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carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
Ok I liked this one! It wasn't my favourite but I didn't have any major hang-ups or impediments to my enjoyment. I enjoyed the pairing of prickly Delilah with sweet Claire - classic combo, and the two have a ton of great chemistry. The sex is very sexy!! I appreciated how the ploy encouraged both MCs to grow and accept themselves more fully.
My one plot issue was the whole "sex bet" aspect - I felt like there was enough internal and external conflict and good enough reasons for their relationship to be tested/have a black moment without it. It's mentioned once at the beginning of the book and then doesn't come up again until it's time for the third act break up so it rly felt like Chekov's Sex Bet. Otherwise a nice little book and I will definitely read the rest of the series!
My one plot issue was the whole "sex bet" aspect - I felt like there was enough internal and external conflict and good enough reasons for their relationship to be tested/have a black moment without it. It's mentioned once at the beginning of the book and then doesn't come up again until it's time for the third act break up so it rly felt like Chekov's Sex Bet. Otherwise a nice little book and I will definitely read the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
kathomas's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
annorabrady's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
While I do think all of the characters involved could have used a healthy dose of therapy before attempting anything resembling a romantic relationship, I do like this story. I also like that there's more emotional intimacy than physical intimacy, and that the characters at least try to help each other through emotional challenges.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
grets_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Misogyny
komiification's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Minor: Incest
takarakei's review against another edition
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
- everyone is bi
- sapphic
- childhood hometown, small town romance
- group of girl friends
I expected more connection to the characters, but kinda couldn't keep some of the friends straight. The whole plotline of breaking up their friend's wedding was like... "yall really let her get all the way this far before stepping in? are y'all actually friends?" The relationship between Delilah and Claire didn't really hit either, it felt very like insta-lovey. I think there was actually just not enough focus on their relationship to make it seem more believable.
3.5/5🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity
these bitches drink a SHIT TONmrsmishler's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
lexnicole's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Sexual content
hello_lovely13'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
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