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emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was my first Ali Hazelwood read, even though I own several of her books on my physical TBR. I enjoyed this a lot. It’s the perfect beach book. High drama and decent spice, although it takes awhile to get to the spice. Frienemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, brother’s bestie, age gap — all the good tropes. This book is just a fun time to be honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Classism
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe one of her worst grand adventures of a romance. Connor’s character is only bearable because the voice actor in the audio book sounds hot. Maya is as annoying as the rest of Ali Hazelwood’s leads, but with a weird drug filled backstory? This one was too slow and too big and too much jumping back and forth to flashbacks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Deportation
emotional
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
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:
Complicated
This was cute, fun to read (and quick, I devoured it in huge chunks), and quite spicy. It didn't totally hit a romance bingo for me but I still really enjoyed it.
(Unfortunately?) I do love a slightly possessive yet consent king MMC, so that trope worked for me. I would have liked a little more depth from Maya, and there were some plot beats that felt like they had too little build up. The plot was often progressed with a lot of dialogue, which I don't hate, but may not appeal to readers who prefer more descriptive prose.
I didn't realize this was a spinoff of Not in Love, and not having read that had me confused about who some of the characters were.
I look forward to reading more by Ali Hazelwood.
(Unfortunately?) I do love a slightly possessive yet consent king MMC, so that trope worked for me. I would have liked a little more depth from Maya, and there were some plot beats that felt like they had too little build up. The plot was often progressed with a lot of dialogue, which I don't hate, but may not appeal to readers who prefer more descriptive prose.
I didn't realize this was a spinoff of Not in Love, and not having read that had me confused about who some of the characters were.
I look forward to reading more by Ali Hazelwood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Vomit, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Also content warning for a drowning incident , but the character survives
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay. I am giving this book an extra 0.5 for the vibes. Despite all of the problems I had with this book Hazelwood's writting is so emotive and engrossing. You'll have a good time if you read this book, but you might have a little frustration with the characters throughout. Here is a list of the problems I had with this book:
1. I agree with everyone that Connor was a bit too whiny about the age difference, and after the third mention of the gap, it did feel redundant.
2. This book needed way more flashbacks! That was the part of the book that I was the most invested in. The emotional connection and tension between Maya and Connor were best written in these scenes. I feel that there could have been way more content focusing on the development of their relationship rather than the present-day sightseeing ones we got throughout.
3. There were too many people in the group to keep track of. I get that a small group made it to the island early, but I'm not sure why we went outside of Rue and Eli's best friends. I'm not sure why various tangential friends were included. Sometimes they provided comedic relief, and sometimes they provided problems that Connor and Maya had to work through, but I wasn't emotionally invested in most of the side characters.
4. Why must everyone in the group have slept together previously? I'm particularly focused on Connor and Minami. Was their having been in a relationship previously that important to the plot? I feel like we could have cut it entirely and lost nothing with regards to the larger plot.
5. Avery. She was so underdeveloped and was just a plot device. About half way through the book when she came back up I was like, "who?"
The vibes were fun, but this book could have been about 50 pages shorter in its current format. Also, and this is a side point. If I were Eli and Rue's friends, I'd be pissed at the end of the book.
1. I agree with everyone that Connor was a bit too whiny about the age difference, and after the third mention of the gap, it did feel redundant.
2. This book needed way more flashbacks! That was the part of the book that I was the most invested in. The emotional connection and tension between Maya and Connor were best written in these scenes. I feel that there could have been way more content focusing on the development of their relationship rather than the present-day sightseeing ones we got throughout.
3. There were too many people in the group to keep track of. I get that a small group made it to the island early, but I'm not sure why we went outside of Rue and Eli's best friends. I'm not sure why various tangential friends were included. Sometimes they provided comedic relief, and sometimes they provided problems that Connor and Maya had to work through, but I wasn't emotionally invested in most of the side characters.
4. Why must everyone in the group have slept together previously? I'm particularly focused on Connor and Minami. Was their having been in a relationship previously that important to the plot? I feel like we could have cut it entirely and lost nothing with regards to the larger plot.
5. Avery. She was so underdeveloped and was just a plot device. About half way through the book when she came back up I was like, "who?"
The vibes were fun, but this book could have been about 50 pages shorter in its current format. Also, and this is a side point. If I were Eli and Rue's friends, I'd be pissed at the end of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Classism