A review by moonlightreads007
More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is such a dark yet heartwarming, memorable read. Even though the struggles that the characters are facing are exceptionally difficult, they eventually learn that the best way to overcome this is to seek support and to share their true thoughts and feelings with others. With Rev it's very obvious that he experienced child abuse and that the demons from the past are still haunting him, whereas with Emma, the emotional abuse she experiences is much more subtle and insidious - some people may think they have your best interests in mind, when really all they are doing is projecting their unrealistic expectations onto you. Furthermore, this book highlights how women are often harassed and mistreated in male-dominated spaces (in this case, the video game industry), as well as the threats that exist in cyberspace and how important it is to stay safe online by setting boundaries and sticking to them.
I also feel like Rev and Emma's relationship was portrayed in a very realistic way, which I find is generally quite uncommon in media and books - I felt like I was watching a real, imperfect human relationship unfold and develop.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I love how it emphasizes the power of human connection to encourage healing, personal growth and development. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys slow-burn romance books; however, I would also recommend checking out the content warnings for this one as the story can get very dark at times. Still, it's definitely a 5/5 read for me!
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