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A review by talknerdybookblog
Shattered Sea by Catherine Cowles
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Representation: Main character with chronic pain
Safety Rating: Safe
• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
- Both MCs long-time partners died suddenly and neither were able to move on until they encountered the other
- Hero is quick to say that his relationship with his girlfriend shouldn't have continued past high school - they weren't healthy for each other. But she was also his best friend, so he grieves her deeply. Important to know that the Hero's girlfriend died six months ago, but their relationship had become on/off in adulthood, and they were going through a lot of problems leading to her death.
- Heroine doubts that her relationship with her boyfriend would've lasted in adulthood but knows they would've been best friends forever. However, I think this is more a commentary on the fact that his passing transformed the Heroine into a new person, and who she is because of his death wasn't the same person who was in love with him / wanted the things he wanted. So, I'm inclined to think if he hadn't died, they'd still have been together. Cuz, while the prologue was short, the author convinced me they were IT.
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• No separation
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Parental abandonment
• Death of Heroine's boyfriend in the prologue from a car accident caused by an impaired driver (on-page, very sad)
• Grief, including scenes of complicated grief disorder from the Heroine's boyfriend's mom
- The mom blames the Heroine for moving on
- The brother blames the Heroine for his brother's death
• Death of Hero's girlfriend from an accidental overdose recounted
• Complicated family relationships
• Toxic relationship between Hero and his brother
• Murder
• Attempted kidnapping
• Gun violence
Ending:HEA. Engaged and pregnant. The extended epilogue has them loving their careers, married with three boys and pregnant with twins.
Safety Rating: Safe
• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
- Both MCs long-time partners died suddenly and neither were able to move on until they encountered the other
- Hero is quick to say that his relationship with his girlfriend shouldn't have continued past high school - they weren't healthy for each other. But she was also his best friend, so he grieves her deeply. Important to know that the Hero's girlfriend died six months ago, but their relationship had become on/off in adulthood, and they were going through a lot of problems leading to her death.
- Heroine doubts that her relationship with her boyfriend would've lasted in adulthood but knows they would've been best friends forever. However, I think this is more a commentary on the fact that his passing transformed the Heroine into a new person, and who she is because of his death wasn't the same person who was in love with him / wanted the things he wanted. So, I'm inclined to think if he hadn't died, they'd still have been together. Cuz, while the prologue was short, the author convinced me they were IT.
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• No separation
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Parental abandonment
• Death of Heroine's boyfriend in the prologue from a car accident caused by an impaired driver (on-page, very sad)
• Grief, including scenes of complicated grief disorder from the Heroine's boyfriend's mom
- The mom blames the Heroine for moving on
- The brother blames the Heroine for his brother's death
• Death of Hero's girlfriend from an accidental overdose recounted
• Complicated family relationships
• Toxic relationship between Hero and his brother
• Murder
• Attempted kidnapping
• Gun violence
Ending: