A review by keytheelibrarian
Revive Me, Part Two: The Affair by J.L. Seegars

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

reading about eric's death in restore me was sad, but let's all be honest here—we were more focused on the fact dom and sloane could finally be together. now, having seen his relationship in depth with his twin, his mother, sloane, even dom and watching them grieve, you can't help but do the same. my heart was already heavily bruised going into the story but after getting past those scenes it’s been completely broken. 

chris’ arrival in this part was a pain in itself. i mean, to find out one of your closest friends and the love of your life’s brother has died in that way? it has to be indescribable. or you would think that, but jl seegars describes it perfectly in painstakingly detail so that you feel everything. the main and most prevalent emotion being yearning. not for his friend, not for the time they didn’t have together, but for mal; his lost love. they’re reunited and try as [mal] might, there’s no denying there connection and like magnets, they’re drawn to each other again. 

if i was basing this rating solely off chris and mal’s romance it would sit at a 4.3-4.5. i enjoyed them as i always do but to be completely honest i’m ready for their happy ending. i understand the importance of their relationship in this season in both of their lives, but there are moments in the story where i am FEENING for their ending. where they can stop dwelling on their past and fall into each other without their past restraints. we don’t get that in this book and we won’t get that for six more (book) years. that’s the not-so-good news. the great news is that that isn’t what i’m only basing the rating on. 

the reason for the 5⭐️ rating is what i like to refer to as the murder mystery. as much as i would love to get into this subplot and dig DEEP into theories with y’all i can’t. and i mean not even a little bit. bc i would never be able to forgive myself if i robbed y’all of the element of surprise jl has perfected. i was GAGGED, REPEATEDLY! and that’ll just have to be enough for y’all. 

this last part isn’t a want, but a need. spring 2023 looking too far right now; i need it by YESTERDAY.