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shaun_trinh's Reviews (126)
3.5/5 Stars.
This was a really nice read, I liked the world building of the multiple courts and the different type of witches. Remy was a great protagonist, flawed but still eaher to exapand on who she is and what she's capable of doing. I liked that while she had moments of feeling helpless or afraid, that she was still almost always trying to plan her way out of whatever issue she was in. It didn't feel as if she was in a constant state of letting things just happen to her and I liked that.
I don't exactly have that many thoughts on Hal. He doesn't upset me, I like having him around, but he doesn't have much going on besides being a love interest who's strong. I didn't like how instantaneous Remy and Hal had an emotional connection, but that was explained later by them being fated. Still don't like it though, it made their relationship in the first half of the book feel superficial and meh. I do however really like the plotline with his Hal's mother, it's sweet.
Speaking of Remy and Hal being fated, I suspected that the twist would have something to do with Hal tricking Remy about what his plans and intentions were, which seemed true at first. But then I didn't expect them to actually be fated, I thought the story was going to have a "I control my own destiny" type of story beat with Hal losing his fated, but actually it's just Remy. Which I honestly should have seen coming but oh well it was a nice lil twist. However I did NOT expect Remy to have been apart of the Royal bloodline. Everytime she had that internal struggle of lying to Hal I was confused why she was upset and just assumed it was because she didn't think they would succeed but went along with it because she liked him. But nope and once getting that information a lot of the small details earlier in the story made a lot more sense, like how so many people, red witches, were sacraficing themselves for Remy specifically. Nice twist that I didn't see coming, but maybe I should have. Who knows.
I really liked the crew: Heather, Fern, Bri, the Eagles, Careys. They were all great fun to have around and I liked the budding relationship between them all. I liked how Bri and Careys helped Remy train and and grow out more of her nerovus skin from always having to hide. I like that how we didn't get to see that much between the brown witches and Hal's group, that they still really cared about one another. I was sad when the group departed because they were written together so well. I'm looking foward to seeing them again in the next book
I appreciate that Rua doesn't have the expected, heart-warming reuinion with Remy. The two while related by blood, know nothing about each other and are traumatized by what they went through and have changed because of it. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Rua resented Remy for what happened.
While I enjoyed this book there was 1 thing that I can't look past, and that's how home girl is just dying and being revivied left and right. Now it was only twice, but that's two times in one book! Death should matter and our main chick gets killed off left and right and is then revivied for reasons that are noto nly dumb, but are only explained as being possible as she dies. The first time is the most stupid. Remy is able to come back to live beacuse she is still "teathered to this world" by her connection to Hal. I'm sorry I like their relationship but that is so stupid. How have more people not come back to life yet? What does it mean to be "teathered" to someone? I can't believe that this isn't common knowledge to all fae in this world. Which brings us to the 2nd time Remy died where Heather swapped Remy's dying life with her own. HUH? Brown witches can sudennly do that? DId I miss where this was brought up before? But just ignoring how stupid to just shove this in the book at the very end, why couldn't Remy just come back to life on her own again? She's still teathered to Hal, even more so now. So why'd Heather need to give up her life? How is any reader supposed to take any death seriously when apparently people can just come back to life in an apparent multitude of dumb ways. I'm sorry but I can't just let this slide in my review.
Overall though, I still had a lot of fun in the book, I hope we get more plotlines about all the witches and how they're doing now. I wonder if the violet witches are going to return, it feels weird to mention their existence and their downfall and not bring them back. Guess I'll just have to read the next book
This was a really nice read, I liked the world building of the multiple courts and the different type of witches. Remy was a great protagonist, flawed but still eaher to exapand on who she is and what she's capable of doing. I liked that while she had moments of feeling helpless or afraid, that she was still almost always trying to plan her way out of whatever issue she was in. It didn't feel as if she was in a constant state of letting things just happen to her and I liked that.
I don't exactly have that many thoughts on Hal. He doesn't upset me, I like having him around, but he doesn't have much going on besides being a love interest who's strong. I didn't like how instantaneous Remy and Hal had an emotional connection, but that was explained later by them being fated. Still don't like it though, it made their relationship in the first half of the book feel superficial and meh. I do however really like the plotline with his Hal's mother, it's sweet.
Speaking of Remy and Hal being fated, I suspected that the twist would have something to do with Hal tricking Remy about what his plans and intentions were, which seemed true at first. But then I didn't expect them to actually be fated, I thought the story was going to have a "I control my own destiny" type of story beat with Hal losing his fated, but actually it's just Remy. Which I honestly should have seen coming but oh well it was a nice lil twist. However I did NOT expect Remy to have been apart of the Royal bloodline. Everytime she had that internal struggle of lying to Hal I was confused why she was upset and just assumed it was because she didn't think they would succeed but went along with it because she liked him. But nope and once getting that information a lot of the small details earlier in the story made a lot more sense, like how so many people, red witches, were sacraficing themselves for Remy specifically. Nice twist that I didn't see coming, but maybe I should have. Who knows.
I really liked the crew: Heather, Fern, Bri, the Eagles, Careys. They were all great fun to have around and I liked the budding relationship between them all. I liked how Bri and Careys helped Remy train and and grow out more of her nerovus skin from always having to hide. I like that how we didn't get to see that much between the brown witches and Hal's group, that they still really cared about one another. I was sad when the group departed because they were written together so well. I'm looking foward to seeing them again in the next book
I appreciate that Rua doesn't have the expected, heart-warming reuinion with Remy. The two while related by blood, know nothing about each other and are traumatized by what they went through and have changed because of it. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Rua resented Remy for what happened.
While I enjoyed this book there was 1 thing that I can't look past, and that's how home girl is just dying and being revivied left and right. Now it was only twice, but that's two times in one book! Death should matter and our main chick gets killed off left and right and is then revivied for reasons that are noto nly dumb, but are only explained as being possible as she dies. The first time is the most stupid. Remy is able to come back to live beacuse she is still "teathered to this world" by her connection to Hal. I'm sorry I like their relationship but that is so stupid. How have more people not come back to life yet? What does it mean to be "teathered" to someone? I can't believe that this isn't common knowledge to all fae in this world. Which brings us to the 2nd time Remy died where Heather swapped Remy's dying life with her own. HUH? Brown witches can sudennly do that? DId I miss where this was brought up before? But just ignoring how stupid to just shove this in the book at the very end, why couldn't Remy just come back to life on her own again? She's still teathered to Hal, even more so now. So why'd Heather need to give up her life? How is any reader supposed to take any death seriously when apparently people can just come back to life in an apparent multitude of dumb ways. I'm sorry but I can't just let this slide in my review.
Overall though, I still had a lot of fun in the book, I hope we get more plotlines about all the witches and how they're doing now. I wonder if the violet witches are going to return, it feels weird to mention their existence and their downfall and not bring them back. Guess I'll just have to read the next book
So this is a re-read of mine, I first read this book when I was an underclassmen in high school and based off memory I gave this book a 4/5 stars. Now re-reading it, i'm going to keep that rating.
Before I get into what I really liked about this book, I want to talk about what gave me doubts about it. When I first started my re-read I was shocked by just how obssessive Judith's feelings for Lucas were. Every section of the book was somehow linked to her affections for it. It was honestly really creepy to read, especially when the authot mentons their 4 year age difference. On paper that may seem fine, but when it's mentioned in a flashback where Judith is 12 and Lucas is 16, it becomes weird how there is a hard implication, and later admission of Lucas recipricating feelings for her. Yes this is set way back in the day where this was the norm and acceptable, but as a reader that doesn't make it any more easier to read, would it really have been that different for the author to just have Judith be 2 years younger then Lucas? But worst of all, Judith was willing to go back to her kidnapper just to save Lucas (and the village, but mostly Lucas), now that's just terrible and if you can't figure out why then it's above me and in gods hands now. It's these things that really made me think I wasn't going to enjoy the book as much as I was hoping too, but luckily I was proven wrong.
I love Judith's character, her journey of adjusting to her being shunned by the town to making a friend of her own, getting an education, and taking back what stolen from her was great. She truly shined when everything she did was somehow linked to Lucas. Don't get me wrong if I ignore the wierd age difference and what that implicated, I thought they had a sweet love story and I didn't mind when she would pine after him or vice versa, it just needs to be within reason a little. Besides the overbearing obsessisive way her thoughts about Lucas were written in the beginning, I loved every part of Judith's joruney.
Lucas is a fine character, I like him. In retrospect he doesn't actually get to do that much but I don't think he needed too. He's a respectable lad who has to deal with losing everyone he cares about and getting them back very differently then what he had last seen them as.
I also enjoyed Judith's relationship dynamics with her family, especially Darell. It was interesting to See Judith navigate her cold mother and rediscover her connection with her younger brother. They needed each other and were there for one another. It was a nice
Something else I really liked was the pace of the story. It felt like we were always on the move and never stuck in any given place. The book knew what it wanted to do and did it without wasted space. Very fun and easy to read, it's ultimatley what made me give this book a 4/5 stars instead of a 3.5/5 stars.
The ending was very sudden and very much YA with how everyone just let Judith talk and instantly believed her, but we're also in that time period where people would quite literally just belive whoever so it makes sense. It was a nice moment for Judith nonetheless.
I enjoyed the book more then what I expected, I kind of wish this was apart of a series because I'd love to continue Judith's story, but alas we can't always get what we want.
Before I get into what I really liked about this book, I want to talk about what gave me doubts about it. When I first started my re-read I was shocked by just how obssessive Judith's feelings for Lucas were. Every section of the book was somehow linked to her affections for it. It was honestly really creepy to read, especially when the authot mentons their 4 year age difference. On paper that may seem fine, but when it's mentioned in a flashback where Judith is 12 and Lucas is 16, it becomes weird how there is a hard implication, and later admission of Lucas recipricating feelings for her. Yes this is set way back in the day where this was the norm and acceptable, but as a reader that doesn't make it any more easier to read, would it really have been that different for the author to just have Judith be 2 years younger then Lucas? But worst of all, Judith was willing to go back to her kidnapper just to save Lucas (and the village, but mostly Lucas), now that's just terrible and if you can't figure out why then it's above me and in gods hands now. It's these things that really made me think I wasn't going to enjoy the book as much as I was hoping too, but luckily I was proven wrong.
I love Judith's character, her journey of adjusting to her being shunned by the town to making a friend of her own, getting an education, and taking back what stolen from her was great. She truly shined when everything she did was somehow linked to Lucas. Don't get me wrong if I ignore the wierd age difference and what that implicated, I thought they had a sweet love story and I didn't mind when she would pine after him or vice versa, it just needs to be within reason a little. Besides the overbearing obsessisive way her thoughts about Lucas were written in the beginning, I loved every part of Judith's joruney.
Lucas is a fine character, I like him. In retrospect he doesn't actually get to do that much but I don't think he needed too. He's a respectable lad who has to deal with losing everyone he cares about and getting them back very differently then what he had last seen them as.
I also enjoyed Judith's relationship dynamics with her family, especially Darell. It was interesting to See Judith navigate her cold mother and rediscover her connection with her younger brother. They needed each other and were there for one another. It was a nice
Something else I really liked was the pace of the story. It felt like we were always on the move and never stuck in any given place. The book knew what it wanted to do and did it without wasted space. Very fun and easy to read, it's ultimatley what made me give this book a 4/5 stars instead of a 3.5/5 stars.
The ending was very sudden and very much YA with how everyone just let Judith talk and instantly believed her, but we're also in that time period where people would quite literally just belive whoever so it makes sense. It was a nice moment for Judith nonetheless.
I enjoyed the book more then what I expected, I kind of wish this was apart of a series because I'd love to continue Judith's story, but alas we can't always get what we want.
What a lovely book, an easy 5/5 stars
The format and messaging of this story is beautiful and has important things to tell children in a cute, simple, but different way. From the boy who needs the love and guidance of his friends, and the imperfections that the Mole, Fox, and Horse face as well, but all ultimatley face together.
Great illustrations, great message, great book. A gem for kids or anyone to read.
The format and messaging of this story is beautiful and has important things to tell children in a cute, simple, but different way. From the boy who needs the love and guidance of his friends, and the imperfections that the Mole, Fox, and Horse face as well, but all ultimatley face together.
Great illustrations, great message, great book. A gem for kids or anyone to read.
Sooooooooo cute. 5/5 Stars
Everything about this story is so sweet from the brotherly relationship between Minoru and Tane, to the growing romantic relationship between Yutaka and Minoru. It was really wholesome that the story didn't even just focus on those two relationships though and gave a lot of time to Yukata and Tune, showing that this isn't just a story about two people but about all three of them and how much their family means to them, born with or found.
I was confused about the "drama" in the latter half of the book right before new years, but it lasted all of like 5 pages so it didn't really bother me.
Loved this manga, sad that it isn't a series, but i'm definetly going to look into more manga by Mita Ori
Everything about this story is so sweet from the brotherly relationship between Minoru and Tane, to the growing romantic relationship between Yutaka and Minoru. It was really wholesome that the story didn't even just focus on those two relationships though and gave a lot of time to Yukata and Tune, showing that this isn't just a story about two people but about all three of them and how much their family means to them, born with or found.
I was confused about the "drama" in the latter half of the book right before new years, but it lasted all of like 5 pages so it didn't really bother me.
Loved this manga, sad that it isn't a series, but i'm definetly going to look into more manga by Mita Ori
While this is a romance manga, I appreciate how it doesn't make the romance it's first priority throughout the entire book. Itsuki's life as a non-able bodied person is more then whatever love life he can have and I appreicate the fact that the author acknowledges this and doesn't romanticize his struggles in the name of a romance. I also respect that Tsugumi isn't made out to be this dream girl that automatically didn't care or look at Itsuki different when she found out about his disability, because that's not the case in real life. We look at non-able bodied people in a different light then we would otherwise and it's nice that Tsugumi accuratley portrays that and we see her move past it and get a better understanding of Itsuki's life.
This was a great read and I loved seeing Itsuki actively cope with his conditon in everyday and work life, and is even able to help someone else out who is going through something similar. Can't wait to keep reading this series
This was a great read and I loved seeing Itsuki actively cope with his conditon in everyday and work life, and is even able to help someone else out who is going through something similar. Can't wait to keep reading this series
This series is giving what's supposed to be gave in romance manga
Absolutley loved the inner conflicts both Tsugumi and Itsuki have going into their new relationship. Tsugumi not knowing if she's enough to be there for Itsuki and tries to over-compensate for it, pushing her to ignore her own health. Then there's Itsuki who struggles with the idea of what their relationship could be like if he was an able-bodied person. Two really strong story arcs that im excited to see expanded on.
A side plot I liked that was added in was how Tsugumi's father reacted to finding out about Itsuki's disability. While her father may have good intentions and is concerend, his attitude towards Itsuki is completely disrespectful and degrading, and that's a struggle that able-bodied people don't really care to think about. To them they're just showing loving concern, when in actuality it's always done in a completely uncalled for, and rude way. I like that this manga never wants to shy away from the hard realities of not being like everyone else.
Can't wait to read volume 3!
Absolutley loved the inner conflicts both Tsugumi and Itsuki have going into their new relationship. Tsugumi not knowing if she's enough to be there for Itsuki and tries to over-compensate for it, pushing her to ignore her own health. Then there's Itsuki who struggles with the idea of what their relationship could be like if he was an able-bodied person. Two really strong story arcs that im excited to see expanded on.
A side plot I liked that was added in was how Tsugumi's father reacted to finding out about Itsuki's disability. While her father may have good intentions and is concerend, his attitude towards Itsuki is completely disrespectful and degrading, and that's a struggle that able-bodied people don't really care to think about. To them they're just showing loving concern, when in actuality it's always done in a completely uncalled for, and rude way. I like that this manga never wants to shy away from the hard realities of not being like everyone else.
Can't wait to read volume 3!
Perfect World is doing what all the other romance manga think they're doing. Cute, down to earth, and unafraid to face the realities of a relationships for those who aren't able bodied. I found myself being so incredibly invested and annoyed by the things happening in this volume from how Tsugumi's parents were and how Nagasawa was treating her, but these are the hard truths that need to be faced. Love alone won't make their relationship work, and both parties need to accept and honestly consider what they're willing to do to support one another to a healthy degree. It's okay to not have everything figured out or know how to do everything together, but steps need to made towards that.
Really sad ending, had me thinking for a sec that it was all going to be okay until BOOM they hit us with the breakup. Sad but not surprised. Can't wait to keep reading!
Really sad ending, had me thinking for a sec that it was all going to be okay until BOOM they hit us with the breakup. Sad but not surprised. Can't wait to keep reading!
This was a nice volume that focused a lot more on the story then it did on the romance between Tsugumi and Itsuki. I like how Tsugumi is learning to be a care giver and it not be driven by her romantic relationship with Itsuki but for her father who now needs a caregiver. I also like how Tsugumi got to see her relationship from an outside perspective with Kaede and Keigo and how that's helped her understand her relationship with Itsuki better. We got the push and pull between Kaede and Keigo, but now Tsugumi get's an opportunity to help them fight for a happier ending for both of them.
What brings this down to a 4/5 stars despite how much I liked it, is that I found myself just skimming a fair bit of this volume. I didn't care that much about the parts that had Koreda or Nagasawa. They just feel like obstacles that are over staying their welcome with how they're not really contributing to the story anymore. They're just there, taking up space on the pages.
Still looking foward to volume 6 though!
What brings this down to a 4/5 stars despite how much I liked it, is that I found myself just skimming a fair bit of this volume. I didn't care that much about the parts that had Koreda or Nagasawa. They just feel like obstacles that are over staying their welcome with how they're not really contributing to the story anymore. They're just there, taking up space on the pages.
Still looking foward to volume 6 though!
I'll give this read a 3.5/5 stars
This was a pretty good read. I thought all of the characters, both main and side were really fleshed out which isn't that common with YA fantasy. A lot of the time characters can feel 1-dimensional or stale, but Arnett did a great job with giving everyone a clear personality and their own agency without taking too much from the main plot. The story felt well-rounded and had an overall good pace.
Kate and Corwin had a really good dynamic throughout the entire book, I really liked this sort of cat and mouse they had with their history; Kate's dad allegedly trying to assasinate the king, and Corwin sentencing him to death instead of exile. It felt like they really did have to work and earn some semblence of their old relationship again, but also not just completely starting anew either.
Kate's story trying to uncover her fathers death was fine, though I did think her story was more interesting when it focused on her relationship with Corwin or on her powers. I do however like the struggle she has with herself at the end of the story, she fears what she's capable of with her powers. She had previously never killed someone with them, but now that she has it's made her question her own morality and restraint coupled with her anger over wilders have been treated for the past three hundred years.
Corwins story was really well done from how he felt about wilders, his guilt with his mothers death his old postion has a wareagle captain, and to the uror trials. It was slow sometimes with his story, it really did feel like we as the reader went on this journey with him. While much of Kate's story was very reactive to whatever was happening around her, it felt like what mattered in Corwins story was more about his actual charracter going through an inner turmoil about what he understands and believes of the world and himself. His arc was more down to earth and steady which makes his journey all the more satisfying to see in the end.
I also just loved the Night/Daydrakes. Very cool fantasy creature that was a constant threat throughout the book. Wish Kate used her powers over them more. The magist were also really cool, I like when in fantasy books the magic system isn't just a blanket term where everyone pretty much has the same magic ability. Having them be in different categories (the robes) makes the magic system all the more appealing.
Whle I did enjoy Kate and Corwins stories and how theirs intersect, I felt like there was something missing, an extra umph to go from good to great. I really liked Kate's power to essentially control animals, but in the grand scheme of things she didn't really use it that much in the story in meaningful, and interesting ways. I also don't know how I feel about wilders with "sway" being able to also control humans, It takes away a lot of agency and interesting scenes that could be done with animals. There also could have been more hijinks using magic, most of it's usage felt very mundane. The twist villain being the Nameless One was good and I liked the build up too it, but then they make him this cartoonish evil "god" caricature. I really couldn't take that man seriously once he started talking. Had he been more compelling then this would have easily been a 4/5 star read, but the build up just lead to someone who was pretty lackluster and didn't do all that match in the end. Yes this book has a sequel but the twist reveal villain should be able to have some sort of standing in his own reveal.
Overall I enjoyed this book, the characters felt strong, I like the foundation placed, hopefully the sequel captilizes on it.
This was a pretty good read. I thought all of the characters, both main and side were really fleshed out which isn't that common with YA fantasy. A lot of the time characters can feel 1-dimensional or stale, but Arnett did a great job with giving everyone a clear personality and their own agency without taking too much from the main plot. The story felt well-rounded and had an overall good pace.
Kate and Corwin had a really good dynamic throughout the entire book, I really liked this sort of cat and mouse they had with their history; Kate's dad allegedly trying to assasinate the king, and Corwin sentencing him to death instead of exile. It felt like they really did have to work and earn some semblence of their old relationship again, but also not just completely starting anew either.
Kate's story trying to uncover her fathers death was fine, though I did think her story was more interesting when it focused on her relationship with Corwin or on her powers. I do however like the struggle she has with herself at the end of the story, she fears what she's capable of with her powers. She had previously never killed someone with them, but now that she has it's made her question her own morality and restraint coupled with her anger over wilders have been treated for the past three hundred years.
Corwins story was really well done from how he felt about wilders, his guilt with his mothers death his old postion has a wareagle captain, and to the uror trials. It was slow sometimes with his story, it really did feel like we as the reader went on this journey with him. While much of Kate's story was very reactive to whatever was happening around her, it felt like what mattered in Corwins story was more about his actual charracter going through an inner turmoil about what he understands and believes of the world and himself. His arc was more down to earth and steady which makes his journey all the more satisfying to see in the end.
I also just loved the Night/Daydrakes. Very cool fantasy creature that was a constant threat throughout the book. Wish Kate used her powers over them more. The magist were also really cool, I like when in fantasy books the magic system isn't just a blanket term where everyone pretty much has the same magic ability. Having them be in different categories (the robes) makes the magic system all the more appealing.
Whle I did enjoy Kate and Corwins stories and how theirs intersect, I felt like there was something missing, an extra umph to go from good to great. I really liked Kate's power to essentially control animals, but in the grand scheme of things she didn't really use it that much in the story in meaningful, and interesting ways. I also don't know how I feel about wilders with "sway" being able to also control humans, It takes away a lot of agency and interesting scenes that could be done with animals. There also could have been more hijinks using magic, most of it's usage felt very mundane. The twist villain being the Nameless One was good and I liked the build up too it, but then they make him this cartoonish evil "god" caricature. I really couldn't take that man seriously once he started talking. Had he been more compelling then this would have easily been a 4/5 star read, but the build up just lead to someone who was pretty lackluster and didn't do all that match in the end. Yes this book has a sequel but the twist reveal villain should be able to have some sort of standing in his own reveal.
Overall I enjoyed this book, the characters felt strong, I like the foundation placed, hopefully the sequel captilizes on it.
2.5/5 stars. Could be a 3/5 stars in time.
My best friend warned me that this book would be cheesy, but even so I wasn't prepared for just HOW cheesy it was. The author did a great job at making Belly act and feel like a 15 year old girl, so much so that I wish she wasn't so good at it. There were so many moments in the book where I had 2nd hand emabrrasment for how Belly acted and how head-over-heels she was for Conrad. We've all been there, but it's still hard to read. Especially when compared to her other mother figure quite literally dying. This is the main reason I don't think I can give this book 3 stars, there were a handful of scenes where I just had to skim through it because of how much 2nd hand embarrasment I got. Granted I get that more then a lot of people, but still.
I found it hard to sympathize with Belly when she was mad at someone, which was often, but when Cam left her out on the beach by herself for 45 minutes to just play games with the guys, I was so vehemently on her side. I would be LIVID if I got ditched like that.
The age gap between Belly and Conrad did feel a little weird. It's not ilegal or wrong, but it's on the verge of something with him turning 18 and going to college and Belly turining 16. Nothing wrong per say, but if you think to hard about it can get weird. I wish the author made Belly a year older at least.
One of the best redeeming qualities of the book is how fast paced it is. While there's a lot of scenes where I wish Belly would just, not; for the most part those scenes were over pretty quickly. We were enver stuck in a single scene for too long and I liked that it never felt like the story was dragging, even if I wasn't the bigget fan of all of the flashbacks.
2nd hand emarrasement aside the story was cute and I liked the friend/family dynamics, I just wish we saw more relationship building between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. For how much the story is about them, we don't really see them bond all that much in a meaningful way.
My best friend warned me that this book would be cheesy, but even so I wasn't prepared for just HOW cheesy it was. The author did a great job at making Belly act and feel like a 15 year old girl, so much so that I wish she wasn't so good at it. There were so many moments in the book where I had 2nd hand emabrrasment for how Belly acted and how head-over-heels she was for Conrad. We've all been there, but it's still hard to read. Especially when compared to her other mother figure quite literally dying. This is the main reason I don't think I can give this book 3 stars, there were a handful of scenes where I just had to skim through it because of how much 2nd hand embarrasment I got. Granted I get that more then a lot of people, but still.
I found it hard to sympathize with Belly when she was mad at someone, which was often, but when Cam left her out on the beach by herself for 45 minutes to just play games with the guys, I was so vehemently on her side. I would be LIVID if I got ditched like that.
The age gap between Belly and Conrad did feel a little weird. It's not ilegal or wrong, but it's on the verge of something with him turning 18 and going to college and Belly turining 16. Nothing wrong per say, but if you think to hard about it can get weird. I wish the author made Belly a year older at least.
One of the best redeeming qualities of the book is how fast paced it is. While there's a lot of scenes where I wish Belly would just, not; for the most part those scenes were over pretty quickly. We were enver stuck in a single scene for too long and I liked that it never felt like the story was dragging, even if I wasn't the bigget fan of all of the flashbacks.
2nd hand emarrasement aside the story was cute and I liked the friend/family dynamics, I just wish we saw more relationship building between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. For how much the story is about them, we don't really see them bond all that much in a meaningful way.