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hmfogel's review
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC!
The best books are heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time--this is one of those. Aly and Zed are once again sympathetic and relatable and make you care so much about them; they are the hot fudge on top of the refreshing, cool sundae made of gorgeously rhythmic writing. If you loved TURNING POINTE and SECOND POSITION, FINDING CENTER will definitely not disappoint.
The best books are heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time--this is one of those. Aly and Zed are once again sympathetic and relatable and make you care so much about them; they are the hot fudge on top of the refreshing, cool sundae made of gorgeously rhythmic writing. If you loved TURNING POINTE and SECOND POSITION, FINDING CENTER will definitely not disappoint.
ratcreature's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Miscarriage
vegancleopatra's review
1.0
There will likely be spoilers but I read this awhile ago so I cannot confirm nor deny...
This series is just extremely melodramatic and this often makes it tedious. The first installment works better because you have not grown tired of the constant drama, drama which is almost always OLD drama that will not go away.
I really, really did not enjoy this turning into a baby/pregnancy book. That is in the top two of my least favorite things to read...and I only say top two because there might be something I dislike more but right now I can't think of anything.
The therapy sessions in this book feel really unrealistic to me. Both MCs are really messed up and unsteady, especially Aly, yet nothing is said about Aly being a mother? Even the therapist says she is terrible at multitasking yet is that not a major skill of parenting? Am I missing something here?
Major issue: there is no way, absolutely no way, that these two characters we have followed for two books and a short story are anywhere near stable enough to raise a child. Yet, not having the child or giving the child up for adoption etc. is never even discussed. Not likely. Why the fuck would no one, NOT ONE, person suggest or ask about whether she was keeping it? They're both messed up emotionally and are not stable, not even with each other, but a baby is a good idea? Really? They can barely keep their own lives from spinning out of control every chapter but a baby? Sounds like a plan apparently. That child is going to have a very unhealthy childhood if you ask me. Maybe the next set of books will be this child at his/her own therapy sessions!
This series is just extremely melodramatic and this often makes it tedious. The first installment works better because you have not grown tired of the constant drama, drama which is almost always OLD drama that will not go away.
I really, really did not enjoy this turning into a baby/pregnancy book. That is in the top two of my least favorite things to read...and I only say top two because there might be something I dislike more but right now I can't think of anything.
The therapy sessions in this book feel really unrealistic to me. Both MCs are really messed up and unsteady, especially Aly, yet nothing is said about Aly being a mother? Even the therapist says she is terrible at multitasking yet is that not a major skill of parenting? Am I missing something here?
Major issue: there is no way, absolutely no way, that these two characters we have followed for two books and a short story are anywhere near stable enough to raise a child. Yet, not having the child or giving the child up for adoption etc. is never even discussed. Not likely. Why the fuck would no one, NOT ONE, person suggest or ask about whether she was keeping it? They're both messed up emotionally and are not stable, not even with each other, but a baby is a good idea? Really? They can barely keep their own lives from spinning out of control every chapter but a baby? Sounds like a plan apparently. That child is going to have a very unhealthy childhood if you ask me. Maybe the next set of books will be this child at his/her own therapy sessions!
reader_fictions's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Katie’s debut novel, Second Position, really impressed me. As such, I was really looking forward to Finding Center. Ultimately, Finding Center was less good for me, not because of a change in quality but because of the subject matter. I do think that Finding Center continues to be very strong in all the ways that Second Position was.
Why did I not like this one as much?BABY. Aly spends most of the book pregnant, something I pretty much saw coming, since I’d just read the prequel novella. Locke’s set up a parallel between Aly and Zed when they were young and now. As pregnancy/baby plots go, this was really well done. I did still like the book, which is definitely a point in Locke’s favor. The fact that they kept calling it the poppy seed was super cute. Still, I just don’t care as much about the baby as I do other things, so my heart wasn’t in this one the same way.
Aly’s struggles with her mental health, and Zed’s to a lesser degree, continue to be my favorite part of this series. New adult loves the whole “tortured past” thing, but so often doesn’t deal with it. In Locke’s books, it’s clear that love is not the solution to psychological issues; in fact, it can make dealing with them more difficult sometimes. Support obviously helps, but you have to worry about the other person’s issues and how your issues affect them and on and on. Though Locke retains a new adult, rather melodramatic tone, it is this that makes her books feel so much more realistic.
Also, if you were disappointed by the lack of sexy times in the first book, there are many more to come in Finding Center. Pun intended.
Katie’s debut novel, Second Position, really impressed me. As such, I was really looking forward to Finding Center. Ultimately, Finding Center was less good for me, not because of a change in quality but because of the subject matter. I do think that Finding Center continues to be very strong in all the ways that Second Position was.
Why did I not like this one as much?
Aly’s struggles with her mental health, and Zed’s to a lesser degree, continue to be my favorite part of this series. New adult loves the whole “tortured past” thing, but so often doesn’t deal with it. In Locke’s books, it’s clear that love is not the solution to psychological issues; in fact, it can make dealing with them more difficult sometimes. Support obviously helps, but you have to worry about the other person’s issues and how your issues affect them and on and on. Though Locke retains a new adult, rather melodramatic tone, it is this that makes her books feel so much more realistic.
Also, if you were disappointed by the lack of sexy times in the first book, there are many more to come in Finding Center. Pun intended.
annyway47's review
4.0
Now every time I wear my "My plié is better than yours" T-shirt, I'll think of Aly and Zed.
alyssakeiko's review
4.0
I enjoyed this one more than Second Position although I found myself getting irritated by Aly for being human and making mistakes and decisions I disagreed with (which is fine since humans do that in real life too). Also now I really want to go to a ballet.
celene's review
5.0
uhm,,, i just wanna say that they deserve the world :(( they deserve each other you guys :((
and of course i cried again while reading this :((( anyway
my fave things:
-when they became pregnant again,,,, i was sobbing ohmygas :((( i did not expect that i was like really preparing myself to get hurt again maybe the baby wouldn’t last long,,,,but it did,,, and it’s a baby girl,,, piper mae miller-harrow,,, ohmygas what a beautiful name for a beautiful baby :((( ( so yes i love the accidental pregnancy trope,,, bc i love babies :((( )
-“my aly spidey sense” and “poppy seed” so soft you guys 😩😩😩😩
-i love how their relationship progressed and developed in this book seriously seeing them grow individually and as a couple :(( they handle their struggles in a mature way in spite of course that they are also flawed characters love that for me :((
-dad!Zed and teacher!Zed (i mean more on with dad!Zed) is just,,,, so precious,,, im crying,,, :((
-when they were talking about their baby when piper was still in aly’s tummy,,, catch me crying in the freaking club :((
-their small, intimate moments still makes me cry 😩🥺
-shut up,,,the proposal made me cry like a baby :(( (i mean both proposals,,,, :((( when aly said no the first time,,,, and zed accepted it and he was hurt by it,,, but he held her hand and they went to their bedroom,,,that was like a whole new level of soft for me and that felt like it was so real and so raw :((( he was just understanding and loving :((( and with 2nd one,,,, mygoodness :(((( it was just perfect,,, nervous!Zed is just 😩😩😩😩)
-i love how the book showed what was like to have a partner with mental illnesses,,, that having a partner wouldn’t fix the person up but truly be helpful when the struggles become harder (like a factor in helping a person be better not necessarily the cure,,, so yeaah love that for me)
-and they are many more scenes that i truly love (i mean almost all of their scenes honestly) but yeaah my review would be too long if i include all of them so yeah,,, anyway,,, love this book :(( i love zaly wooo :((
and of course i cried again while reading this :((( anyway
my fave things:
-when they became pregnant again,,,, i was sobbing ohmygas :((( i did not expect that i was like really preparing myself to get hurt again maybe the baby wouldn’t last long,,,,but it did,,, and it’s a baby girl,,, piper mae miller-harrow,,, ohmygas what a beautiful name for a beautiful baby :((( ( so yes i love the accidental pregnancy trope,,, bc i love babies :((( )
-“my aly spidey sense” and “poppy seed” so soft you guys 😩😩😩😩
-i love how their relationship progressed and developed in this book seriously seeing them grow individually and as a couple :(( they handle their struggles in a mature way in spite of course that they are also flawed characters love that for me :((
-dad!Zed and teacher!Zed (i mean more on with dad!Zed) is just,,,, so precious,,, im crying,,, :((
-when they were talking about their baby when piper was still in aly’s tummy,,, catch me crying in the freaking club :((
-their small, intimate moments still makes me cry 😩🥺
-shut up,,,the proposal made me cry like a baby :(( (i mean both proposals,,,, :((( when aly said no the first time,,,, and zed accepted it and he was hurt by it,,, but he held her hand and they went to their bedroom,,,that was like a whole new level of soft for me and that felt like it was so real and so raw :((( he was just understanding and loving :((( and with 2nd one,,,, mygoodness :(((( it was just perfect,,, nervous!Zed is just 😩😩😩😩)
-i love how the book showed what was like to have a partner with mental illnesses,,, that having a partner wouldn’t fix the person up but truly be helpful when the struggles become harder (like a factor in helping a person be better not necessarily the cure,,, so yeaah love that for me)
-and they are many more scenes that i truly love (i mean almost all of their scenes honestly) but yeaah my review would be too long if i include all of them so yeah,,, anyway,,, love this book :(( i love zaly wooo :((
aphrodite's review
5.0
What can I say about this series I'm serious trying to find the words, this book made me feel so many different things had me crying till the last line, aly and zed will forever have a special place in my heart their story was truly aspiring I'm just so glad that they had their happily ever after, after everything that happened to them. I can't believe their story is over I'm gonna miss them so much ALSO can't wait to read more books from Katherine their writing was beautiful and they created these soft character that I will never forget. If you love best friends to lovers and second chance romances then I totally recommend you this book hope you're gonna fall in love with them and their story as much as I did <3
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