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ramreadsagain's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The first straight romance I’ve read this year where I actually liked the male MC!!
This had a slow start but picked up really well and I ended up enjoying this immensely.
I loved the amazing representation for disability and plus sized people, it was written in such a way that is directly against the usual “disabled and/or plus sized are unattractive/sexually unavailable” way. And done so incredibly well! Be warned, it’s spicier than it seems like it would be. And I think this is done intentionally to show that, yes, these groups want/have/enjoy sex!
I was worried that the miscommunication trope would ruin this for me but actually it’s the most well-written example of this trope I’ve come across. It didn’t last very long and the MCs deal with it in a mature and realistic way.
Loved the characters and the writing!
This had a slow start but picked up really well and I ended up enjoying this immensely.
I loved the amazing representation for disability and plus sized people, it was written in such a way that is directly against the usual “disabled and/or plus sized are unattractive/sexually unavailable” way. And done so incredibly well! Be warned, it’s spicier than it seems like it would be. And I think this is done intentionally to show that, yes, these groups want/have/enjoy sex!
I was worried that the miscommunication trope would ruin this for me but actually it’s the most well-written example of this trope I’ve come across. It didn’t last very long and the MCs deal with it in a mature and realistic way.
Loved the characters and the writing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Ableism
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Classism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Medical trauma
mwhite0226's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
jadeandsuch's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
First off, I’m going to need these all these amazing romance authors to stop writing literally the perfect men. It’s starting to hurt my feelings and feel personal. Secondly, this book is so lighthearted and warm and just plain fun. The writing is hilarious and the characters are diverse and real and people you would absolutely want to know in real life. It was an absolute breath of fresh air to read about a woman battling chronic pain and fibromyalgia and to actually know and feel that this is exactly how one would react to these circumstances while battling endless pain. It all felt very real and personal and touched my heart.
The backstory of an abusive relationship is handled with such care and grace, while also being very raw and real. It is a plot many readers have lived and felt and it was reassuring, in a way, to read about it in a romcom setting and have it be addressed and dealt with. It lends a feeling of community and knowing that, if you’ve experienced that kind of trauma, you aren’t alone. Your actions and reactions may not always make sense to others, but sometimes we don’t get to control how our brains choose to protect ourselves; we can only learn and grow and forgive ourselves for processing trauma the way that we do.
I truly loved reading about a fat heroine (curvy, plus size, whatever you want to call it; I’m sticking with fat because it isn’t a word that makes me feel bad about myself). While she is first and foremost a Black woman battling chronic pain, I couldn’t help but love seeing her so comfortable in her skin and her size. And I absolutely adored seeing Red love every bit of her. It was reaffirming. He didn’t love her becauseof or despite her size; he didn’t fetishize her (which is a fear most fat women face). He just loved her, all of her, all the things that made Chloe Chloe, and that really got me in my feelings.
This was such an incredible read and I cannot wait to read the stories of the other sisters. Their short scenes in this book were filled with such character and warmth and I just know it’s going to be a good time reading their tales.
If you love romcoms, smut, heartfelt stories, and badass heroines, read this book. If you love strong men who feel their feelings and take care of people, read this book.
Now. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go figure out how to manifest my own Redford while consuming Hibbert’s other novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical trauma
Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
coffeeatthebeachwoodcafe's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
this book is so so sweet. it has great fat and autistic representation watching someone who’s fat be loved the same as anyone else meant a lot to me. red and chloe both working through last trauma so that they can have a healthy relationship was inspiring to watch :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Medical content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Violence
booksbynat's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
THIS WAS VERY GOOD. I feel like it has been a while since I have read a romance book--like just romance, and this was SO good. I feel like I hear so so much about Eve Brown being the best one, and she is the youngest sister, so I feel like I might relate to that one the most, so I held off on giving it a 5 star rating. But, it was still just so amazing and GREAT representation, and not in a weird, showing off way where there is like one gay person. They felt like REAL people, which is why I liked it so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Drug use
t_higgsreviews's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.14
This was the story I never knew I needed. As most people who know me know I rarely read romance and, even less so do I read books that feature conditions I have because they never usually come close to my experiences. This however was different. Chronic illnesses are different for everyone but there are things everyone with chronic illnesses experience such as losing friends and/or failing relationships, medical gaslighting/trauma and frustration at the fact our bodies don't behave as they once did. These commonalities were highlighted really well in this and in a way that doesn't turn them into a pity party.
Another thing that was dealt with really well was past trauma and how that can have a lasting impact on us and our approach to future relationships. I normally hate the miscommunication trope but in this case it demonstrates how we can be triggered even when everything is going well due to our past experiences and how the traumatised part of our brain can shut down even while the rationale part is screaming at us not to.
I also appreciated that Chloe and Red had a sexual relationship in the book. Society too often presume that disabled people are not interested in or incapable of having sex but, for the majority of us this is false. Some of the things I've been told or experienced with people on this topic because I am disabled are so traumatic I couldn't even begin to write them down for the world to read. This book blew that misconception out of the water though.
I'm so grateful that I decided to take a chance on this book and I can't wait to continue on with the series.
CAWPILE = 9.14
This was the story I never knew I needed. As most people who know me know I rarely read romance and, even less so do I read books that feature conditions I have because they never usually come close to my experiences. This however was different. Chronic illnesses are different for everyone but there are things everyone with chronic illnesses experience such as losing friends and/or failing relationships, medical gaslighting/trauma and frustration at the fact our bodies don't behave as they once did. These commonalities were highlighted really well in this and in a way that doesn't turn them into a pity party.
Another thing that was dealt with really well was past trauma and how that can have a lasting impact on us and our approach to future relationships. I normally hate the miscommunication trope but in this case it demonstrates how we can be triggered even when everything is going well due to our past experiences and how the traumatised part of our brain can shut down even while the rationale part is screaming at us not to.
I also appreciated that Chloe and Red had a sexual relationship in the book. Society too often presume that disabled people are not interested in or incapable of having sex but, for the majority of us this is false. Some of the things I've been told or experienced with people on this topic because I am disabled are so traumatic I couldn't even begin to write them down for the world to read. This book blew that misconception out of the water though.
I'm so grateful that I decided to take a chance on this book and I can't wait to continue on with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Car accident
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
jennifermoyas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
Love this book. The characters are lovely and their actions always makes sense.
The representation for chronic illness is not something I see often in books but I really enjoyed it, and since I don’t suffer from it myself I felt this to be very insightful.
SPOILERS!!!
SPOILERS!!!
Another thing I enjoyed to see represented was an abusive past relationship where the woman was the abuser. I think it’s really important to show men can be abused in heterosexual relationships as well. It is important to talk about so enjoyed to have found a book that does this. <33
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Domestic abuse
lewnie's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
Chloe Brown copes with her chronic pain by organizing and compartmentalizing and shutting people out. After her so-called friends and her fiance stopped coming around, she decided that she didn’t need things in her life like love. She is just fine living at home with her academically-minded parents, her eccentric grandmother, and her two sisters. But after an almost-accident causes her life to flash before her eyes, she realizes that she needs to live a little. So Chloe moves out and makes a list that will fulfill her resolution to get a life. But what she doesn’t have on her list is Red Morgan. The big, tattooed, motorcycle riding artist-turned-flat superintendent isn’t too keen on Chloe. She’s too posh and stuck-up to want anything to do with him. But she’s also incredibly beautiful and he just can’t help himself. When Red agrees to help Chloe with her list in exchange for working on a website for his art, sparks fly.
The good: REDFORD FREAKING MORGAN. My god.
But seriously. I loved everything about this book: Chloe, and Red, and their relationship, and obviously Smudge. This was by far the best relationship I’ve ever read in a romance novel. They really try to talk to each other and understand each other, even when there are miscommunications. And there are, because this is a romance novel– amiright?
The bad: Literally nothing.
Overall: I can’t believe I hadn’t read this before. Maybe the art on the cover deceived me or something, because this was sublime. The relationship was impeccable. The representation was everything I have been wanting out of a romcom. The love interest? *chef’s kiss*. There is a cat and cardigans and trauma and love and healing. I just cannot recommend this one enough.
Representation: Black FMC, Black supporting characters, LGBTQ+ supporting character, FMC has a disability.
CW: sexual content, chronic illness, toxic relationship, panic disorders, cursing, ableism, domestic abuse, medical content, physical abuse, mental illness, car accident, medical trauma, gaslighting, classism, drug use (for medical purposes).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Ableism, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Drug use, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Car accident
cami7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical trauma
Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Grief and Death
gtrue21's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is so sweet and good every time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Minor: Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship