A review by yourbookishbff
Unlocked by Courtney Milan

emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This just didn't work for me as a novella, and it's possible I just can't handle the bully redemption arc. I may have been able to get there had we seen the relationship development between the main characters on page. The time jump in the middle meant we had to trust that the female main character felt differently months later, without actually seeing how he earned her trust over time, and I struggled to make this emotional transition alongside the characters. Also, the male main character's insistence on maintaining a relationship with someone consistently causing harm to the female main character? To the extent of making verbal declarations of loyalty? That was a line crossed for me. I can see how this novella will work for other readers - it just didn't work for me.
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