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A review by _marereads
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I opened this book...
I didn't expect to polish it off in one sitting!
I loved Emmy so much and could relate to her in a lot of ways, especially as an adult woman with ADHD. The line about being able to sleep through an apocalypse was SO real. And the way she always snoozed her alarms, to her own detriment? OOOOF. There was also the line, "It was just easier for me to retreat into my head than anything else." that hit me like a freight train - I've said this my whole life.
On the other hand, I could relate to Brooks as well. Never has a line in a book made me feel more seen than, "That, and being the kid from the trailer park, didn’t really impress my peers. Kids could be brutal." I immediately wanted to wrap him in the biggest hug and never let go.
When he was the only one that could help her through her anxiety and get her literally back in the saddle, I knew she was a goner. There was no way they were going to fight this at all.
There were only a few things that I felt fell flat.
1- I didn't feel like Emmy was as close to her brothers as you're supposed to believe. She seems to only really enjoy being around her father, her niece, and sometimes Wes. I didn't get the sense of a bond between Emmy and Gus at all, really.
2- There was a throwaway line about the ex boyfriend texting and how Emmy would need to confront that eventually, but it just never happened. I do, however, realize it probably wouldn't have added much to the plot. It was just something I noticed.
3- I didn't like that Brooks and Gus still had a strained relationship by the end. If Gus loved Emmy so much, he should be happy that she found someone who loved and supported her the way Brooks did, and he should have been able to tell that she was happier with him. I don't understand why he continued to hold a grudge against Brooks.
Overall, this book was an easy five star read for me. I ate up every second of it and have already recommended it to the people I know will appreciate it as much as I do!
I didn't expect to polish it off in one sitting!
On the other hand, I could relate to Brooks as well. Never has a line in a book made me feel more seen than, "That, and being the kid from the trailer park, didn’t really impress my peers. Kids could be brutal." I immediately wanted to wrap him in the biggest hug and never let go.
When he was the only one that could help her through her anxiety and get her literally back in the saddle, I knew she was a goner. There was no way they were going to fight this at all.
There were only a few things that I felt fell flat.
1- I didn't feel like Emmy was as close to her brothers as you're supposed to believe. She seems to only really enjoy being around her father, her niece, and sometimes Wes. I didn't get the sense of a bond between Emmy and Gus at all, really.
2- There was a throwaway line about the ex boyfriend texting and how Emmy would need to confront that eventually, but it just never happened. I do, however, realize it probably wouldn't have added much to the plot. It was just something I noticed.
3- I didn't like that Brooks and Gus still had a strained relationship by the end. If Gus loved Emmy so much, he should be happy that she found someone who loved and supported her the way Brooks did, and he should have been able to tell that she was happier with him. I don't understand why he continued to hold a grudge against Brooks.
Overall, this book was an easy five star read for me. I ate up every second of it and have already recommended it to the people I know will appreciate it as much as I do!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Blood, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, and Alcohol