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A review by laura_clarinets
Collided by Lauren Asher
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This second book just...didn't do it for me. First off (literally), the opening was incredibly sad. I get that there needed to be some sort of catalyst for the MMC's retreat into himself so the FMC could come save the day, but woof, I don't think it needed to go that hard that abruptly.
The first half of slow(ish) burn and build was fun and sexy, but I don't feel like the second part really delivered on the promise. When they final got to going through items on "the list" it felt kind of rushed and unfulfilling, which made the premise feel pretty pointless.
The FMC's Dad's combo of "I taught you to stand up for yourself" and "but you cannot make your own choices and I will send you home if you do anything despite your being a grown adult" was just plain infuriating. My dude, you cannot have it both ways. The expected character arch would be him coming to the realization that he's raised a strong and intelligent daughter who he now must release to make her way in the world.... Instead even AFTER he's had his "aha" moment, he still says, and I quote: "Nothing you do with art will ever support you and a family." BARF.
Anyway, the MMC was cute and sexy, the FMC wore sneakers with dresses as a personality trait but, like, an endearing one, and the F1 setting was dumbed down but accurate enough to not take me out of the story. (And when I say "dumbed down," I mean "pole position was his favorite place to start from"... well, yeah...).
The writing is on par with the first one, which is to say, a little meh but readable. I'm sticking out the series because I bought them all, but perhaps this should be a lesson to me to buy them one at a time...
The first half of slow(ish) burn and build was fun and sexy, but I don't feel like the second part really delivered on the promise. When they final got to going through items on "the list" it felt kind of rushed and unfulfilling, which made the premise feel pretty pointless.
The FMC's Dad's combo of "I taught you to stand up for yourself" and "but you cannot make your own choices and I will send you home if you do anything despite your being a grown adult" was just plain infuriating. My dude, you cannot have it both ways. The expected character arch would be him coming to the realization that he's raised a strong and intelligent daughter who he now must release to make her way in the world.... Instead even AFTER he's had his "aha" moment, he still says, and I quote: "Nothing you do with art will ever support you and a family." BARF.
Anyway, the MMC was cute and sexy, the FMC wore sneakers with dresses as a personality trait but, like, an endearing one, and the F1 setting was dumbed down but accurate enough to not take me out of the story. (And when I say "dumbed down," I mean "pole position was his favorite place to start from"... well, yeah...).
The writing is on par with the first one, which is to say, a little meh but readable. I'm sticking out the series because I bought them all, but perhaps this should be a lesson to me to buy them one at a time...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Death
This book opens much more traumatically than you'd expect a "lighthearted" contemporary romance to... Head the warnings and proceed with caution.