absurdlyalex 's review for:

Bittersweet Memories by Catharina Maura

4.75

dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I know a lot of people have an issue with this book because of their ages in the beginning. I personally don't, because while they incidentally meet when she is 13 and he is 18, it is a brief encounter and nothing gross happens - no yucky thoughts, just 2 strangers having a short conversation. They don't run into each other again for years, when she is 16 - and even though she clearly has a crush on him, he rebuffs her every advance and keeps her at a distance, friends only. They have one encounter that I think is kinda icky (

she is telling him that a boy at school is spreading rumors that she gave him a blowjob, and the MMC asks her "have you ever sucked dick, sweet girl?" - they don't have any other moments like that, but it gave me the ick

).

Nothing romantic happens between them until she is 18, and it doesn't give grooming vibes, or just "waiting" until she's legal. It seems like a natural progression of their friendship into romance. I much prefer part 2, which jumps forward 5 years when they find their way back to each other again. I love how the whole thing unfolds, and I really enjoyed the tension of wondering if she'd ever regain what she lost.