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lilythebibliophile 's review for:
Better Hate than Never
by Chloe Liese
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"to anyone who, as I have, has struggled with trusting someone else with the truth of their brain and body, for fear it might not be something someone could see fully and love just as much: I'm sorry for how badly it can hurt sometimes, and I hope you are gentle with yourself, that you are proud of yourself for every tiny step you take as you open your heart again, as you find the courage to tell your truth, as you pick yourself up after the hurt or disappointment or grief. It might not always feel like it, but love...is always worth it, and you are always worthy of it. I believe that with my whole heart."
-page 360
✰ The above passage, taken from the acknowledgments section, is by far the best part of this book. The sentiments reflected in it made me feel seen, validated, and supported.
✰ I love that Chloe Liese has a passion for writing romances where the characters are loved exactly as they are, and for showing readers that everyone is worthy of a love story. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make me invested in this particular story (or even consider it to be well-written).
✰ The connection between Kate and Christopher felt utterly hollow. Maybe some groundwork and foundation for their relationship was laid down in the previous installment in this series (which I haven't read), but I doubt it because Kate was overseas during the period in which Two Wrongs Make a Right was set. Even if some was established in the previous book, romances should always stand on their own, regardless of whether they're part of a series or not.
✰ And this romance didn't stand on its own. I feel like we missed the majorly important moment(s) in any romance where the characters actually get to know each other. Sure, Kate and Christopher realize they have preconceived notions about each other, but since their backstories had already been told to us, it felt like we were supposed to root for them for no other reason than the fact that they grew up in close proximity to each other and used to think the other one was cute.
✰ No matter how many times Christopher reiterates how much he cares about Kate, the characters just didn't feel real and their connection didn't feel real to me, either.
✰ It's like there was a blueprint of the scenes that were supposed to bring these characters closer together (dancing, working together, paintball, family dinners, etc.) and yes, all of these scenes were technically written, but it just didn't feel like I was really there, you know?
✰ Also, Liese seemed to be struggling with wanting to include demisexual rep in the story and wanting to write multiple smut scenes spaced throughout the novel. I don't know about you, but for me, when a hero declares he's willing to wait to be intimate until the heroine is ready, the safety and importance of that statement do not have the same effect when the characters have sex a few pages later. What would have held more emotional weight for me is if the characters had one mind-blowing smut scene at the end of the novel rather than some lackluster scenes throughout it that felt premature (to me).
-page 360
✰ The above passage, taken from the acknowledgments section, is by far the best part of this book. The sentiments reflected in it made me feel seen, validated, and supported.
✰ I love that Chloe Liese has a passion for writing romances where the characters are loved exactly as they are, and for showing readers that everyone is worthy of a love story. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make me invested in this particular story (or even consider it to be well-written).
✰ The connection between Kate and Christopher felt utterly hollow. Maybe some groundwork and foundation for their relationship was laid down in the previous installment in this series (which I haven't read), but I doubt it because Kate was overseas during the period in which Two Wrongs Make a Right was set. Even if some was established in the previous book, romances should always stand on their own, regardless of whether they're part of a series or not.
✰ And this romance didn't stand on its own. I feel like we missed the majorly important moment(s) in any romance where the characters actually get to know each other. Sure, Kate and Christopher realize they have preconceived notions about each other, but since their backstories had already been told to us, it felt like we were supposed to root for them for no other reason than the fact that they grew up in close proximity to each other and used to think the other one was cute.
✰ No matter how many times Christopher reiterates how much he cares about Kate, the characters just didn't feel real and their connection didn't feel real to me, either.
✰ It's like there was a blueprint of the scenes that were supposed to bring these characters closer together (dancing, working together, paintball, family dinners, etc.) and yes, all of these scenes were technically written, but it just didn't feel like I was really there, you know?
✰ Also, Liese seemed to be struggling with wanting to include demisexual rep in the story and wanting to write multiple smut scenes spaced throughout the novel. I don't know about you, but for me, when a hero declares he's willing to wait to be intimate until the heroine is ready, the safety and importance of that statement do not have the same effect when the characters have sex a few pages later. What would have held more emotional weight for me is if the characters had one mind-blowing smut scene at the end of the novel rather than some lackluster scenes throughout it that felt premature (to me).