development came near the end as
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Grief
daffodilcherry's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
The perfect comfort book for sapphics who like Hallmark romance movies but want them to be queer. This book was like a warm hug, mixed with heartful family drama and friendship.
Wheelhouse items: woman returning to her hometown, queer love story not about coming out, strong female friendships, complicated family dynamics, you know what I call that? growth, ladies who are vividly sexually attracted to each other, friends getting into shenanigans to break up their friend's bad relationship.
Favourite quotes: "Delilah Green didn't care. Because they'd never once cared about her."
"Astrid had done all that. Astrid had wanted her here. "
Wheelhouse items: woman returning to her hometown, queer love story not about coming out, strong female friendships, complicated family dynamics, you know what I call that? growth, ladies who are vividly sexually attracted to each other, friends getting into shenanigans to break up their friend's bad relationship.
Favourite quotes:
"Astrid had done all that. Astrid had wanted her here. "
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
hrtlss_grl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
OK. So I liked this one more than I thought I would for about the first 40% of the book. At one point I almost DNF'd it, but kept going because it was so well written. For most of the book Astrid comes off as this mean girl, and her friends her little clique. Which makes sense, but it just made me want to pull my hair out because I can't stand books where it is a bully-romance. But eventually it gets better, fleshes out the characters more and actually makes it feel like it works. Next one is a sort of Taming of the Shrew sort of thing, so hopefully it can redeem Astrid for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Infidelity, Misogyny, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
wilybooklover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Such a fun, heartfelt queer romcom!
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how complex and nuanced the characters were. They felt like real, complicated people with real, complicated pasts. Even the side characters had complexity, especially Claire's daughter Ruby who is one of the most realistic child characters I've ever read. I found Delilah particularly relatable, in all of her spiky, petty glory. Claire was so lovely too, just a sweet woman trying to do the best for everyone and struggling with parenting. I loved how tender and vulnerable Claire and Delilah were with each other, even when they thought it was just temporary and casual. Surprisingly steamy for a romcom too, especially a sapphic one.
It was also interesting to see Delilah reexamine her memories of the past and realise they may just be a bit unreliable, that she and Astrid were just stuck in a loop of miscommunication and hurt feelings. I thought it was done really well (aside from the part where Delilah reads Astrid's diary — that felt like such a violation of her privacy).
There were a couple of things that bothered me — the diary reading, how much of the plot of this sapphic romance ultimately centred around a cishet man and a really terrible (borderline caricature-ish) one at that, the whole bet situation. But ultimately this was such a fantastic romance! Reminded me a lot of Book Lovers by Emily Henry with the small-town bookshop/sisters-at-odds vibes, but executed way better (in my opinion).
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how complex and nuanced the characters were. They felt like real, complicated people with real, complicated pasts. Even the side characters had complexity, especially Claire's daughter Ruby who is one of the most realistic child characters I've ever read. I found Delilah particularly relatable, in all of her spiky, petty glory. Claire was so lovely too, just a sweet woman trying to do the best for everyone and struggling with parenting. I loved how tender and vulnerable Claire and Delilah were with each other, even when they thought it was just temporary and casual. Surprisingly steamy for a romcom too, especially a sapphic one.
It was also interesting to see Delilah reexamine her memories of the past and realise they may just be a bit unreliable, that she and Astrid were just stuck in a loop of miscommunication and hurt feelings. I thought it was done really well (aside from the part where Delilah reads Astrid's diary — that felt like such a violation of her privacy).
There were a couple of things that bothered me — the diary reading, how much of the plot of this sapphic romance ultimately centred around a cishet man and a really terrible (borderline caricature-ish) one at that, the whole bet situation. But ultimately this was such a fantastic romance! Reminded me a lot of Book Lovers by Emily Henry with the small-town bookshop/sisters-at-odds vibes, but executed way better (in my opinion).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Cancer, Violence, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
A charmingly delightful queer romantic comedy about learning to trust again, and what happens when you return to your home town. You guys this book had me all in my feels for real! (I ugly cried so much reading this!)
Delilah Green has made a life for herself in New York, and has gotten very practiced at casual hookups and flings, never one to try to have a real relationship after a bad heartbreak. With her stepsisters' wedding coming up, she must travel back to her hometown and confront her past in a place where she was never accepted.
Claire needs to get laid. Badly. The sexy lady she approaches at the bar is just what she needs, only it turns out she is none other than her best friend and bride to be, Astrid's, wicked stepsister, and so totally off limits.
Between wedding events and plotting over how to break up the bride and groom (yes really), the two begin to get very close. Seriously y'all...the SPICE in this book! Someone fetch me a fan and a glass of iced tea because it got steamy. The chemistry and banter between Claire and Delilah was so thrilling to read, and I loved watching their story evolve, as well as each of them grow.
Delilah so perfectly encapsulated the results of being misunderstood and neglected as a child. Astrid is on the other end of the spectrum, with her being the results of an overbearing and over critical Mother. Blake handled so well what happens when two siblings go through having a difficult childhood, and how resentment and misunderstanding can build over time into a twisted and ugly monstrosity.
My only complaint about this book is I wish someone had smacked around Isabel just a little bit. (Okay...a lot!) I wanted a full on rage scene with lots of slapping and maybe even some hitting with a fish.
A must read for lovers of queer books, or fans of a good love story. I can't wait to read the next book!
Delilah Green has made a life for herself in New York, and has gotten very practiced at casual hookups and flings, never one to try to have a real relationship after a bad heartbreak. With her stepsisters' wedding coming up, she must travel back to her hometown and confront her past in a place where she was never accepted.
Claire needs to get laid. Badly. The sexy lady she approaches at the bar is just what she needs, only it turns out she is none other than her best friend and bride to be, Astrid's, wicked stepsister, and so totally off limits.
Between wedding events and plotting over how to break up the bride and groom (yes really), the two begin to get very close. Seriously y'all...the SPICE in this book! Someone fetch me a fan and a glass of iced tea because it got steamy. The chemistry and banter between Claire and Delilah was so thrilling to read, and I loved watching their story evolve, as well as each of them grow.
Delilah so perfectly encapsulated the results of being misunderstood and neglected as a child. Astrid is on the other end of the spectrum, with her being the results of an overbearing and over critical Mother. Blake handled so well what happens when two siblings go through having a difficult childhood, and how resentment and misunderstanding can build over time into a twisted and ugly monstrosity.
My only complaint about this book is I wish someone had smacked around Isabel just a little bit. (Okay...a lot!) I wanted a full on rage scene with lots of slapping and maybe even some hitting with a fish.
A must read for lovers of queer books, or fans of a good love story. I can't wait to read the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Infidelity
aseel_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
This was sooo very cute, and I liked how they resolved the main conflict
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
nyree42's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
3.5
Would have been a near perfect queer romance if Delilah had not been the type of person who used people for one-night-stands. That was triggering for me to read about, although I appreciated the deep insights into her psychology as to why she did that. On that note, I didn't like how another character who was in a fairly happy relationship kept telling her single friends to "get laid." "Just sex" is a myth. Even for a one-night-stand there can be a lot of complicated emotions and an unpleasant aftermath.
So no, I can't blindly accept promotions of promiscuity because... it just doesn't make anyone happy in the end. That - and the excessive amounts of alcohol consumption - are why I've only rated this 3.5 stars.
Aside from that letdown, this story was very sweet, genuine, spicy and messy in all the right ways, just like any good romantic relationship.
So no, I can't blindly accept promotions of promiscuity because... it just doesn't make anyone happy in the end. That - and the excessive amounts of alcohol consumption - are why I've only rated this 3.5 stars.
Aside from that letdown, this story was very sweet, genuine, spicy and messy in all the right ways, just like any good romantic relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Infidelity
marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood, Infidelity, and Sexism
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Love love loved this book. I was so up in my feels towards the end that my eyes welled up with many tears. RTC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual content, Grief, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Sexism