A review by cakt1991
With Her Own Two Hands by Tasha L. Harrison

emotional reflective 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

With Her Own Two Hands has sat on my TBR for almost a year, and while that’s not extraordinary for me, it is a big regret, given how much I enjoyed the series thus far. But it all worked out, as I recalled mention of tarot in Tasha L. Harrison’s promo tweets for the book, and I was on the hunt for a book with tarot or astrology for my “spooky” romance bingo. 

And this just may be the best in the series yet. Both leads are multilayered and have serious issues to navigate. Agostina, nicknamed Aggie, the third of the Malone sisters at the center of this trilogy, deals with bipolar disorder, which can manifest in hypomania. I love how her various forms of therapy, both professional and self-imposed, are explored, and her arc is really about her constant battle every day to live her life and manage her demons. It’s a common (although slowly fading) stereotype that love is the cure-all, even for mental illness health issues, and I love the way the narrative pushes back against this, while also exploring how Aggie  grows to become more open to the possibility of romantic love. 

As for Julian, I love how his romantic past explores the true complexity of romantic relationships. He broke up with his former girlfriend, Yves, in spite of them both still having feelings for each other, due to the fact that she wanted to be in a polyamorous relationship, while he wasn’t into that. I love how it explores these complex issues without demonizing anyone, and even Aggie can see things from Yves’ perspective. 

While I haven’t read many of Harrison’s books, and definitely none in a while, I love how she is able to balance the intense physical intimacy with a deeper emotional connection. There’s a sense of the developing connection between them and the elevating stakes for each of them. 

The supporting cast is also top-notch. My interest was piqued when I saw that Yves was actually the focus of an older series Harrison wrote…will almost definitely have to pick that one up. And while this book can stand alone, I love how seamlessly and subtly it calls back to the other two. Aggie’s relationships with her sisters Soni and Birdie are so wonderful. It’s also fun to see how things are going for Soni and Birdie’s respective romances, including a cheeky remark about Saxon “still working his way off the Malone Sisters shit list.” (35) I had mixed feelings about him in particular upon finishing his book, but it’s a great example of how Harrison can execute a believable HEA for a flawed couple. 

This book had me feeling all the feels, and I was satisfied to see these two broken people find their way to happiness with each other, scars and all. While the content means that this book might not work for everyone, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a romance that sensitively deals with mental illness. 

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