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A review by katemc7
Quiet Longing by L.H. Cosway
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
This was my first book by LH, and I was very moved by it. She touched on a LOT of trigger subjects and did it with such finesse. I really liked both of our MCs. We have Charli who when we first meet her is strong and confident and carefree. Then we have Rhys who has never been the one getting the girls attention and has frankly had a HARD life so far. The thing I appreciated and enjoyed reading about was fast forwarding 16 years later and we have the roles reversed. Charli has now been through it. She is timid and self conscious while Rhys is more settled and confident. The connection these two had in both parts of this book was infectious. I felt like I was in the room with them and could feel their energy. My heart broke for them at the end of the first part- having to step away not because of feelings but distance. Watching them rekindle their romance, it was like no time had passed. Both of these characters were strong and fierce in their own way. I was rooting for them to make it the whole way through.
Charli is in Ireland for the summer before she heads to college. She has no expectations other than to have a good time. So when she finds herself crushing on her cousin's BF, Rhys, she tries to convince herself now is not the time. But she can't ignore how her body reacts around him or how he makes her feel. They flirt and dance around each other until they can't fight it anymore. They are each other's firsts and so much more. It is impossible to think at the end of the summer they will go their separate ways, but this is what happens. Charli is heartbroken when a few months go by and Rhys is now radio silent. Fast forward 16 years and Charli finds herself back in Ireland. It seems to be a place of awakening and healing for her. She is on the other side of an abusive marriage and is trying to find her footing. She does not expect to see Rhys NOR does she expect her body to have the same reaction as before when they were younger. She feels safe with him. She feels things she hasn't felt in a long time. She starts to realize how important he is to her and that he might be able to get her over a few things she has been struggling with. She decides she can't fight it anymore and propositions him for a situation that is beneficial to both of them. What she doesn't think about is her heart? Is she ready for something like this? Will she ever be? Because even though her heart knows it belongs to Rhys, her mind is fighting her on it.
Rhys is going through it at 19. His dad is abusive towards him and his mom and FINALLY she makes the decision to leave him. His safe haven is his BF's mansion. When said BF's cousin, Charli, comes to town from America he doesn't know what to do with himself. She actually pays attention to him. Not all of his friends who have always gotten the girls. No her eyes seem to find him in a crowded room. They are conveying things to him that he can't quite comprehend. So after dancing around each other and gathering some courage, they become each others firsts. He realizes too late how much he feels for Charli but wouldn't trade this time for anything. So when she leaves, he tries to stay in touch. But tragedy hits again and he withdraws. When he sees her again he sees she is engaged and so he decides to move on too. Fast forward 16 years, she is back. And he questions how he ever convinced himself that he loved someone else? It has ALWAYS been her. She is different though. Gone is the confident young woman replaced with a timid one who has been through it. Rhys recognizes the signs and decides he is going to help Charli. He is going to be whoever she needs him to be. He thinks she might leave him again at some point but it will be worth it right? He knows he wants her in his life forever. He is just waiting for her to catch up.
LH did a great job of helping me connect with these characters. I liked the pacing of the story and the side characters as well. I had already bought book 1 and definitely plan on reading that one soon. And LOVE the idea of Jonathan being our next MMC. I like that this book (and I'm assuming the others) are a harder look at love. It comes easy for these two but they had to work to get it back. Definitely recommend this one if you haven't picked it up yet!
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and LH for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Charli is in Ireland for the summer before she heads to college. She has no expectations other than to have a good time. So when she finds herself crushing on her cousin's BF, Rhys, she tries to convince herself now is not the time. But she can't ignore how her body reacts around him or how he makes her feel. They flirt and dance around each other until they can't fight it anymore. They are each other's firsts and so much more. It is impossible to think at the end of the summer they will go their separate ways, but this is what happens. Charli is heartbroken when a few months go by and Rhys is now radio silent. Fast forward 16 years and Charli finds herself back in Ireland. It seems to be a place of awakening and healing for her. She is on the other side of an abusive marriage and is trying to find her footing. She does not expect to see Rhys NOR does she expect her body to have the same reaction as before when they were younger. She feels safe with him. She feels things she hasn't felt in a long time. She starts to realize how important he is to her and that he might be able to get her over a few things she has been struggling with. She decides she can't fight it anymore and propositions him for a situation that is beneficial to both of them. What she doesn't think about is her heart? Is she ready for something like this? Will she ever be? Because even though her heart knows it belongs to Rhys, her mind is fighting her on it.
Rhys is going through it at 19. His dad is abusive towards him and his mom and FINALLY she makes the decision to leave him. His safe haven is his BF's mansion. When said BF's cousin, Charli, comes to town from America he doesn't know what to do with himself. She actually pays attention to him. Not all of his friends who have always gotten the girls. No her eyes seem to find him in a crowded room. They are conveying things to him that he can't quite comprehend. So after dancing around each other and gathering some courage, they become each others firsts. He realizes too late how much he feels for Charli but wouldn't trade this time for anything. So when she leaves, he tries to stay in touch. But tragedy hits again and he withdraws. When he sees her again he sees she is engaged and so he decides to move on too. Fast forward 16 years, she is back. And he questions how he ever convinced himself that he loved someone else? It has ALWAYS been her. She is different though. Gone is the confident young woman replaced with a timid one who has been through it. Rhys recognizes the signs and decides he is going to help Charli. He is going to be whoever she needs him to be. He thinks she might leave him again at some point but it will be worth it right? He knows he wants her in his life forever. He is just waiting for her to catch up.
LH did a great job of helping me connect with these characters. I liked the pacing of the story and the side characters as well. I had already bought book 1 and definitely plan on reading that one soon. And LOVE the idea of Jonathan being our next MMC. I like that this book (and I'm assuming the others) are a harder look at love. It comes easy for these two but they had to work to get it back. Definitely recommend this one if you haven't picked it up yet!
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and LH for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!