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neelamreadsalot's review
3.0
This book was ok. It had a really strong start, but I feel like it reached at too intense issues to do them justice. The characters have a few internal monologues about their problems but nothing else in the plot that screams “this major thing is happening in my life”
Maybe it’s because I’m not college age that this story just doesn’t quite land. But I feel like young adults aren’t able to mask in their day to day, the way these two MC do. It just didn’t feel realistic.
Maybe it’s because I’m not college age that this story just doesn’t quite land. But I feel like young adults aren’t able to mask in their day to day, the way these two MC do. It just didn’t feel realistic.
freadomlibrary's review
4.0
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
This story was really dramatic, but not in the way that New Adult books usually are. I kind of felt like this one was more real even with some of the angst and emotional scenes. It was really entertaining though and I liked the themes of family and friendship. I felt like the romance was really supportive and I like that hockey is still a big part of the plot.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
It’s really easy to read and fast paced. The writing style is simple and entertaining, with some drama obviously. There are multiple POV’s, each with its own distinct voice. I liked the difference between the two characters and their thoughts process.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
I liked the characters in this book. I was very happy to get to know Bridger a bit more because I really liked him in the first book and the new female lead was interesting as well.
Scarlet is a strong and smart character. I found her to be really resilient and persistent. She kind of took a chance, changed her identity and went off into the unknown to be able to be happy. That takes a lot of courage to me. She’s quiet and sweet and kind.
Bridger is determined. I liked seeing more of his personality because he’s really sweet. He has a really strong attitude even when there’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders. He’s a character that I feel proud of as I read, he takes on so much on his own that he shouldn’t have to deal with but it’s so impressive.
There’s a younger character within this book whom I loved and I really liked seeing the characters from the first book even though they weren’t on page enough for me. I would’ve liked to see more complex character within the narrative.
Emotionally
The plot was dramatic. We follow Scarlet, a girl who’s changed her name in an effort to get away from her father’s legacy. She meets Bridger, who’s year has changed completely after having to take on more responsibility with his family. I liked this book though it definitely wasn’t as entertaining as I was expecting. I tend to like New Adult books that are fast paced, easy to read and fun. I don’t want them to be too dramatic or serious, though the exploration of themes with those characteristics are always interesting. But this book was just intense. Both of the character’s lives were full of tough situations and impossible circumstances. That made the book much more serious than I tend to enjoy. The romance was good but I think what was happening within the characters’ lives was much more overpowering than that part of the story. It’s really strange for me to say that I actually wanted more romance in a book but I’m doing it! It didn’t feel like an instalove story but we didn’t actually get to see on page the development of their relationship together. I would’ve liked to have seen more of that as well as more from the side characters. Because of the nature of the plot of this book, the side characters that I wanted to see were practically nonexistent. I wanted to see more friendship within the story. The plot in general is emotional and intense. It was kind of a roller coaster of emotions though I’m glad everything worked out in the end for everyone.
Scarlet has a lot of strength. She’s struggling with a lot of things that are outside of her control. Her father’s legal troubles have caused her to be isolated in her home town and as soon as she’s able, she takes the opportunity to escape and to build a life outside of that to the best of her abilities. That takes so much courage and bravery in my opinion. It was such a precarious situation and things quickly got out of hand. I was waiting for her to take a chance and confide in someone because it was something she needed to help her stay sane. I’m glad that came about but it took a little bit too long in my opinion. If we could’ve seen more of the romance developing, I feel like it would’ve been better for her to share her struggles, specially since he shared his with her earlier.
As for Bridger, I just think he’s such a stand up guy. He’s the kind of guy that you want as your friend, he’s a good one to have there to support you. I loved how much he loved his little sister. It was so sweet and endearing. Everything about his character felt genuine and open. I think the dynamic he had with Scarlet was really nice. But again, I would’ve liked to have actually seen on page more of the development of their romance because it seemed so sweet and cute. It just wasn’t enough for me to actually root for them. I wanted them to succeed more as individuals than I wanted to root for them as a couple which is usually what I look for in romances.
Briefly, I’ll mention again that I wanted to see more of the side characters. From Scarlet’s roommates, to Bridger’s doormate and Hartley and Corey, the side characters were there for a few sentences, some paragraphs and that’s it. I wanted more friendships and for that to be developed as well.
Overall, I liked this book but not as much as the first one. I appreciated that the story has serious themes but it overpowered the romance and the friendships that were present before and trying to be established. I went into it looking for something more light and fluffy so while I enjoyed it, it’s not my favorite.
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
This story was really dramatic, but not in the way that New Adult books usually are. I kind of felt like this one was more real even with some of the angst and emotional scenes. It was really entertaining though and I liked the themes of family and friendship. I felt like the romance was really supportive and I like that hockey is still a big part of the plot.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
It’s really easy to read and fast paced. The writing style is simple and entertaining, with some drama obviously. There are multiple POV’s, each with its own distinct voice. I liked the difference between the two characters and their thoughts process.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
I liked the characters in this book. I was very happy to get to know Bridger a bit more because I really liked him in the first book and the new female lead was interesting as well.
Scarlet is a strong and smart character. I found her to be really resilient and persistent. She kind of took a chance, changed her identity and went off into the unknown to be able to be happy. That takes a lot of courage to me. She’s quiet and sweet and kind.
Bridger is determined. I liked seeing more of his personality because he’s really sweet. He has a really strong attitude even when there’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders. He’s a character that I feel proud of as I read, he takes on so much on his own that he shouldn’t have to deal with but it’s so impressive.
There’s a younger character within this book whom I loved and I really liked seeing the characters from the first book even though they weren’t on page enough for me. I would’ve liked to see more complex character within the narrative.
Emotionally
Spoiler
I liked this one about the same as the first book, though it had a lot more drama and some more serious themes. I still had some issues with it.The plot was dramatic. We follow Scarlet, a girl who’s changed her name in an effort to get away from her father’s legacy. She meets Bridger, who’s year has changed completely after having to take on more responsibility with his family. I liked this book though it definitely wasn’t as entertaining as I was expecting. I tend to like New Adult books that are fast paced, easy to read and fun. I don’t want them to be too dramatic or serious, though the exploration of themes with those characteristics are always interesting. But this book was just intense. Both of the character’s lives were full of tough situations and impossible circumstances. That made the book much more serious than I tend to enjoy. The romance was good but I think what was happening within the characters’ lives was much more overpowering than that part of the story. It’s really strange for me to say that I actually wanted more romance in a book but I’m doing it! It didn’t feel like an instalove story but we didn’t actually get to see on page the development of their relationship together. I would’ve liked to have seen more of that as well as more from the side characters. Because of the nature of the plot of this book, the side characters that I wanted to see were practically nonexistent. I wanted to see more friendship within the story. The plot in general is emotional and intense. It was kind of a roller coaster of emotions though I’m glad everything worked out in the end for everyone.
Scarlet has a lot of strength. She’s struggling with a lot of things that are outside of her control. Her father’s legal troubles have caused her to be isolated in her home town and as soon as she’s able, she takes the opportunity to escape and to build a life outside of that to the best of her abilities. That takes so much courage and bravery in my opinion. It was such a precarious situation and things quickly got out of hand. I was waiting for her to take a chance and confide in someone because it was something she needed to help her stay sane. I’m glad that came about but it took a little bit too long in my opinion. If we could’ve seen more of the romance developing, I feel like it would’ve been better for her to share her struggles, specially since he shared his with her earlier.
As for Bridger, I just think he’s such a stand up guy. He’s the kind of guy that you want as your friend, he’s a good one to have there to support you. I loved how much he loved his little sister. It was so sweet and endearing. Everything about his character felt genuine and open. I think the dynamic he had with Scarlet was really nice. But again, I would’ve liked to have actually seen on page more of the development of their romance because it seemed so sweet and cute. It just wasn’t enough for me to actually root for them. I wanted them to succeed more as individuals than I wanted to root for them as a couple which is usually what I look for in romances.
Briefly, I’ll mention again that I wanted to see more of the side characters. From Scarlet’s roommates, to Bridger’s doormate and Hartley and Corey, the side characters were there for a few sentences, some paragraphs and that’s it. I wanted more friendships and for that to be developed as well.
Overall, I liked this book but not as much as the first one. I appreciated that the story has serious themes but it overpowered the romance and the friendships that were present before and trying to be established. I went into it looking for something more light and fluffy so while I enjoyed it, it’s not my favorite.
a_reader_obsessed's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Not as strong as the first in this series but still very, very solid.
Scarlet is hiding and for good reasons. Her dad has been charged with a horrendous crime, and thus her entire life has been hell for the last year. She just wants to escape to college and start anew, and that begins with changing her identity. The only bright thing in her life is the growing friendship she has with hottie Bridger, as they help each other with classes and studying.
The thing is, Bridger too, is hiding some big secrets. His mom has spiraled into self destruction after the sudden death of his father a few years back, so much so, his little sister Lucy has been grossly neglected. Being the great guy he is, Bridger’s taken it upon himself to care for her, keeping fingers and toes crossed that no one finds out he’s breaking all sorts of rules that can get him kicked out of college or forcing Lucy into foster care. He’s burning the candle at both ends and something inevitably is gonna give.
Once again, Bowen excels so much at her male protagonists. Bridger was a dream. Caring, loyal, immensely earnest and gentle, and wonderful in all the ways one can be as a big brother and boyfriend. *dreamy sigh* Scarlet herself, wasn’t too bad. There's a bit of melodrama which kinda made me roll my eyes, as she sacrifices her relationship for the good of all involved. Ugh. However it was totally understandable. I guess. This is where communication is key, and it frustratingly took awhile for that to happen.
Overall, a good entry to this series. Obviously, the majority of points goes towards Bridger. This was consistently sweet and sexy - I doubt many will complain about this at all. Enjoy!
Not as strong as the first in this series but still very, very solid.
Scarlet is hiding and for good reasons. Her dad has been charged with a horrendous crime, and thus her entire life has been hell for the last year. She just wants to escape to college and start anew, and that begins with changing her identity. The only bright thing in her life is the growing friendship she has with hottie Bridger, as they help each other with classes and studying.
The thing is, Bridger too, is hiding some big secrets. His mom has spiraled into self destruction after the sudden death of his father a few years back, so much so, his little sister Lucy has been grossly neglected. Being the great guy he is, Bridger’s taken it upon himself to care for her, keeping fingers and toes crossed that no one finds out he’s breaking all sorts of rules that can get him kicked out of college or forcing Lucy into foster care. He’s burning the candle at both ends and something inevitably is gonna give.
Once again, Bowen excels so much at her male protagonists. Bridger was a dream. Caring, loyal, immensely earnest and gentle, and wonderful in all the ways one can be as a big brother and boyfriend. *dreamy sigh* Scarlet herself, wasn’t too bad. There's a bit of melodrama which kinda made me roll my eyes, as she sacrifices her relationship for the good of all involved. Ugh. However it was totally understandable. I guess. This is where communication is key, and it frustratingly took awhile for that to happen.
Overall, a good entry to this series. Obviously, the majority of points goes towards Bridger. This was consistently sweet and sexy - I doubt many will complain about this at all. Enjoy!
gabs_parr's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
nitzanschwarz's review
4.0
Okay, so, honestly? This is just a very sweet romance about two nice people falling in love and braving the hardships of life together, as a unit.
Like, there is no real relationship angst between these two because that's not the type of story this is, and probably not the type of story Bowen likes to tell judging by this and The Year We Fell Down. Instead, she likes to tell stories of people coming together and helping each other stay afloat and find ground. Center and focus each other. Stuff like that.
I like that. I like that a lot.
Scarlet is dealing with a family scandal that, more than anything, makes her feel extremely guilty. Guilty for not having seen any signs, and guilty for the off chance all those accusations are lies. She doesn't know where she stands or belongs anymore, but she wants to carve a new life away from all the horribleness.
Bridger is living on a knife's edge, with his whole at stake. Because whereas Scarlet wants to put her family far behind her, he just wants to keep his together. Or, at the very least, him and his sister. Here is this earnest man who is doing it *all*. Keeping his grades, his jobs and his sister. But it could all easily crumble.
Now, these two people meet and unite, and that's that for them. There is no other person they'd rather be with, and it shows through their quiet ease around each other, and the way they lean into each other. Quite beautiful.
The only two things I can mention on the negatives are not really negatives, just observations;
1. It's probably best for me not to read Bowen's book one after the other, because sometimes her characters voice sound *very* similar. Like, describing the school as Hogwarts houses or using Giddyup. Two very specific things that appeared in both books, by completely different characters. That's a bit weird for me. And something I definitely struggle with in my own writing lol
2. [The discovery of Scarlet's true father was a bit weird for me. I had no particular issue with it, but I did wonder why it was necessary to completely disassociate her from her pedophile dad. Like, good people can be born to horrible human beings. That's just a fact, and that's okay. They very rarely get the good fortune of discovering that those scumbag people are actually not blood-related to them in any shape or form, and that made me kind of sad that Bowen felt it necessary to "clean" Scarlet by giving her this out. Just some thoughts, tho (hide spoiler)]
Like, there is no real relationship angst between these two because that's not the type of story this is, and probably not the type of story Bowen likes to tell judging by this and The Year We Fell Down. Instead, she likes to tell stories of people coming together and helping each other stay afloat and find ground. Center and focus each other. Stuff like that.
I like that. I like that a lot.
Scarlet is dealing with a family scandal that, more than anything, makes her feel extremely guilty. Guilty for not having seen any signs, and guilty for the off chance all those accusations are lies. She doesn't know where she stands or belongs anymore, but she wants to carve a new life away from all the horribleness.
Bridger is living on a knife's edge, with his whole at stake. Because whereas Scarlet wants to put her family far behind her, he just wants to keep his together. Or, at the very least, him and his sister. Here is this earnest man who is doing it *all*. Keeping his grades, his jobs and his sister. But it could all easily crumble.
Now, these two people meet and unite, and that's that for them. There is no other person they'd rather be with, and it shows through their quiet ease around each other, and the way they lean into each other. Quite beautiful.
The only two things I can mention on the negatives are not really negatives, just observations;
1. It's probably best for me not to read Bowen's book one after the other, because sometimes her characters voice sound *very* similar. Like, describing the school as Hogwarts houses or using Giddyup. Two very specific things that appeared in both books, by completely different characters. That's a bit weird for me. And something I definitely struggle with in my own writing lol
2. [The discovery of Scarlet's true father was a bit weird for me. I had no particular issue with it, but I did wonder why it was necessary to completely disassociate her from her pedophile dad. Like, good people can be born to horrible human beings. That's just a fact, and that's okay. They very rarely get the good fortune of discovering that those scumbag people are actually not blood-related to them in any shape or form, and that made me kind of sad that Bowen felt it necessary to "clean" Scarlet by giving her this out. Just some thoughts, tho (hide spoiler)]
whiskis's review
emotional
inspiring
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
4.5
I loved the characters in this book, and the struggles they went thru made the story a great one.
emmina's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
lamanda_quiring's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Sarina Bowen is incapable of writing characters that you don’t love. I’m flying through these books, but having the best time. There’s moments that made me tear up, laugh, and gave me the warm fuzzies. I love Bridger & Scarlet.
charms1976's review against another edition
5.0
BRIDGER!!
I am seriously in fan-girl love with this series. One of my faves!
I am seriously in fan-girl love with this series. One of my faves!