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A review by angieinbooks
Once by L.T. Smith
3.0
This was a lovely surprise. A friends-to-lovers romance where it's hard not to root for either one of the characters because they're both recovering from abusive relationships.
The story is told from Beth's point of view. Her confidence is shattered after a really ugly breakup. But she has her dog, and the rest is a bit of a wild card. After thinking she'd lost her dog during a momentary lapse in concentration, Beth finds herself waist-deep in a river, screaming and crying in panic over losing her dog. But he's not lost. He's with a woman who found him trying to get his ball from the same river. Both women are soaking wet--from the river, of course--and decide to warm up in a cafe. Hilarity ensues, a connection is made, but no numbers or contact details are exchanged. Without any other means of contact, Beth returns over and over to the site they met. And so does Amy. Until eventually their paths intersect and a friendship is born. And friendship is all Beth can currently offer. Plus, she doubts Amy is even gay. Spoiler alert: She is.
I really liked Amy Fletcher. She is incredibly charming and I get why Beth is so smitten. Amy's family family and the way they respond to Beth's place in Amy's life was definitely a highlight of this book for me. Beth was a bit harder to get to know, which is weird since we're in her head the whole time. But because we see all her thoughts, it's hard to see what Amy sees in her. I don't mean that in a bad way, but Amy has to be the world's most patient person to continue hoping Beth will be ready and be able to face her feelings full-on.
And this leads to my big problem in this book. Most of the tension/angst comes from Beth's inability to open up and actually divulge what she's feeling. I realize Amy doesn't either (she knows Beth isn't ready for a relationship yet and isn't pushing), but Beth's thoughts go quickly to the irrational over and over, and I get that there's been trauma in her recent past and that trust is hard and her confidence has disappeared, but I just wanted to reach into the pages and beg her apply logic and reason to the situations she found herself in rather than believing whatever worst-case-scenario version of events her brain conjured up.
But it's a really cute romance. And I'm not mad I read it at all.
The story is told from Beth's point of view. Her confidence is shattered after a really ugly breakup. But she has her dog, and the rest is a bit of a wild card. After thinking she'd lost her dog during a momentary lapse in concentration, Beth finds herself waist-deep in a river, screaming and crying in panic over losing her dog. But he's not lost. He's with a woman who found him trying to get his ball from the same river. Both women are soaking wet--from the river, of course--and decide to warm up in a cafe. Hilarity ensues, a connection is made, but no numbers or contact details are exchanged. Without any other means of contact, Beth returns over and over to the site they met. And so does Amy. Until eventually their paths intersect and a friendship is born. And friendship is all Beth can currently offer. Plus, she doubts Amy is even gay. Spoiler alert: She is.
I really liked Amy Fletcher. She is incredibly charming and I get why Beth is so smitten. Amy's family family and the way they respond to Beth's place in Amy's life was definitely a highlight of this book for me. Beth was a bit harder to get to know, which is weird since we're in her head the whole time. But because we see all her thoughts, it's hard to see what Amy sees in her. I don't mean that in a bad way, but Amy has to be the world's most patient person to continue hoping Beth will be ready and be able to face her feelings full-on.
And this leads to my big problem in this book. Most of the tension/angst comes from Beth's inability to open up and actually divulge what she's feeling. I realize Amy doesn't either (she knows Beth isn't ready for a relationship yet and isn't pushing), but Beth's thoughts go quickly to the irrational over and over, and I get that there's been trauma in her recent past and that trust is hard and her confidence has disappeared, but I just wanted to reach into the pages and beg her apply logic and reason to the situations she found herself in rather than believing whatever worst-case-scenario version of events her brain conjured up.
But it's a really cute romance. And I'm not mad I read it at all.