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A review by cora_hreads
Knot Again by Kwana Jackson
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Knot Again was the perfect romance to read in one sitting. It was thoughtful and realistic -- its most striking feature -- with an incredible sense of humanity twisted all within. Sydney and Lucas were endearing characters in their own right, and the Harlem community fit the story so well.
What surprised me the most about this book was the realistic take on Sydney's divorce and the pressure Lucas faced from his past. The tension and difficulties between them were never blown-out or over-the-top -- they were handled like how real, grown adults would deal with their problems. When they had to face the rekindling romantic feelings from their teen years, they didn't fall completely into them or totally ignore them until the end. I really liked how Jackson treated her characters, really. No unrealistic suspense, no high school hormonal dramatics; just real people who can handle themselves like adults. It all made sense.
I feel like Knot Again was repetitive in its scenes. The depth behind Lucas and Sydney was valuable, but whenever their pasts were delved into, I didn't feel like I was more connected to them. Towards the end, when Lucas finally tells Sydney about the guilt he's carried since childhood, the feel in the room doesn't seem as serious as it might've been in reality. The later events, too, don't reflect how Sydney might have interacted with Lucas after finding out that information, either. It's a minor detail that I found, but with every other interaction being more mature than most authors would make their characters, I thought it was odd to have such an important scene lean towards the fleeting, there-to-end-a-subplot purpose.
Overall, I liked Knot Again a lot. It was enjoyable all throughout and was able to have realistic characters that not only could people relate to, but they could also be put in the reader's life and make sense. 3/5 stars.
What surprised me the most about this book was the realistic take on Sydney's divorce and the pressure Lucas faced from his past. The tension and difficulties between them were never blown-out or over-the-top -- they were handled like how real, grown adults would deal with their problems. When they had to face the rekindling romantic feelings from their teen years, they didn't fall completely into them or totally ignore them until the end. I really liked how Jackson treated her characters, really. No unrealistic suspense, no high school hormonal dramatics; just real people who can handle themselves like adults. It all made sense.
I feel like Knot Again was repetitive in its scenes. The depth behind Lucas and Sydney was valuable, but whenever their pasts were delved into, I didn't feel like I was more connected to them. Towards the end, when Lucas finally tells Sydney about the guilt he's carried since childhood, the feel in the room doesn't seem as serious as it might've been in reality. The later events, too, don't reflect how Sydney might have interacted with Lucas after finding out that information, either. It's a minor detail that I found, but with every other interaction being more mature than most authors would make their characters, I thought it was odd to have such an important scene lean towards the fleeting, there-to-end-a-subplot purpose.
Overall, I liked Knot Again a lot. It was enjoyable all throughout and was able to have realistic characters that not only could people relate to, but they could also be put in the reader's life and make sense. 3/5 stars.