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beesneysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
i love jack and will die for this man. i want to be sadie. i am having withdrawals already.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Thank goodness for supportive friends because these two main characters have some issues from their past that are preventing them from having healthy personal relationships and professional success. The secondary characters were also funny and I enjoyed their stories as well, without them detracting from the main plotline. The female MC's past is briefly explained, and though her excuses and whining become an old refrain, it's not until the very end that she decides to do something about it. The male MC's past is partially explained fairly early, but the secrets he keeps also threaten to destroy their relationship. Although the meeting of the two MC's seems a little far-fetched, it's original and makes for a sweet story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Racism and Panic attacks/disorders
dianaschmidty's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
Minor: Car accident, Toxic relationship, Classism, Gaslighting, Racism, Sexism, and Alcoholism
milehightbr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Car accident, and Death of parent
oliviastewart716's review
emotional
hopeful
- 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? Yes
4.5
(4.5/5🌟) This is going to sound strange, but the writing in this feels very millennial. It took me about 100 pages to get used to the writing and then I was sucked in. The connection/love between these two characters is so wholesome. And the found family vibe is great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse
alexcooper88's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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 and Emotional abuse
fernylace's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Cute. Liked the depiction of mental health challenges and grief in the story. Was hard to read sometimes though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Grief
maggies's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I think I get what the author was trying to do with this book, but it fell flat for me. I never felt the supposed chemistry between Sadie and Jack, and all of Sadie's friends were pretty one-dimensional as well. The primary conflict between the main characters is blown way out of proportion. There's way too much telling rather than showing throughout the story. It's marketed as slow burn, but actually the "attraction" starts quite suddenly fairly early on, and Sadie and Jack decide they "don't want to mess it up" by moving too fast, which came across as an authorly gimmick instead of a reasonable choice by the characters. On top of all that, Sadie's negative self-talk was honestly just annoying. It didn't come across as genuine, especially because she had gone to counseling to deal with her abusive upbringing, and apparently this still didn't help her gain a more accurate self-image? When Gemma, Harley, and Nick intervene and tell her she needs to go back to therapy, it's supposed to be some lightning strike moment, but she should have been in therapy for years prior, and they all should have known that. Most of my complaints are about Sadie primarily because the book is written in her voice and also because Jack is woefully underdeveloped, which is really unfortunate because he had the makings of an unusual leading man at the beginning, and it didn't go anywhere.
Glad to have read the book, and maybe I'll check out another book by Falon Ballard in the future, but this was a decidedly debut novel, so I won't be rushing to read the next, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Self harm
Minor: Racism
rebeccai's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death of parent