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jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Violet and Sebastian have been friends since they were children. Through the bad times (brutal familial disappointments and Violet’s abusive marriage) and the better (impressive scientific discoveries) they have maintained a friendship even their closest friends don’t understand.
Violet has for years used Sebastian as her cover for her scientific advancements. They have secret passages between their homes and a secret code for scheduling work. As he grows wary of the farce and she grows wary of the isolation, cracks start to emerge in their friendship. Those cracks push Sebastian to confess feelings he’s held for years and then push Violet to think about what it means to know she is loved and that the love is deserved.
Plus you get Sebastian so lust crazed for Violet he has to make a pit stop in their secret passage, scientific accomplishments for Violet and other women, Sebastian demanding respect for Violet from their friends, a classic Milan courtroom scene, plus the most consent rich and caring intimacy a reader could ever hope for.
Violet has for years used Sebastian as her cover for her scientific advancements. They have secret passages between their homes and a secret code for scheduling work. As he grows wary of the farce and she grows wary of the isolation, cracks start to emerge in their friendship. Those cracks push Sebastian to confess feelings he’s held for years and then push Violet to think about what it means to know she is loved and that the love is deserved.
Plus you get Sebastian so lust crazed for Violet he has to make a pit stop in their secret passage, scientific accomplishments for Violet and other women, Sebastian demanding respect for Violet from their friends, a classic Milan courtroom scene, plus the most consent rich and caring intimacy a reader could ever hope for.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
rubyelizabethrambles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Miscarriage
readclever's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Normally, I love Courtney Milan's heroines. I could not like Violet. She was so shrouded in self-abuse via thought, which grew tiresome ten pages in. It took her way too long to get some gumption and stop living in the past. Like 75% of the book. It wasn't just imposter syndrome, but a key part of her personality. Post her father's suicide.
The story spends a lot of time with tangential side plots, often with similar stories, and yet it doesn't help the main thread. Bless Sebastian for loving her. It's not that Violet is prickly, or even unlikeable.I love characters like Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco. It's the fact Violet does nothing but put herself down. And depends on others to fulfill her needs since she refuses to stop calling herself selfish.
The only saving grace was the last 20% or so. Even with even more melodrama. It felt more like a romance. There's a lot of inconsistency in the writing, how a character mercurial flips traits depending on plot need. And an exorbitant amount of miscommunication and hidden truths.
The miscarriage information in addition to her first husband's sexual assaults were a lot to handle, too. In total, Violet had 19 in 11 years. It seemed like a lot of heroine torture for the sake of it. I struggle with infertility and that number absolutely dropped the book almost a full star. Because it loses impact among all the other melodrama. (And I love me some melodrama. Hello 1990s soaps)
I waddled between 2 and 3 stars. I only came down on 3 because Sebastian was a very well-developed character, very patient, and there were great points in the book. It's a very low 3 stars.
But I didn't enjoy the read and won't ever reread. I usually love the heroines and focus on their arcs when reviewing. I can't in this one. And that makes me sad. I'm sad I couldn't love a popular, well-regarded recced book. Unfortunately, sometimes you can't.
The story spends a lot of time with tangential side plots, often with similar stories, and yet it doesn't help the main thread. Bless Sebastian for loving her. It's not that Violet is prickly, or even unlikeable.I love characters like Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco. It's the fact Violet does nothing but put herself down. And depends on others to fulfill her needs since she refuses to stop calling herself selfish.
The only saving grace was the last 20% or so. Even with even more melodrama. It felt more like a romance. There's a lot of inconsistency in the writing, how a character mercurial flips traits depending on plot need. And an exorbitant amount of miscommunication and hidden truths.
The miscarriage information in addition to her first husband's sexual assaults were a lot to handle, too. In total, Violet had 19 in 11 years. It seemed like a lot of heroine torture for the sake of it. I struggle with infertility and that number absolutely dropped the book almost a full star. Because it loses impact among all the other melodrama. (And I love me some melodrama. Hello 1990s soaps)
I waddled between 2 and 3 stars. I only came down on 3 because Sebastian was a very well-developed character, very patient, and there were great points in the book. It's a very low 3 stars.
But I didn't enjoy the read and won't ever reread. I usually love the heroines and focus on their arcs when reviewing. I can't in this one. And that makes me sad. I'm sad I couldn't love a popular, well-regarded recced book. Unfortunately, sometimes you can't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Death of parent