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alis_adventures_in_literature 's review for:
Come As You Are
by Jess K. Hardy
cw: Addiction, bereavement, gaslighting,
Ashley Cooke's family-run ski mountain is struggling. When she hires a group of men from the local sober living home as her employees to cut costs, she's convinced she's reached rock bottom. Matthew Madigan is an ex-grunge rockstar and owner of the home. An ex-addict himself, he has a bit of a reputation. Both immediately attracted to the other, will Ashley put aside her preconceptions, and can Madigan realise he's worth loving?
As an OG Grunge fan, I was immediately attracted to this book. I LOVED that these were Gen-Xers through and through (sincerely, a Gen-X reader), and while Ashley and Matthew are older than the characters in most rom-coms, and they have a lot of baggage between them, they didn't feel 'old'. I really identified with their simultaneously exhausted but hopeful personalities. I particularly empathised with Ashley and her insecurities. Madigan was a giant, sexy teddy bear underneath his rugged exterior and I ADORED that he made mixtapes. Their chemistry was insane and I loved the development of their relationship. The intimacy in chapter 34 fried my brain, and also had me sobbing.
There are also some great supporting characters. I loved Madigan's dad's wisdom, and I really loved all of the men from Little Timber (but especially Sam). I also appreciated that the author didn't shy away from the realities of sobriety, or the wreckage addiction can cause to families.
This was a really considered, nuanced romance that made me laugh, swoon, and cry in equal measure. Highly recommended to all readers (but Gen-Xers will definitely appreciate lots of the smaller details. I especially loved the cheeky nods to 90s bands - IYKYK
Ashley Cooke's family-run ski mountain is struggling. When she hires a group of men from the local sober living home as her employees to cut costs, she's convinced she's reached rock bottom. Matthew Madigan is an ex-grunge rockstar and owner of the home. An ex-addict himself, he has a bit of a reputation. Both immediately attracted to the other, will Ashley put aside her preconceptions, and can Madigan realise he's worth loving?
As an OG Grunge fan, I was immediately attracted to this book. I LOVED that these were Gen-Xers through and through (sincerely, a Gen-X reader), and while Ashley and Matthew are older than the characters in most rom-coms, and they have a lot of baggage between them, they didn't feel 'old'. I really identified with their simultaneously exhausted but hopeful personalities. I particularly empathised with Ashley and her insecurities. Madigan was a giant, sexy teddy bear underneath his rugged exterior and I ADORED that he made mixtapes. Their chemistry was insane and I loved the development of their relationship. The intimacy in chapter 34 fried my brain, and also had me sobbing.
There are also some great supporting characters. I loved Madigan's dad's wisdom, and I really loved all of the men from Little Timber (but especially Sam). I also appreciated that the author didn't shy away from the realities of sobriety, or the wreckage addiction can cause to families.
This was a really considered, nuanced romance that made me laugh, swoon, and cry in equal measure. Highly recommended to all readers (but Gen-Xers will definitely appreciate lots of the smaller details. I especially loved the cheeky nods to 90s bands - IYKYK