A review by kyras_reads
Older by Jennifer Hartmann

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 SPOILERS AHEAD…

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Halley and Reed quite literally broke my heart 10 times over in these 430 pages. This book took me through such a roller coaster and I genuinely didn’t know if I was going to be okay there for a while. 

For the longest time, I was really struggling to decide if I could find it in me to root for these two after how their relationship started. But, of course the more we got to know and love them, the easier it got to see why they fit together and that even if it didn’t make sense, they were what each other needed.

Now listen, before the good stuff,  I refuse to get into the logistics of having a family with someone half your age because it’s just messy and this is fiction but if these two had been closer in age, everyone would have been all for it. I mean, their personalities were absolutely made for each other so does it really matter?

As exciting as the forbidden aspect always is, the best parts for me were the moments when they had genuine connection, not based on lust but on some deeper feeling… you knew in those moments that there was something real between them. 

But the slow burn? My god, that almost killed me! 
Honestly, that first “taste” was ridiculously hot and I knew from that moment it was going to be like a tsunami when they finally gave in to one another after so much time. 

I loved that Reed was genuinely a good man and dad and did something amazing with his life, helping survivors feel and be stronger. He helped Halley not only overcome some of her emotional trauma but he helped her become physically stronger and capable of defending herself if she ever needed to again. 

When the time came for everything to blow up, I knew it was going to be rough. And it broke my heart for both of them but especially for Halley, who lost so much already and had to give up the first stable place she had ever lived and the only semblance of family she had ever known. 
The goodbye she and Reed shared had me sobbing and that’s when I knew that if they didn’t end up together, it may actually break a little part of me. 

But, fortunately for me, there was still a love story to be had. I appreciate that they had some time apart for Halley to really get a chance to experience whatever she wanted to without Reed for a while, even if she didn’t take full advantage of that. When they were finally able to come back together, it felt right. It felt like they had worked out all of the things they tried for so long to pretend weren’t issues. It felt like they finally decided to stop fighting and to resign themselves to the fact that they were going to be drawn to each other no matter who or what was trying to stand between them. It felt like they finally knew they were in love and that was never going to change no matter how much space or time or adversity they had between them. 
These two fought like hell to come out of their heartbreak in one piece and they earned the acceptance they got.

I may never hear Wonderwall again and not think about Halley and Reed. 🖤

Favorite quotes:


“Love is weak. Love is selfish. It’s not this fairy-tale illusion of candy hearts and paper flowers. It’s messy and painful. But it’s always worth it.”

“As much as a girl can love the next best thing.”

Tropes:
Age-Gap (17 years)
Forbidden/Best Friends Dad
Slow Burn
Angsty

BONUS:
90’s Nostalgia

Spice: 
3.5 🌶️
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