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amarvellouslibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Grief, and Death of parent
dominic_t's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.5
This book was really good, but the author made some structural choices that made the book less enjoyable to read.
I knew that trauma was involved with Sara's backstory, but I was not expecting the emotional impact of the opening of the book.Sara's first love (Annie) is found dead in the river, and her dad told Sara that Annie would be found there. Sara ran away after that. I certainly don't blame her.
The book switches between Sara's and Emilie's perspectives. I really liked seeing the world through their alternating perspectives. However, it was really uneven. We would get really long stretches of hearing from only one character, and then there were parts of the book that quickly alternated between the two of them. I would have liked to see the viewpoints switch more often.I did like the long stretch of Sara's viewpoint when she was traveling back to her hometown after her father's death. That really highlighted how alone she felt. But other than that, I think alternating more frequently would have made the book stronger.
I loved seeing Sara and Emilie together, but the way their relationship started was a bit strange.They lock eyes and are attracted to each other, but Emilie is involved with someone else. They have no further interactions until they see each other again a year later after Emilie dumps the previous partner. And the flame immediately ignites! I would have liked more of a buildup. It would have made sense for them to interact occasionally at the restaurant. And I also found it weird that Sara didn't care that Emilie was having an affair with a married man. That wouldn't raise any questions about her character? They just never discussed it. And while we're on the subject of the married boyfriend...I could have done with a lot less of the extramarital affair portion of the book. I would have preferred to see some of those pages dedicated to Emilie and Sara interacting.
I also thought the ending was strange, and I am actually fine with ambiguous endings.The ending basically talks about Emilie being afraid that she and Sara are trapped in this cycle of Sara leaving when her pain overwhelms her and then Emilie taking her back. Except that the second example of Sara "leaving" was when she went back home to deal with her father's estate after he died? And then she moved without giving Sara her address? So who is really the unreliable person here? She left this really needy voice-mail on Sara's phone after Sara left, and then moved away and left no forwarding address. That is a super shitty way to treat someone you supposedly love when they are dealing with really complicated grief. Typing all this out actually made me mad enough to knock this down half a point.
I knew that trauma was involved with Sara's backstory, but I was not expecting the emotional impact of the opening of the book.
The book switches between Sara's and Emilie's perspectives. I really liked seeing the world through their alternating perspectives. However, it was really uneven. We would get really long stretches of hearing from only one character, and then there were parts of the book that quickly alternated between the two of them. I would have liked to see the viewpoints switch more often.
I loved seeing Sara and Emilie together, but the way their relationship started was a bit strange.
I also thought the ending was strange, and I am actually fine with ambiguous endings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual content
themadpage's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
delz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
There are two main characters, Sara and Emilie. We start out with their backstories. Both live in California, one from a good family,Emilie. Sara’s family is questionable but the way it’s written was confusing to me. That led to more confusion later in the book. Also when the two women finally meet it’s a love at first sight no build up to the relationship which would have been better than all the pages of Emilie’s relationship as “the other woman.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual content
ukponge's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
annamolpus's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
3.25
This book was all over my BookTok feed and it was an easy read. Enjoyed the first half (introducing us to two main characters and describing how their lives evolved) more than the second half (when they meet). Held my interest and I cared for the characters, but I wasn't getting much depth so ultimately I suspect this will be easily forgotten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Drug abuse
veramele's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Drug use and Infidelity
raphynette's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
zarap's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
One of my favorite books of this year so far. Nina LaCour's writing isn't embellished or flashy, and it doesn't need to be. Sara and Emilie pulled me in from the beginning and I loved getting to know them better and then finally seeing them start to grow together. There's a lot of darkness in places, especially in the beginning (check CWs), but also so much warmth and light and healing. Not a perfect novel perhaps, but perfect for me. If Nina LaCour decides to write copy for cereal boxes, I'm there (but I'd definitely prefer novels).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail