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A review by sultrytartreviews
Grim and Bear It by Juliette Cross
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars
After finally finishing out this series, I've come to the conclusion that I've out grown Cross's writing. I loved the first three of this series when I was new to Kindle Unlimited and reading indie romance, but I struggled through books 4,5, & 6 (with 6 being the one I enjoyed most of the three). It saddens me that I wasn't more into the story since I found Henry and Clara very adorable in the first half of the book, but by the end I was skimming because I'd lost interest. For me, the romance storylines were not balanced enough with the mystery/secondary plot line. I wish Henry's depression and anxiety hadn't been treated like something to simply spell away (literally gave it a band aid fix instead of working through any issues and how this has been a lifelong struggle for him) and I was downright angry for him that those who supposedly loved him most kept insisting he should forgive his father for his childhood trauma. I just expect more nuance from authors on these topics now and those were two glaring points that I cannot gloss over. There was no healing journey or even real attempt to make a relationship with henry and his dad, really just an attitude that Henry should 'be over it by now' and 'grow up'--which is not how trauma or mental health works.
Perhaps if real world applications do not bother you as they do me this will be a more enjoyable read for you. I have a hard time removing myself from real world issues and applications the more contemporary a book is.
After finally finishing out this series, I've come to the conclusion that I've out grown Cross's writing. I loved the first three of this series when I was new to Kindle Unlimited and reading indie romance, but I struggled through books 4,5, & 6 (with 6 being the one I enjoyed most of the three). It saddens me that I wasn't more into the story since I found Henry and Clara very adorable in the first half of the book, but by the end I was skimming because I'd lost interest. For me, the romance storylines were not balanced enough with the mystery/secondary plot line. I wish Henry's depression and anxiety hadn't been treated like something to simply spell away (literally gave it a band aid fix instead of working through any issues and how this has been a lifelong struggle for him) and I was downright angry for him that those who supposedly loved him most kept insisting he should forgive his father for his childhood trauma. I just expect more nuance from authors on these topics now and those were two glaring points that I cannot gloss over. There was no healing journey or even real attempt to make a relationship with henry and his dad, really just an attitude that Henry should 'be over it by now' and 'grow up'--which is not how trauma or mental health works.
Perhaps if real world applications do not bother you as they do me this will be a more enjoyable read for you. I have a hard time removing myself from real world issues and applications the more contemporary a book is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse
PTSD, depression, childhood trauma