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A review by kp_hobbitreads
This Used to Be Easier by Katia Rose
4.0
This Used to be Easier: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
I don’t read a ton of New Adult books, I tend to prefer my protagonists to be older. But, this was a sapphic, second chance, friends to lovers romance so I knew I had to give it a go, and I'm definitely glad I did.
Meg Doyle is forced to return home after graduation when her internship falls through. But, the last thing she expected when returning to her small hometown is reconnecting with her former best friend/crush who broke her heart right before she moved away for college.
I really enjoyed this book. I think that both Meg and Connie are fantastic and complicated characters. And, I really liked that there was no “right side” to their falling out years ago. They were both teenagers trying to do the best they could, and I loved seeing them finding their way back to each other.
I especially enjoyed the mental health representation we get with Connie. She struggles with pretty debilitating anxiety, and I appreciated how carefully and thoughtfully that was presented. I also really appreciated the positive representation of therapy both for Connie dealing with her anxiety and panic attacks and for Meg to work through something that happens in the book.
Three Thoughts:
1. Pat is a delightful character. And, I really loved his reaction to finding out Meg was a lesbian.
2. Meg’s family is incredibly supportive of her sexuality, and Meg spends quite a bit of time bemoaning how her mom is almost “too supportive”. While I can recognize that your mom quizzing your about lesbian slang can be a little cringy, it was a little frustrating to listen to a character with an loving and supportive family complain about them. Especially since she never actually sat them down and talked to them (and once she did, they reacted - you guessed it - wonderfully.) I recognize that this is my own baggage making me feel this way, but a little more self-awareness would be nice.
3. I wanted to high five Meg’s mom after the restaurant scene. If you know, you know.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. But, again - where is my freaking epilogue? I understand that these characters are in their early twenties, so living together, getting married, etc. doesn't make sense for where they are now. Can I not have a quick check-in 5 years later? Ugh.
content warnings: anxiety, panic attacks, sex (on page), homophobia, homophobic parents of a queer character, a character being hospitalized for a concussion, reference to racism, toxic parental relationship
I don’t read a ton of New Adult books, I tend to prefer my protagonists to be older. But, this was a sapphic, second chance, friends to lovers romance so I knew I had to give it a go, and I'm definitely glad I did.
Meg Doyle is forced to return home after graduation when her internship falls through. But, the last thing she expected when returning to her small hometown is reconnecting with her former best friend/crush who broke her heart right before she moved away for college.
I really enjoyed this book. I think that both Meg and Connie are fantastic and complicated characters. And, I really liked that there was no “right side” to their falling out years ago. They were both teenagers trying to do the best they could, and I loved seeing them finding their way back to each other.
I especially enjoyed the mental health representation we get with Connie. She struggles with pretty debilitating anxiety, and I appreciated how carefully and thoughtfully that was presented. I also really appreciated the positive representation of therapy both for Connie dealing with her anxiety and panic attacks and for Meg to work through something that happens in the book.
Three Thoughts:
1. Pat is a delightful character. And, I really loved his reaction to finding out Meg was a lesbian.
2. Meg’s family is incredibly supportive of her sexuality, and Meg spends quite a bit of time bemoaning how her mom is almost “too supportive”. While I can recognize that your mom quizzing your about lesbian slang can be a little cringy, it was a little frustrating to listen to a character with an loving and supportive family complain about them. Especially since she never actually sat them down and talked to them (and once she did, they reacted - you guessed it - wonderfully.) I recognize that this is my own baggage making me feel this way, but a little more self-awareness would be nice.
3. I wanted to high five Meg’s mom after the restaurant scene. If you know, you know.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. But, again - where is my freaking epilogue? I understand that these characters are in their early twenties, so living together, getting married, etc. doesn't make sense for where they are now. Can I not have a quick check-in 5 years later? Ugh.
content warnings: anxiety, panic attacks, sex (on page), homophobia, homophobic parents of a queer character, a character being hospitalized for a concussion, reference to racism, toxic parental relationship