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A review by rays_reads
From the Embers by Aly Martinez
4.0
Overall Rating: 4/5
I originally saw this book on booktok and it described the angst that I was looking for... two married couples where their spouses end up dead 👀 count me df in!
Now was this romance developed over the course of years as the description suggested? No. This romance is over the span of 2-3 years as both Bree and Eason become co-parents for each others kids. I found their relationship to kinda develop naturally since they were living with one another, both parties learned how to trust and confide in one another. I wish this book was longer as I would've liked to see more of the guilt Bree and Eason by being attracted to one another. I'm a sucker for inner turmoil. But considering this is a short book (less than 300 pages) I thought it was pretty good. PLUS THE ANGST OF EASON WISHING TO SAVE HIS WIFE INSTEAD OF BREE UGHHHHHHHHH NOW THAT WAS FUCKING GOLD, MINT, EMOTIONAL WRITING. I ate that shit up!
Now onto spoilers We find out later on in the book that Jessica and Rob (the spouses) had an affair with one another and when the two MMCs find out they kinda say fuck their spouses and then start budding the idea of having a relationship with one another. I wish the author did express how the betrayal affected Bree and Eason as I felt like it was pretty short... I mean they were dead for at least a year but with the revelation of the affair I felt like that granted at least a chapter or two about their feelings and how it affected their trust.
more spoilers DX After the two got together I was pretty happy and enjoyed the found family trope and how it didn't affect their pretty healthy family dynamic. The kids pretty much grew up as siblings and Bree and Eason were pretty open about their relationship with the kids so I'm surprised there wasn't much backlash. But again, considering the two were basically coparents pre-house fire it makes sense. Then when Rob came back... I felt like it was a bit of a cop out... It was a twist for sure but I felt like it was only there to make the kids realize their dad was a shitty parent and I felt like that message was pretty much said once it was assumed Bree and Eason told the kids about the affair but.... oh well it kept the story interesting.
Overall this was a short and sweet read that had the angst I was looking for in a book. I'm not sure what other books this author has but I'll definitely check her titles out.
I originally saw this book on booktok and it described the angst that I was looking for... two married couples where their spouses end up dead 👀 count me df in!
Now was this romance developed over the course of years as the description suggested? No. This romance is over the span of 2-3 years as both Bree and Eason become co-parents for each others kids. I found their relationship to kinda develop naturally since they were living with one another, both parties learned how to trust and confide in one another. I wish this book was longer as I would've liked to see more of the guilt Bree and Eason by being attracted to one another. I'm a sucker for inner turmoil. But considering this is a short book (less than 300 pages) I thought it was pretty good. PLUS THE ANGST OF EASON WISHING TO SAVE HIS WIFE INSTEAD OF BREE UGHHHHHHHHH NOW THAT WAS FUCKING GOLD, MINT, EMOTIONAL WRITING. I ate that shit up!
Now onto spoilers
more spoilers DX After the two got together I was pretty happy and enjoyed the found family trope and how it didn't affect their pretty healthy family dynamic. The kids pretty much grew up as siblings and Bree and Eason were pretty open about their relationship with the kids so I'm surprised there wasn't much backlash. But again, considering the two were basically coparents pre-house fire it makes sense.
Overall this was a short and sweet read that had the angst I was looking for in a book. I'm not sure what other books this author has but I'll definitely check her titles out.