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A review by kaisbooknook
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is so much more than a romance. It's delves deep into trauma, trust, depression, and faith in yourself. It's hard hitting, and so, so beautiful.
The way Eve's trauma, mental health issues, and lack of trust are touched on is heart breaking and beautiful. She really is the main character of this book. I'm honoured as a reader to see her grow into herself, learn from her past, and love again. Even though she isn't a real person, her story is so realistic, and jumps off the page. I related to her in more ways than one, and her story truly broke my heart and put it back together. I also appreciated the scenes where Eve struggles to have sex due to her trauma. I've never read a romance in which this happens, and it was represented in a great way.
I love that this book does not necessarily depict a healthy romance in the beginning. Instead we see two people grappling with where their lives have ended up simply hold onto each other. Their love in the beginning was selfish, and wounded, and that makes these characters so much more beautiful. They make big mistakes, and hurt each other, and have to learn from their choices. They read like real people.
The only thing I would change are the transitions in the book. Some are clunky and not very smooth. At times, I was confused by the writing as the transitions were unclear, and the change from one scene or setting to another wasn't clear either.
I would absolutely recommend this book, not even as a romance, but as a book with flawed, frustrating characters that learn how to heal with time for themselves, and for each other.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The way Eve's trauma, mental health issues, and lack of trust are touched on is heart breaking and beautiful. She really is the main character of this book. I'm honoured as a reader to see her grow into herself, learn from her past, and love again. Even though she isn't a real person, her story is so realistic, and jumps off the page. I related to her in more ways than one, and her story truly broke my heart and put it back together. I also appreciated the scenes where Eve struggles to have sex due to her trauma. I've never read a romance in which this happens, and it was represented in a great way.
I love that this book does not necessarily depict a healthy romance in the beginning. Instead we see two people grappling with where their lives have ended up simply hold onto each other. Their love in the beginning was selfish, and wounded, and that makes these characters so much more beautiful. They make big mistakes, and hurt each other, and have to learn from their choices. They read like real people.
The only thing I would change are the transitions in the book. Some are clunky and not very smooth. At times, I was confused by the writing as the transitions were unclear, and the change from one scene or setting to another wasn't clear either.
I would absolutely recommend this book, not even as a romance, but as a book with flawed, frustrating characters that learn how to heal with time for themselves, and for each other.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.