A review by gnomepatronus
Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It’s been almost 24 hours since I finished this book, and it’s still lingering with me. The journey Oliver takes and his path to recovery and self-discovery is nothing short of beautiful. From the moment he took that first leap back, I was rooting for him with my whole heart. His circumstances were so far beyond his control and unimaginable for most of us, but his resilience and growth made every page worth it.

Now, Sydney… Oh, Sydney. As a standalone character, she’s someone I could see myself loving in a different book. But here? She frustrated me so much for a big chunk of the story. I couldn’t root for her; I just couldn’t. She was pushing Oliver away under the guise of protecting their friendship, all while leaning on him, someone so clearly carrying deep trauma, to make herself feel better. And yes, I definitely held that against her.

But here’s the thing: my frustration wasn’t entirely fair. The real reason Sydney was getting under my skin was something I was too focused on Oliver to see. (I know those of you who connected with her from the start probably picked up on this emotional thread way before I did.) When that pivotal moment came when she finally opened up and told Oliver the truth—it hit me like a tidal wave. That’s when she broke through the walls I’d built around my heart.

I’m a crier, okay? And this book had me crying a lot. Tears of joy, sorrow, frustration—moments where it felt like my heart was being torn open and someone was pouring lemon juice into the wounds. Just when I thought I’d caught my breath, there would be another twist…yes, TWISTS—that broke my heart all over again.

This story isn’t just about recovery; it’s about connection, understanding, and the complicated ways we lean on each other when we’re at our most vulnerable. It hurt. It healed. It stuck with me.