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A review by oofie
This Will Hurt II by Cara Dee
3.0
3 - was ok
This book is the second in a duology and follows Roe. Roe is one of two best friends and filmmakers, and in the previous book, became best friends and business partners with Jake. They supported each other throughout the years, through girlfriends and new children being added to their respective (and, in a way, collective) broods.
What we find out in this book is that, though we already knew Roe was bi, we find out that he discovered that through falling in love with Jake. And he's been in love with Jake for years.
Unfortunately, though Jake is single, he's also straight, and hasn't expressed any interest except for a 30th birthday party dalliance between the two. And to complicate things further, Roe is stuck in an unhappy marriage with a depressed wife.
This book is...a lot of things. It's a lot of angst. It's not a happy book. Jake and Roe finally decided to be together, but they do it while Roe is still married, so Roe ends up cheating with Jake. Repeatedly. Emotionally and physically. I understand why the author has him stay married—Sandra has hella postpartum depression—but still, cheating was...a choice.
Another thing that bugs me about this book is that everyone just KEEPS HAVING CHILDREN. ESPECIALLY YOU, ROE. Why are you and your wife having more kids when you're pining over your best friend? Why are there so many kids in these books? STOP HAVING KIDS WHEN YOUR MARRIAGE IS DEAD.
I also both admire and am irritated with the level of support for these basically single parents. Jake and Roe have a hell of a network that willingly help them take care of their kids. It's awesome...and, I fear, pretty unrealistic. I don't know a single parent who has that level of unwavering support. I suppose this book isn't required to be realistic, but the author said in the afterword that they prefer to write realistic characters, so I imagine they like realistic situations as well?
I also like how these books take place over years and am annoyed with it. This book lasted forever. Jake and Roe didn't get their HEA for SO LONG. I think that, just personally, I like the tension and buildup to a relationship forming as opposed to the angst after feelings are acknowledged and not actually getting into that relationship for a long time.
All that to say that I don't think I was the biggest fan of this book. Like I did read it, and I'm glad there was the eventual HEA, but getting there was rough.
This book is the second in a duology and follows Roe. Roe is one of two best friends and filmmakers, and in the previous book, became best friends and business partners with Jake. They supported each other throughout the years, through girlfriends and new children being added to their respective (and, in a way, collective) broods.
What we find out in this book is that, though we already knew Roe was bi, we find out that he discovered that through falling in love with Jake. And he's been in love with Jake for years.
Unfortunately, though Jake is single, he's also straight, and hasn't expressed any interest except for a 30th birthday party dalliance between the two. And to complicate things further, Roe is stuck in an unhappy marriage with a depressed wife.
This book is...a lot of things. It's a lot of angst. It's not a happy book. Jake and Roe finally decided to be together, but they do it while Roe is still married, so Roe ends up cheating with Jake. Repeatedly. Emotionally and physically. I understand why the author has him stay married—Sandra has hella postpartum depression—but still, cheating was...a choice.
Another thing that bugs me about this book is that everyone just KEEPS HAVING CHILDREN. ESPECIALLY YOU, ROE. Why are you and your wife having more kids when you're pining over your best friend? Why are there so many kids in these books? STOP HAVING KIDS WHEN YOUR MARRIAGE IS DEAD.
I also both admire and am irritated with the level of support for these basically single parents. Jake and Roe have a hell of a network that willingly help them take care of their kids. It's awesome...and, I fear, pretty unrealistic. I don't know a single parent who has that level of unwavering support. I suppose this book isn't required to be realistic, but the author said in the afterword that they prefer to write realistic characters, so I imagine they like realistic situations as well?
I also like how these books take place over years and am annoyed with it. This book lasted forever. Jake and Roe didn't get their HEA for SO LONG. I think that, just personally, I like the tension and buildup to a relationship forming as opposed to the angst after feelings are acknowledged and not actually getting into that relationship for a long time.
All that to say that I don't think I was the biggest fan of this book. Like I did read it, and I'm glad there was the eventual HEA, but getting there was rough.