Scan barcode
A review by onthesamepage
At First Spite by Olivia Dade
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Tropes: hate to love, first time, misunderstandings, she's his brother's ex-fiancé, third act breakup, small town romance
Steam level: 🌶🌶🌶
This unexpectedly dug its way into my heart. While the setup isn't necessarily my favourite, because a man falling for and pursuing his brother's ex-fiancé is a logistical nightmare that I can't ever see working out, there's an incredibly soft and sweet romance at the core of this, and I was powerless to resist it.
What really made this hit home for me was the mental health representation. The parts where Athena was experiencing depression and struggling with just getting through the day, really hit me hard. And the way Matthew dealt with that made me feel all the things. That scene in the bath tub? Chef's kiss.
I also appreciated that Matthew had his own issues, and that they got nearly as much focus as Athena's did. This is why I always prefer dual POV when it comes to romances. Matthew got to explain early on why he broke Athena and Johnny apart, which makes it a lot easier to root for him as a love interest. But I also felt for him. As the oldest sibling, he felt responsible for Johnny, in a way that was ultimately going to end with him burning out. I think both characters showed a lot of growth by the end. There is a third act breakup, but I understood where it came from, and thought it was fitting for this situation and these characters. I also like the groveling Matthew ended up doing to make up for his very bad decisions. It's impossible to change 30-odd years of behavior overnight, and I'm glad the author didn't try to do that.
Even though a big chunk of this book hit hard, there were also a lot of funny moments. Athena's plots for revenge against Matthew were hilarious to follow. I also really liked the side characters in Harlot's Bay, and I'm so excited for Karl's romance.
Steam level: 🌶🌶🌶
This unexpectedly dug its way into my heart. While the setup isn't necessarily my favourite, because a man falling for and pursuing his brother's ex-fiancé is a logistical nightmare that I can't ever see working out, there's an incredibly soft and sweet romance at the core of this, and I was powerless to resist it.
What really made this hit home for me was the mental health representation. The parts where Athena was experiencing depression and struggling with just getting through the day, really hit me hard. And the way Matthew dealt with that made me feel all the things. That scene in the bath tub? Chef's kiss.
I also appreciated that Matthew had his own issues, and that they got nearly as much focus as Athena's did. This is why I always prefer dual POV when it comes to romances. Matthew got to explain early on why he broke Athena and Johnny apart, which makes it a lot easier to root for him as a love interest. But I also felt for him. As the oldest sibling, he felt responsible for Johnny, in a way that was ultimately going to end with him burning out. I think both characters showed a lot of growth by the end. There is a third act breakup, but I understood where it came from, and thought it was fitting for this situation and these characters. I also like the groveling Matthew ended up doing to make up for his very bad decisions. It's impossible to change 30-odd years of behavior overnight, and I'm glad the author didn't try to do that.
Even though a big chunk of this book hit hard, there were also a lot of funny moments. Athena's plots for revenge against Matthew were hilarious to follow. I also really liked the side characters in Harlot's Bay, and I'm so excited for Karl's romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts