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maireadryan'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, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Classism
carlomartinez__'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: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
readtomea97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence
garrettcz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
neverlandpages4'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
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
velorum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There’s a ton of Internet jargon and pop culture references and slang, there’s generational trauma among a slew of trigger warnings and love and family and culture. There was so MUCH (please heed the trigger warnings) and yet so much silliness and lightness that framed this story. Maybe that speaks to the author’s point of how life can be jarring and full and sad.
I prefer my epilogues to be ADDITIONAL to the story. Here, the epilogue was doing all the work to wrap up loose ends.
This story between Shane and Eva (Genevieve) is melancholy and a rapid, all-consuming love story. It burns and burns out. Their second-chance encounter makes you want to know what the hell happed that week in June 15 years ago, and it all unravels as the story moves on.
On second note, the last three chapters (epilogue included) were just a RUSH of plot and character development, and not in a good way…
TBC…
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
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
d_a_n_a_z's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
ksuazo94'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: Child death, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
eule'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
Yet, this novel is breathtaking, funny and reflective while dealing with the power of love, coping with your past demons and tackling todays racism. Beautifully written and gorgeous characters with hell of a trauma. I especially enjoyed the fragility of Evas and Shanes relationship: a honest reflection of reality.
All in all: read this book y’all. It’s pretty good.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail