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emidem's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
the plot was messy, not great writing and the characters were under-developed. if this book would've been a hundred pages longe, it would be be much better.
enjoyed it nonetheless and I love that there wasn't any type of homophobia
the plot was messy, not great writing and the characters were under-developed. if this book would've been a hundred pages longe, it would be be much better.
enjoyed it nonetheless and I love that there wasn't any type of homophobia
shann_off's review
emotional
sad
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
2.75
barbrokatrin's review against another edition
2.0
I’m having trouble with the shift between past and present. I’m halfway into the paragraph and then I discover that I’m in the past and then in the next paragraph it’s back to the present. It’s a little confusing.
At first I couldn’t really connect to this story. I just didn’t feel it. Got a bit better as the book went on but not much. Still having trouble with this, partially cause of the way the book jumps between past and present.
There were moments I found myself smiling or tearing up but on a whole, I just felt that I couldn’t connect deeply to it. That I just read the surface of the book.
Was midway through before I discovered that this originally was a Clexa fic, wasn’t until I learned Alex’s last name that I put the pieces together. And then I spent the rest of the book asking myself how I didn’t see it before cause all the pieces where there, I just didn’t see it
At first I couldn’t really connect to this story. I just didn’t feel it. Got a bit better as the book went on but not much. Still having trouble with this, partially cause of the way the book jumps between past and present.
There were moments I found myself smiling or tearing up but on a whole, I just felt that I couldn’t connect deeply to it. That I just read the surface of the book.
Was midway through before I discovered that this originally was a Clexa fic, wasn’t until I learned Alex’s last name that I put the pieces together. And then I spent the rest of the book asking myself how I didn’t see it before cause all the pieces where there, I just didn’t see it
patricia71's review against another edition
5.0
This one goes in my top 10 of best books. What an emotional ride filled with chemistry, humor, intimacy and great sex This was. I love Alex and Charlee. The banter was funny, i laughed out loud a couple of times. I cried real Tears a couple of times, cause I felt their pain. And I also loved Cam, Vinny and Gabby. This was my first K.L. Hughes BOOK. It will not be the last. More than 5 stars.
4 September 2020 I might possibly even love this book more on audio, which should not be possible cause I allready loved it so much on ebook. Abby Craden did an amazing job again. Wow!!!
Still hoping for a sequel but than with Cam, Vinny and/or Gabby. Hmmm Gabby and Vinny maybe...that would be a great age gap book with lots of emotions.
4 September 2020 I might possibly even love this book more on audio, which should not be possible cause I allready loved it so much on ebook. Abby Craden did an amazing job again. Wow!!!
Still hoping for a sequel but than with Cam, Vinny and/or Gabby. Hmmm Gabby and Vinny maybe...that would be a great age gap book with lots of emotions.
aud1's review against another edition
2.0
Endless. Angst.
I read 85% and was so fed up I didn’t bother with the rest.
The narration by Abby Craden was excellent, as always.
I read 85% and was so fed up I didn’t bother with the rest.
The narration by Abby Craden was excellent, as always.
elvang's review against another edition
4.0
“I want to do it right, because loving her is the purest thing I’ve ever done. It’s the purest thing I’ve ever had.”
Soul Mates. The Art of Us takes the concept of soul mates to a whole new level. I don’t think I’ve ever read an angst-filled read quite like this book.
Five years after Alex left for the coast and they drifted apart, Charlee cannot sleep at night but spends all her time painting beautiful memories of her true love and soul mate Alex. Alex returns to Boston with girlfriend Kari in tow and struggles with her own memories.
The opening scenes grab you and force you to fall in love with Charlee and Alex. Of course, there can be no one else. Be gone eight-month relationship Chris. Haul your unsuspecting ass outta here. Kari? We barely knew you but you’re smart enough to notice the emotional detachment and distance Alex has for you. Sorry you had to fly all this way. Once Alex locks eyes on Charlee it’s game over for anyone remotely connected to these two and what they still mean to each other.
I found myself overwhelmed to the point of numb by the three-quarter mark of this novel. The crying, the emotions on their sleeves, the crying, so much crying over their love lost. The reluctance on Alex’s part to renew what they had for fear of losing it once again, it was all so exhausting. And then K.L. Hughes pulls reality out of this swamp of emotions and memories of a love so pure nothing and no one could compete with it. She laughs at her own drama-llama offering. She uses Cam and Vinny to pull our lovestruck couple back to earth. Cam lets Charlee know that the world is carrying on and no, she is not the centre of the universe and yes, she has been ignoring the other people in her life. Vinny is much blunter with Alex when she tells her that “Dehydration is a bitch.” Enough with the crying already. I loved it and it pulled me back into the story.
I love an angst filled romance, I do. The Art of Us might have exceeded even my love for drama but it is written so well that I couldn’t look away. I had to know all the details of this couples long overdue HEA.
Wow, what a read.
ARC received from publisher with thanks for an honest review.
Soul Mates. The Art of Us takes the concept of soul mates to a whole new level. I don’t think I’ve ever read an angst-filled read quite like this book.
Five years after Alex left for the coast and they drifted apart, Charlee cannot sleep at night but spends all her time painting beautiful memories of her true love and soul mate Alex. Alex returns to Boston with girlfriend Kari in tow and struggles with her own memories.
The opening scenes grab you and force you to fall in love with Charlee and Alex. Of course, there can be no one else. Be gone eight-month relationship Chris. Haul your unsuspecting ass outta here. Kari? We barely knew you but you’re smart enough to notice the emotional detachment and distance Alex has for you. Sorry you had to fly all this way. Once Alex locks eyes on Charlee it’s game over for anyone remotely connected to these two and what they still mean to each other.
I found myself overwhelmed to the point of numb by the three-quarter mark of this novel. The crying, the emotions on their sleeves, the crying, so much crying over their love lost. The reluctance on Alex’s part to renew what they had for fear of losing it once again, it was all so exhausting. And then K.L. Hughes pulls reality out of this swamp of emotions and memories of a love so pure nothing and no one could compete with it. She laughs at her own drama-llama offering. She uses Cam and Vinny to pull our lovestruck couple back to earth. Cam lets Charlee know that the world is carrying on and no, she is not the centre of the universe and yes, she has been ignoring the other people in her life. Vinny is much blunter with Alex when she tells her that “Dehydration is a bitch.” Enough with the crying already. I loved it and it pulled me back into the story.
I love an angst filled romance, I do. The Art of Us might have exceeded even my love for drama but it is written so well that I couldn’t look away. I had to know all the details of this couples long overdue HEA.
Wow, what a read.
ARC received from publisher with thanks for an honest review.
yulniverse's review against another edition
5.0
Often when a book tries to convince me that the OTP is meant to be, I would end up rolling my eyes. But I truly believe that Charlee and Alex are soulmates. The chemistry is there from the get-go. And it was so easy to root for them. There's something pure and intense with the OTP and their love and I could feel it through my fingertips.
This is my first K.L. Hughes book and it certainly won't be my last. Hughes writes characters brilliantly. They're flawed but feel real and don't just feel like plot devices. Hot damn, I only knew Drew for like 2 pages. And I loved him. Vinny, Gabby and Cam (ESPECIALLY CAM) are wonderful side characters. The angst feels just right. And the payoff is incredible.
4.5 * it's good for the heart & soul.
This is my first K.L. Hughes book and it certainly won't be my last. Hughes writes characters brilliantly. They're flawed but feel real and don't just feel like plot devices. Hot damn, I only knew Drew for like 2 pages. And I loved him. Vinny, Gabby and Cam (ESPECIALLY CAM) are wonderful side characters. The angst feels just right. And the payoff is incredible.
4.5 * it's good for the heart & soul.
mjsam's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided by YLVA in return for an honest review.
I wanted to read this story because I enjoyed Popcorn Love and this had good reviews. I was hesitant though, because past/present romances are not a favourite of mine.
This isn’t a ‘fun’ book, in that it’s very angsty and there’s a lot of pining. Also, there was no separation to show when a flashback was starting within a chapter, (by that I mean use of italics or some other formatting) which did make this hard to read, because the majority of the characters appear in both the past and present, and sometimes the time jumps weren’t immediately apparent.
The other problem I had was that, while the flashbacks showed how Alex and Charlee fell in love and built their relationship, the present was just them pining for each other, whining to friends and family, and being in completely wrong for them relationships. That both of them had other partners to get rid of didn’t help, as that was always going to be the outcome, but it dragged on (for Alex anyway) way too long.
I did enjoy the backstory, and I loved the secondary characters (probably more than the leads to be honest, at least in the present) but the present day angst was too much for me, I was with most of the secondary characters and just wished they’d clean up their mess and get on with it. I did appreciate that Hughes didn’t feel the need to make either of their other partners ‘bad guys’, just people that they didn’t quite fit with but had settled for.
This is well written and Hughes does a wonderful job of making you feel the longing and pain of their separation and the immediacy of their feelings once they are back in one another’s orbit, she also gives attention to how difficult a break up can be on family and friends, especially when there’s no real ‘bad guy’. I give it 3.5 stars but have rounded up.
I wanted to read this story because I enjoyed Popcorn Love and this had good reviews. I was hesitant though, because past/present romances are not a favourite of mine.
This isn’t a ‘fun’ book, in that it’s very angsty and there’s a lot of pining. Also, there was no separation to show when a flashback was starting within a chapter, (by that I mean use of italics or some other formatting) which did make this hard to read, because the majority of the characters appear in both the past and present, and sometimes the time jumps weren’t immediately apparent.
The other problem I had was that, while the flashbacks showed how Alex and Charlee fell in love and built their relationship, the present was just them pining for each other, whining to friends and family, and being in completely wrong for them relationships. That both of them had other partners to get rid of didn’t help, as that was always going to be the outcome, but it dragged on (for Alex anyway) way too long.
I did enjoy the backstory, and I loved the secondary characters (probably more than the leads to be honest, at least in the present) but the present day angst was too much for me, I was with most of the secondary characters and just wished they’d clean up their mess and get on with it. I did appreciate that Hughes didn’t feel the need to make either of their other partners ‘bad guys’, just people that they didn’t quite fit with but had settled for.
This is well written and Hughes does a wonderful job of making you feel the longing and pain of their separation and the immediacy of their feelings once they are back in one another’s orbit, she also gives attention to how difficult a break up can be on family and friends, especially when there’s no real ‘bad guy’. I give it 3.5 stars but have rounded up.
theamandashelby's review against another edition
5.0
I listen to this one over and over. One of the best audible credits I have ever spent.
2nd Listen -- took a long road trip with my wife, she hadn't read the book. She really enjoyed it but she thought the ending was a bit long.. I still love it and think it is worth picking up either in ebook or audiobook form. ** 1st listen -- I pre-ordered this on audible and started it the moment it notified me it had been downloaded. This is a book I could listen to over and over again. I typically only buy audiobooks I have read and loved. It was also narrated by Abby Craden. She always does a great job of narrating. The choice of narrator can really make or break the audio version of a great book. This is such an awesome book. If you haven't done so already pick it up. Audiobook was great so if you have a long drive it would be perfect.
1st Reading - Wow... this book was a fantastic read. I can see Hughes becoming one of my favorite authors. It is too soon to tell, but both of the books I have read have been really good reads. I enjoyed her first book, but loved this one. I highlighted more moments in this book than any other book I have read. It has several laugh out loud moments, and a few crying moments. The range of emotion Hughes delivers is what makes this book memorable. This isn't a book that will quickly fade from your memory. I put it on my favorites list, and will reread in the future. I really hope we see a couple of follow up novels in the future. I wouldn't mind checking in with Alex and Charlee and reading about a couple of other characters finding their loves. This book is so worth your time. ARC provided by YLVA Publishing for honest review.
2nd Listen -- took a long road trip with my wife, she hadn't read the book. She really enjoyed it but she thought the ending was a bit long.. I still love it and think it is worth picking up either in ebook or audiobook form. ** 1st listen -- I pre-ordered this on audible and started it the moment it notified me it had been downloaded. This is a book I could listen to over and over again. I typically only buy audiobooks I have read and loved. It was also narrated by Abby Craden. She always does a great job of narrating. The choice of narrator can really make or break the audio version of a great book. This is such an awesome book. If you haven't done so already pick it up. Audiobook was great so if you have a long drive it would be perfect.
1st Reading - Wow... this book was a fantastic read. I can see Hughes becoming one of my favorite authors. It is too soon to tell, but both of the books I have read have been really good reads. I enjoyed her first book, but loved this one. I highlighted more moments in this book than any other book I have read. It has several laugh out loud moments, and a few crying moments. The range of emotion Hughes delivers is what makes this book memorable. This isn't a book that will quickly fade from your memory. I put it on my favorites list, and will reread in the future. I really hope we see a couple of follow up novels in the future. I wouldn't mind checking in with Alex and Charlee and reading about a couple of other characters finding their loves. This book is so worth your time. ARC provided by YLVA Publishing for honest review.
lenirlcosta's review against another edition
3.0
3,5. I really enjoyed this one and found it super gripping. My only problems with it were: 1- too much crying. Like, really, rivers have less waters than the amount of tears in this book. It got a bit tiring after a while. 2- Would’ve liked to see more of the side characters (Cam and Vini and Gabi). 3- a beet cheesy at times. I could’ve done with a bit less discriptions of feelings. 4- towards the end of the book the back and forth between timelines felt a bit much too. I don’t. I gues the first 2/3 felt stringers than the last, the ants was better written than the happy ending, IMO