A review by sixelad03
Want You Still by CE Ricci, Marley Valentine

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

3.0

I waited a few days before writing this review. I needed to allow my mind to process what I’d read.
 
CE Ricci is a one-click author for me. I automatically read any book she publishes. As for Marley Valentin, I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I didn’t know this author until now, but I’ll definitely read Without You, as I’m curious to discover Deacon and Julian’s story.
 
Now, let’s get back to Want You Still. 
 
As I’ve said before, CE Ricci is a one-click author for me. As such, I went into reading the book blindly. I didn’t know what the story was about. So, I started the book with an open mind. 
 
Let’s start with the positive: 
—The writing style: I don’t know how the work was divided between the two authors, but it all flows. Both authors are good writers. 
—The first part of the book: largely dedicated to the burning passion between Pierce and Will. While they were beginning to get to know each other as they spend the week together, you also get the feeling that they can’t hold back their desire for each other. 
—The second part of the book: probably my favourite. Their correspondence is quite short, but the letters allow us to get to know them and a lot of emotions comes from reading them.
 
Now for the negative: 
—The third part of the book: there’s so much to say about this part… From the moment I read that Will/Auden was at his sister’s wedding, I immediately knew who the groom-to-be was. To be honest, my first reaction was to think that Emily and Pierce barely knew each other and were already going to tie the knot, WTF? I guess I’m old-fashioned, but they would have known each other for what, 4 or 5 months? While I can imagine there are people who get married quickly and for whom everything works out, how could Pierce think that getting married while still so strongly in love with Will would create a solid foundation to his marriage? 
—Pierce Evans: were we supposed to like this character in part three? I’m only asking because I couldn’t find an ounce of sympathy for him after the letters. In my opinion, he doesn’t deserve Will and didn’t deserve Emily.
 
I won’t bring up the cheating aspect of the story, as it’s not a trope that bothers me that much if it’s well executed – although I don’t think that was necessarily the case here. That being said, it’s always braver to leave someone you think cheating on, rather than to give in to your own desires. Especially, when you’re cheating on your partner with their twin brother.
 
There are 3-stars positive reviews and there are 3-stars ‘I can’t give less, because it’s still well written,’ reviews, and that’s the case here.