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julisbookshelf's Reviews (227)
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
10 minutes after Rewind It Back:
I’m so emotional right now. I can’t process that it’s over.
Fast forward to 24 hours later:
Things are finally starting to settle in my head.
So many emotions… I’m happy, sad, excited, laughing and crying all at once.
This series.. this sweet, beautiful series.
It’s been my absolute favorite thing to be part of as it unfolded in real-time. I read Mile High nine months after it came out, then—I don’t even know why—I got scared of The Right Move (we’ve been through this, we’ve talked it over guys 😅). So I jumped onto Caught Up instead, three months after its release. And then came the juiciest part… I fell in love with Kai and was finally there for Play Along when it dropped. Cried my heart out and more. After that, I finally read The Right Move.. and yes, Ryan Shay knows I apologize to him every single day for waiting too long.
But now we’re here.
And Rio… my sweet man.
I’m not ready to let you go. I’m not ready to let any of them go.
I knew in my heart this book was going to wreck me. I knew because I love Liz’s work. I love her books. I feel so at home in her writing style. I connect with the rhythm she sets, it just works for me. So this? This was destined to be my ending.
The story of Rio & Hallie is breathtaking—full of love, yes, but also full of regrets and forgiveness.
It’s a story of first love, childhood love, the kind that finds its way back.
A story about family.
A story about the beauty, the vulnerability, and the quiet power of second chances.
But most of all it’s a story about dreams. Dreams you once had, dreams that are still worth chasing.
Windy City series has no shortage of strong, unforgettable characters… but Hallie & Rio? They might just top them all.
I can’t seem to find the perfect words to describe them, but I know you’ll love them. It’s impossible not to (and if it is possible, I don’t want to know 😂)
Liz, I need you to know this has been the most fun, emotional ride I’ve ever been part of. This series feels like my little baby just as much as it’s yours.
It was the first series I ever fell in love with, and now, maybe you understand why 🤭
Congratulations, not just for the five books, but for the ten beautiful characters.
Thank you for them, and for the joy and tears.
We had a blast ❤️
I’m so emotional right now. I can’t process that it’s over.
Fast forward to 24 hours later:
Things are finally starting to settle in my head.
So many emotions… I’m happy, sad, excited, laughing and crying all at once.
This series.. this sweet, beautiful series.
It’s been my absolute favorite thing to be part of as it unfolded in real-time. I read Mile High nine months after it came out, then—I don’t even know why—I got scared of The Right Move (we’ve been through this, we’ve talked it over guys 😅). So I jumped onto Caught Up instead, three months after its release. And then came the juiciest part… I fell in love with Kai and was finally there for Play Along when it dropped. Cried my heart out and more. After that, I finally read The Right Move.. and yes, Ryan Shay knows I apologize to him every single day for waiting too long.
But now we’re here.
And Rio… my sweet man.
I’m not ready to let you go. I’m not ready to let any of them go.
I knew in my heart this book was going to wreck me. I knew because I love Liz’s work. I love her books. I feel so at home in her writing style. I connect with the rhythm she sets, it just works for me. So this? This was destined to be my ending.
The story of Rio & Hallie is breathtaking—full of love, yes, but also full of regrets and forgiveness.
It’s a story of first love, childhood love, the kind that finds its way back.
A story about family.
A story about the beauty, the vulnerability, and the quiet power of second chances.
But most of all it’s a story about dreams. Dreams you once had, dreams that are still worth chasing.
Windy City series has no shortage of strong, unforgettable characters… but Hallie & Rio? They might just top them all.
I can’t seem to find the perfect words to describe them, but I know you’ll love them. It’s impossible not to (and if it is possible, I don’t want to know 😂)
Liz, I need you to know this has been the most fun, emotional ride I’ve ever been part of. This series feels like my little baby just as much as it’s yours.
It was the first series I ever fell in love with, and now, maybe you understand why 🤭
Congratulations, not just for the five books, but for the ten beautiful characters.
Thank you for them, and for the joy and tears.
We had a blast ❤️
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a nice little read 🙂↕️
It’s a great choice for those who love the Age Gap in a Sports Romance trope 🤭
I loved Toren since I read Coach, so I was pretty excited to get his story. And damn, that man is hot!
Now, let me confess—I was a bit scared of the whole student/coach setup, but it was handled okay, and since they were both adults, who am I to judge? 😂 (She’s not a kid, okay.)
Jennsyn and Toren were just soulmates, and if you like insta-love/love-at-first-sight stories, this one might be just what you’re looking for.
This follows the same timeline as the first book, so I loved having bits of Ford and Millie here too 🫶🏻 The pace was really great—I don’t think I would’ve liked it as much if it had been slow.
Sorry if this is short—I’m short on time writing this review 😅
It’s a great choice for those who love the Age Gap in a Sports Romance trope 🤭
I loved Toren since I read Coach, so I was pretty excited to get his story. And damn, that man is hot!
Now, let me confess—I was a bit scared of the whole student/coach setup, but it was handled okay, and since they were both adults, who am I to judge? 😂 (She’s not a kid, okay.)
Jennsyn and Toren were just soulmates, and if you like insta-love/love-at-first-sight stories, this one might be just what you’re looking for.
This follows the same timeline as the first book, so I loved having bits of Ford and Millie here too 🫶🏻 The pace was really great—I don’t think I would’ve liked it as much if it had been slow.
Sorry if this is short—I’m short on time writing this review 😅
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Insane.
That was INSANE. Devney Perry you did it again in writing. YOU DID IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FANTASY!!
What a book. What a story. I’m mind-blown. I’m speechless!! 🤯
Let me start by stating that I’m a HUGE Devney fan, and when I tell you I screamed when she announced she was writing a fantasy book.. I mean I screamed so loud my mom asked me what was wrong with me 😂
I had ZERO doubts she could pull off a fantasy world because (in case you didn’t know) she’s an amazing writer. Always has been. But did I see this coming?!? NO I DID NOT. This was a masterpiece 🛐
The world building was phenomenal, she excelled in every aspect creating it. Absolutely nailed it 🙂↕️. The story was exquisite on levels I can’t even describe, like.. I was on edge every single page. The characters were SO interesting, so funny, so intriguing, so lovable, so relatable.. The longing, the yearning.. The slow burn was without question SLOW BURNING 😂😮💨 also, the monsters were SOO cool!
You could tell from an early stage the love and care she put into writing this book, it showed. The way the characters are introduced, the way the whole world is described, it’s all so meticulously crafted, yet written in the most accessible way. Effortless and immersive.
And the plot is fucking fire. When I tell you guys… the amount of twists here.. my jaw was on the fucking floor!! I didn’t see a single one coming!
BY THE WAY.. I LOVE the mystery of not knowing The Guardian’s name.. 😉🤭
Honestly, I’m out of words to explain how amazing this book was, and considering it’s Devney’s fantasy DEBUT?! I’m already dying for the next one.
This was the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given tbh, zero second thoughts 🤭🙂↕️
Devney, congratulations on this absolute triumph, I’m so so SO happy for you.. I’m also begging you for the next one already 😅
With love, a huge fan 🫶🏻
That was INSANE. Devney Perry you did it again in writing. YOU DID IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FANTASY!!
What a book. What a story. I’m mind-blown. I’m speechless!! 🤯
Let me start by stating that I’m a HUGE Devney fan, and when I tell you I screamed when she announced she was writing a fantasy book.. I mean I screamed so loud my mom asked me what was wrong with me 😂
I had ZERO doubts she could pull off a fantasy world because (in case you didn’t know) she’s an amazing writer. Always has been. But did I see this coming?!? NO I DID NOT. This was a masterpiece 🛐
The world building was phenomenal, she excelled in every aspect creating it. Absolutely nailed it 🙂↕️. The story was exquisite on levels I can’t even describe, like.. I was on edge every single page. The characters were SO interesting, so funny, so intriguing, so lovable, so relatable.. The longing, the yearning.. The slow burn was without question SLOW BURNING 😂😮💨 also, the monsters were SOO cool!
You could tell from an early stage the love and care she put into writing this book, it showed. The way the characters are introduced, the way the whole world is described, it’s all so meticulously crafted, yet written in the most accessible way. Effortless and immersive.
And the plot is fucking fire. When I tell you guys… the amount of twists here.. my jaw was on the fucking floor!! I didn’t see a single one coming!
BY THE WAY.. I LOVE the mystery of not knowing The Guardian’s name.. 😉🤭
Honestly, I’m out of words to explain how amazing this book was, and considering it’s Devney’s fantasy DEBUT?! I’m already dying for the next one.
This was the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given tbh, zero second thoughts 🤭🙂↕️
Devney, congratulations on this absolute triumph, I’m so so SO happy for you.. I’m also begging you for the next one already 😅
With love, a huge fan 🫶🏻
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This had potential—it was just wrongly executed…
It’s like a mix of Fourth Wing and ACOTAR, but it probably needed more polishing 😔
I really liked the dynamic between Wolf and Huntyr, but the storyline was just messy… we jumped from one thing to another, and important parts of the plot were minimized in just a few pages, even though we spent half the book talking about how important those things were 🥴
Not to mention, everything blows up in the last 50 pages, and it’s all a chaotic mess of revelations you barely have time to process before another twist hits you 😭
So I’m not a fan of it, but I will continue with Book 2—just because I’m fucking curious 😂
It’s like a mix of Fourth Wing and ACOTAR, but it probably needed more polishing 😔
I really liked the dynamic between Wolf and Huntyr, but the storyline was just messy… we jumped from one thing to another, and important parts of the plot were minimized in just a few pages, even though we spent half the book talking about how important those things were 🥴
Not to mention, everything blows up in the last 50 pages, and it’s all a chaotic mess of revelations you barely have time to process before another twist hits you 😭
So I’m not a fan of it, but I will continue with Book 2—just because I’m fucking curious 😂
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was good.
Shit it was amazing…
I started this book the way I always start an Emily Henry novel: afraid. My relationship with her stories is always a roller coaster.. sometimes I like them, sometimes I love them so much it hurts. And sometimes, the emotions hit so hard I can’t fully embrace the book because of the pain it leaves behind.
This one was no exception.
It started off feeling strange but maybe that was just me being cautious. The characters felt a little flat at first, the chemistry wasn’t clicking (btw this wasn’t a full romance book), and I couldn’t quite grasp the point of it all.
But then… everything changed.
Around 30% in, I started to get it, Margaret’s depth, Alice’s voice, Hayden’s heart. And from there, it only got better.
I found myself fully invested in Margaret’s story, her whole life, the choices she made, the ones she never had a chance to make, the things that shaped her. It was heartbreaking. The kind of sadness that comes from too much love left unshared. The loneliness of a life lived in silence 🥺
And I think that shaped Alice and Hayden’s story, too. I’m just so glad it all turned out for the best in the end.
I had so many theories. I tried connecting the dots, solving the mystery. And in the end? I was kind of right? but so wrong at the same time 🙃
I loved this book. Deeply. It reminded me so much of Evelyn Hugo.. the emotion, the storytelling, the ache of it all.
And I’m happy. With the ending, yes, but also with all the messy, beautiful in-between. Because Emily’s books are never easy for me. But once again… she was brilliant 🫶🏻
Shit it was amazing…
I started this book the way I always start an Emily Henry novel: afraid. My relationship with her stories is always a roller coaster.. sometimes I like them, sometimes I love them so much it hurts. And sometimes, the emotions hit so hard I can’t fully embrace the book because of the pain it leaves behind.
This one was no exception.
It started off feeling strange but maybe that was just me being cautious. The characters felt a little flat at first, the chemistry wasn’t clicking (btw this wasn’t a full romance book), and I couldn’t quite grasp the point of it all.
But then… everything changed.
Around 30% in, I started to get it, Margaret’s depth, Alice’s voice, Hayden’s heart. And from there, it only got better.
I found myself fully invested in Margaret’s story, her whole life, the choices she made, the ones she never had a chance to make, the things that shaped her. It was heartbreaking. The kind of sadness that comes from too much love left unshared. The loneliness of a life lived in silence 🥺
And I think that shaped Alice and Hayden’s story, too. I’m just so glad it all turned out for the best in the end.
I had so many theories. I tried connecting the dots, solving the mystery. And in the end? I was kind of right? but so wrong at the same time 🙃
I loved this book. Deeply. It reminded me so much of Evelyn Hugo.. the emotion, the storytelling, the ache of it all.
And I’m happy. With the ending, yes, but also with all the messy, beautiful in-between. Because Emily’s books are never easy for me. But once again… she was brilliant 🫶🏻
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My jaw is on the fucking floor.
I… WHAT?!?
My god, I didn’t expect to feel so wrecked 😭
I know this isn’t the end, I know the series continues, BUT… this was the absolute best ending for Feyre and Rhysand. Fight me however you want, I won’t care. This was it.
I was afraid, so damn afraid after ACOMAF, because let’s be real.. nothing, NOTHING can top that one. But this? This was honestly so good, so addictive, so well played. I was on the edge the entire time.
The progression of the story is mind-blowing. 🤯
The characters, the shifting perspectives, the evolution of their personalities?? I did not see some of those plot twists coming I’ll tell you that 😂 The whole book was almost unpredictable, like… you couldn’t see any of it coming. At all.
I was out of my damn mind during those last chapters, because WHAT DO YOU MEAN DOING THAT TO ME, MISS SJM?!? HOW DARE YOU!!! (Thank you) 😂
My dear Rhysand, my soul belongs to you. I could never have imagined a character who would crush my mind with so much love. I’ve never even dared to dream of someone like you. Thank you, Sarah, for giving us Rhys 🫶🏻
And Feyre… oh, look how you’ve grown 🥹 Into such a wonderful woman. What a queen. What a valiant, kind, strong character 💖
I’m so, so impressed by this series. I can’t wait to see what comes next (even if it won’t be quite the same anymore). 🫶🏻
I’m thriving in my fantasy era 🙂↕️🤭😌
I… WHAT?!?
My god, I didn’t expect to feel so wrecked 😭
I know this isn’t the end, I know the series continues, BUT… this was the absolute best ending for Feyre and Rhysand. Fight me however you want, I won’t care. This was it.
I was afraid, so damn afraid after ACOMAF, because let’s be real.. nothing, NOTHING can top that one. But this? This was honestly so good, so addictive, so well played. I was on the edge the entire time.
The progression of the story is mind-blowing. 🤯
The characters, the shifting perspectives, the evolution of their personalities?? I did not see some of those plot twists coming I’ll tell you that 😂 The whole book was almost unpredictable, like… you couldn’t see any of it coming. At all.
I was out of my damn mind during those last chapters, because WHAT DO YOU MEAN DOING THAT TO ME, MISS SJM?!? HOW DARE YOU!!! (Thank you) 😂
My dear Rhysand, my soul belongs to you. I could never have imagined a character who would crush my mind with so much love. I’ve never even dared to dream of someone like you. Thank you, Sarah, for giving us Rhys 🫶🏻
And Feyre… oh, look how you’ve grown 🥹 Into such a wonderful woman. What a queen. What a valiant, kind, strong character 💖
I’m so, so impressed by this series. I can’t wait to see what comes next (even if it won’t be quite the same anymore). 🫶🏻
I’m thriving in my fantasy era 🙂↕️🤭😌
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
Why am I crying so much again?!?
Oh my god. Melissa will be so happy with this 😂😭
I’m obsessed, I’m in love, I’m in tears, I’m in awe. This book was everything I never knew I needed to read. It felt like a big, warm hug to my heart 🥺
I can’t even begin to properly review this—it was pure and absolute perfection. The story is sad and heavy… but also so beautiful and meaningful. Grief is such a delicate subject to explore in a romance book, but I honestly think the author did an incredible job portraying Lenny’s grief. She balanced the heartbreaking and happy moments so well.
I loved Lenny. I truly cared about her. She’s a wonderful character, and you can genuinely relate to her throughout the story.
And Miles. Oh dear Miles… he’s such a sweet man. He’s a key figure in Lenny’s journey, and what a strong, loyal, caring, lovable man to have as the male lead. It’s so easy to fall in love with him.
The foundation of their friendship came from a delicate moment in life, but the growth of their relationship… I shipped them so hard 😂😭 I just wanted both of them to have their happy ending. But oh damn, I was not ready for the book to end when it did—I wanted so much more 🥺 Nonetheless, it was beautiful to watch them slowly fall in love. And when I say slowly, I mean slooooooowwwwlyyy—this is a real slow-burn romance 😅
The writing is beautiful, and the pacing is amazing. Everything is so well balanced. There’s sadness, but there’s also tons of humor. There’s grief, but there’s also love—so much love. Every kind of love you can imagine ❤️🩹
I encourage you to read this one at least once 🫶🏻 I hope you feel its meaning and love it through and through 🫂
Oh my god. Melissa will be so happy with this 😂😭
I’m obsessed, I’m in love, I’m in tears, I’m in awe. This book was everything I never knew I needed to read. It felt like a big, warm hug to my heart 🥺
I can’t even begin to properly review this—it was pure and absolute perfection. The story is sad and heavy… but also so beautiful and meaningful. Grief is such a delicate subject to explore in a romance book, but I honestly think the author did an incredible job portraying Lenny’s grief. She balanced the heartbreaking and happy moments so well.
I loved Lenny. I truly cared about her. She’s a wonderful character, and you can genuinely relate to her throughout the story.
And Miles. Oh dear Miles… he’s such a sweet man. He’s a key figure in Lenny’s journey, and what a strong, loyal, caring, lovable man to have as the male lead. It’s so easy to fall in love with him.
The foundation of their friendship came from a delicate moment in life, but the growth of their relationship… I shipped them so hard 😂😭 I just wanted both of them to have their happy ending. But oh damn, I was not ready for the book to end when it did—I wanted so much more 🥺 Nonetheless, it was beautiful to watch them slowly fall in love. And when I say slowly, I mean slooooooowwwwlyyy—this is a real slow-burn romance 😅
The writing is beautiful, and the pacing is amazing. Everything is so well balanced. There’s sadness, but there’s also tons of humor. There’s grief, but there’s also love—so much love. Every kind of love you can imagine ❤️🩹
I encourage you to read this one at least once 🫶🏻 I hope you feel its meaning and love it through and through 🫂
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
That was insane.
How can I even put it into words?
I’m heartbroken. I’m happy. I’m grateful. And I’m also so sad that it’s over now..
What a series, and what an incredible, huge ending this whole book was.
Everything from the very first page, which picks up exactly where we left off, to the nonstop action, drama, and all those suspenseful moments 😮💨 and don’t even get me started on the HUGE TWISTS!! 🤯 My god I did not see them coming!!! And let me say, there were a lot of things I could have predicted but I didn’t because everything here caught me so off guard and by surprise. I’m still trying to process everything that happened (and it’s already day 2 since I finished it) 😂😭
Things I can say: Lauren did an absolutely amazing job wrapping up this series. It was mesmerizing from start to finish. The way she brought everything together. She’s amazing. She 100% outdid herself with this one. I thought I couldn’t love her characters more but she found a way for me to fall immensely (forever) in love with all of them. It was astonishing to witness the growth in Lauren’s writing from Powerless to Fearless. I loved every second of this journey, getting to know her through her books and the beautiful world she created 💖
The plot, the emotions, the banter, the tension, the chemistry.. it was all next level. What a powerful way to end the series (unimaginable to be honest). I’m so happy that she found a way to shock me to the point where one second I was sobbing like a baby, and the next I was screaming NO FUCKING WAY 😂😭
I really don’t want to spoil anything to anyone, I hope you love the book as much as I did. And if you’re reading this and feel like this series might be for you - based on my reviews - I hope you give it a chance and fall head over heels in love with it too. It’s such a rich world, and a story so worth falling into. And I’m sorry if it’s not for you 🥲
Thank you Lauren, you’ve been so good to my heart ❤️🩹
How can I even put it into words?
I’m heartbroken. I’m happy. I’m grateful. And I’m also so sad that it’s over now..
What a series, and what an incredible, huge ending this whole book was.
Everything from the very first page, which picks up exactly where we left off, to the nonstop action, drama, and all those suspenseful moments 😮💨 and don’t even get me started on the HUGE TWISTS!! 🤯 My god I did not see them coming!!! And let me say, there were a lot of things I could have predicted but I didn’t because everything here caught me so off guard and by surprise. I’m still trying to process everything that happened (and it’s already day 2 since I finished it) 😂😭
Things I can say: Lauren did an absolutely amazing job wrapping up this series. It was mesmerizing from start to finish. The way she brought everything together. She’s amazing. She 100% outdid herself with this one. I thought I couldn’t love her characters more but she found a way for me to fall immensely (forever) in love with all of them. It was astonishing to witness the growth in Lauren’s writing from Powerless to Fearless. I loved every second of this journey, getting to know her through her books and the beautiful world she created 💖
The plot, the emotions, the banter, the tension, the chemistry.. it was all next level. What a powerful way to end the series (unimaginable to be honest). I’m so happy that she found a way to shock me to the point where one second I was sobbing like a baby, and the next I was screaming NO FUCKING WAY 😂😭
I really don’t want to spoil anything to anyone, I hope you love the book as much as I did. And if you’re reading this and feel like this series might be for you - based on my reviews - I hope you give it a chance and fall head over heels in love with it too. It’s such a rich world, and a story so worth falling into. And I’m sorry if it’s not for you 🥲
Thank you Lauren, you’ve been so good to my heart ❤️🩹
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay, so this review might come off as a little chaotic (and maybe even controversial) but stay with me.
I devoured this book in under 24 hours. That’s how locked in I was. The beginning? Spectacular. The meet-cute hit instantly, the connection snapped into place, and the chemistry? Off the damn charts. 😮💨 I was fully kicking my feet, giggling, twirling in my chair, I was in it.
But then… the 50% mark hit.
And it started dragging. Hard. Not because the book turned bad.. but because it turned heavy. The characters were struggling so deeply that I started to struggle. And listen, I’m used to feeling every emotion when I connect with characters (and here, I really did) so every ounce of their pain became mine. It wasn’t just their relationship falling apart; it was their families, their personal goals, their entire worlds. And it overwhelmed me. I just wanted them to be okay already 😭
The intensity, for me, pulled a lot of the joy I’d felt in the beginning right out of me. By the end, I wasn’t savoring it 🥲 I was waiting for it to be over.
And while the chemistry stayed alive, the romance itself kind of… disappeared. It got swallowed by all the family drama, which became the main focus. It’s not that the writing wasn’t good.. Abby is incredible at translating raw emotion onto the page, but the balance just wasn’t there for me.
That’s why, as much as I wanted this to be a 5-star read, it’s a 4. And even that feels generous considering how drained I felt by the end 🥴
Still, this was my experience. Maybe you’ll love it. Maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll fall right in the messy middle with me.
As for the rest? It was cute. Well written. The MMC? Super lovable. The side characters? Hm… let’s just say they had me raising an eyebrow or two..
Anyway, hope you enjoy the ride 🫶🏻
I devoured this book in under 24 hours. That’s how locked in I was. The beginning? Spectacular. The meet-cute hit instantly, the connection snapped into place, and the chemistry? Off the damn charts. 😮💨 I was fully kicking my feet, giggling, twirling in my chair, I was in it.
But then… the 50% mark hit.
And it started dragging. Hard. Not because the book turned bad.. but because it turned heavy. The characters were struggling so deeply that I started to struggle. And listen, I’m used to feeling every emotion when I connect with characters (and here, I really did) so every ounce of their pain became mine. It wasn’t just their relationship falling apart; it was their families, their personal goals, their entire worlds. And it overwhelmed me. I just wanted them to be okay already 😭
The intensity, for me, pulled a lot of the joy I’d felt in the beginning right out of me. By the end, I wasn’t savoring it 🥲 I was waiting for it to be over.
And while the chemistry stayed alive, the romance itself kind of… disappeared. It got swallowed by all the family drama, which became the main focus. It’s not that the writing wasn’t good.. Abby is incredible at translating raw emotion onto the page, but the balance just wasn’t there for me.
That’s why, as much as I wanted this to be a 5-star read, it’s a 4. And even that feels generous considering how drained I felt by the end 🥴
Still, this was my experience. Maybe you’ll love it. Maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll fall right in the messy middle with me.
As for the rest? It was cute. Well written. The MMC? Super lovable. The side characters? Hm… let’s just say they had me raising an eyebrow or two..
Anyway, hope you enjoy the ride 🫶🏻
adventurous
challenging
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What. A. Man. For gods sake!!! KAI AZER. WHAT. A. MAN.
I’ve never witnessed so much love and devotion, my goodness.
The amount of tabbing I did?!? I swear the man opened his mouth and I was like HOLY SHIT (TAB), and he didn’t even need to speak sometimes.. even his thoughts of Pae were everything 😭
I’m obsessed, and I’m so relieved that the third and last book is already here because I could never wait to know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!! Let’s talk about cliffhangers, I did saw that coming (a bit).. I mean it was hinted through some chapters so my smart brain connected the dots easily 🙂↕️ but ANYWAY, that’s such a cool ending, I approve (but just if I get what I deserve in the last book, thank you).
Ok so, moving on: I devoured this, not even 24 hours needed. I was so consumed by the story. The pace is absolutely amazing, you keep thinking “ok this is the end, this is when it happens” and then we had other chapters and more conversations and omg the feelings. I couldn’t stop. I had to finish. I’m not sorry.
What I am sorry for is for doubting a bit when I read the first one, but in my defense I had just finished Forth Wing and it was hard for me to care about other characters ok? Ok. I’m not sorry about that tbh 🤭
Last thing to say: I fell in love with Pae & Kai. The enemies to lovers here was FIRE!! And I’m such a sucker for it so 🙂↕️
You’ll find me in Fearless, see ya folks 🫶🏻