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moriahleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, and Car accident
jikuuu08's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
the way the words were constructed into a blade slicing deliciously into my throat, having me in a chokehold.
the way you THOUGHT the back stories lined up, but really the truth comes and you drop to the floor staring at the ceiling, mind blown.
this book was so beautiful to read and it had me grasping for more, WAITING for a moment where i could continue reading, the anticipation to what would happen next.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
whatkateeread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
Minor: Grief
marstone's review against another edition
- 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
I don’t read romance books, its not a genre I'm very interested in because I find it predictable, but if I were to read any romance, I am so happy it was this. It was not what I was expecting it to be at all and I almost didn’t commit to continuing it, but I cannot stop thinking about this book now.
This is about 2 writers who shared an intimate romance in high school which was very brief. Now, years later as adults they have been reconnected and the main character wants to know why their relationship ended so soon and is trying to navigate trauma, chronic illness, and adult responsibilities while also grappling with her feelings towards him and the past that is being brought up again. As authors of different genres, they have been writing their characters based off of each other, in a way sending each other messages that they are still a part of each other’s lives.
I’m not a fan of stories that include real life social media references or current slang (since I mostly read fantasy) because I feel like it takes me out of the story, but it’s not too over the top in this book and ultimately added a bit of lightheartedness to it.
This was much darker than I anticipated with the themes it explored and the characters backstory and how broken they were but just trying to keep themselves together now yet there is agony and yearning gnawing at them with the intensity of their intimacy of just seven days and how they are forced to face that again and figure out how they fit into each other’s lives now as adults.
This was absolutely beautiful and heart wrenching to see the trauma and sense of abandonment (a lot of trigger warnings listed) and figuring out why everything happened the way it did. I was so invested in their story and cried 5 times. I love it i love it i love it.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
booksalacarte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Contemporary romance
Second chance romance
Flashbacks
Silent disability rep
Witty banter
Generational curses
Flawed MC’s
Messy love
Great side characters
This was such an interesting, non-typical romance story. Very Romeo & Juliet- if they hadn’t died and instead met up 15 years later. I really liked the idea.
The MC’s were so interestingly flawed. I liked each of them individually. Eva was holding her own as a mom, a writer who was afraid of being in a rut and wanting to branch out.. all while keeping a silent disability a secret. Shane was perusing what he needed to solidify his place in sobriety. Recognizing his downfalls, slip ups and looking at them head on.
I found the magnetic inevitability of the romantic tension to be SO well done. The MC’s chemistry was on another level.
The side characters were fun, but the POV shifting to them would have been better if there had been MORE… or none at all. It was disorienting to have a chapter or less in a non-MC POV, then never have them revisited. And to have one of them be a catalyst in the miscommunication where a text message would have alleviated the situation completely… and then completely done away with in such a way. It felt trite.
There were a LOT of pop culture references. Not my favorite to have to read. I always worry about it putting a very specific time stamp on literature.
With black writers as MC’s, the discussion around black excellence and a celebration of black culture was very prominent throughout the book. And it was fun having it openly talked about and pointed out in a writer pannel between black authors.
Overall, I did love this book.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Grief, and Car accident
tays_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, and Grief
bergha1998's review against another edition
- 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
Second Chance Romance, Trauma, 2 1/2 🔥
“You push stuff away that isn’t safe and obvious, Mom, but love isn’t safe and obvious. Love is risky. Take the risk, woman.”
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
fleur____'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail