I think The Sunshine Court is structured in a similar way to The Foxhole Court; following the same pace while still doing its own thing.   We spend the first 30ish % at the Foxhole court, seeing some of the scenes from The king’s men but this time from Jean’s POV. Although i think it was very insightful to get Jean’s perspective, I think it took a little too long until we got to the Trojans. Still enjoyed it though! Especially the final foxes VS raven match. Oh my god it never fails to give me the most insane adrenaline rush! The Kevin and Jean scenes made me absolutely miserable. It is so obvious that they care so much about each other, but I think their relationship is too damaged from the nest for them to ever patch it up…. 

I’ve seen reviews circling around about TSC being plotless which I don’t agree with at all. The sunshine court has a more character focused plot rather than an action driven plot like The Foxhole court. The plot of The sunshine court Is Jean’s healing; his journey to cease living just to endure and start living for the small but meaningful pleasures in life, and i think that’s so beautiful. 

Jean Moreau oh I have so much love for you. To see how deeply ingrained the abuse he suffered through is in him was so horrible to read about. How accustomed he is to it and how he greets every act of kindness with suspicion because he isn’t used to it. He was put through so much pain but instead of giving pain in return he retained his humanity.  He cares so much and he deserves to be cared for in return. Thank you Nora for giving Jean a second chance. I also want to add that Jean’s narration is just way too funny sometimes — his insults were hilarious. Him calling Neil “an abominable cockroach” and Andrew “that creepy little goalkeeper Andrew Minyard”. An honorary mention to “Permission to break his face, Coach?” Jean asked. “Denied,” White said. 

Jeremy Knox was everything I wanted him to be and more. An absolute golden retriever, but maybe not as perfect as we’d first thought he would be. I am very intrigued to learn more about his family issues and about what the heck happened at the banquet in the next book. I saw someone say that Jeremy is Neil’s “I’m fine” personified and oh I can’t agree more. He’s very much avoidant of his own problems. 

I’m sensing a slow burn Jerejean in the making and honestly i love them so much already. Who is more perfect for Jean than captain sunshine Jeremy Knox himself? I think they can be so so good for each other but it will probably be difficult for them with Jeremy having to find out about the horrors that is the Moriyamas…

I liked the teases we got of the Trojans. I look forward to seeing more of them in the second book as Jean hopefully gives them a more open approach. I ADORE Cat and Laila, they are such strong female characters. I loved reading about their relationship with each other and their friendship with Jeremy and Jean. The three of them showing Jean what true friendship is like and wanting to help and be there for him so badly. He deflects their attempts in the beginning but they never give up on him and he notices that. 

I do think that Cat, Laila and Jeremy pushed Jean a little too hard sometimes but i understand that their intentions were good. They have a very different upbringing to Jean. They are not used to the cruelty he has been put through. They don’t know how to handle such delicate trauma. They are used to talking about their issues to process them but it’s not that easy for Jean. He has been silenced his whole time at the nest; been stripped of his control and made into a possession, believing so keenly that it’s what he deserves because he’s a Moreau. He was never told that what was done to him was wrong. It must be so hard to finally face that he has been wronged for so many years. 

Delving deeper into the Ravens was as interesting as it was awful to read about. They were abused who became abusers, some to survive and others because they needed the pain they were put through to mean something. For it to not have been for nothing in the end. So they were willing to pay the prize for it, no matter what they had to do in order to become winners. But it wasn’t worth it. Some of them were, or became, horrible people but they still didn’t deserve what happened to them. 

I could go on forever about the parallels between Jean and Neil. They truly are different sides of the same coin. Neil (or rather Nathaniel) being ”Jean’s misplaced forever partner, an unfulfilled promise Jean had stopped believing in years ago”. The person who could have stood and suffered by Jean’s side and had his back. *crying*

 

Here comes a little compilation of things i can’t stop thinking about:

— unrequited KevJean "He was years away, watching a different beautiful boy lean in close to say, "Will you teach me when he’s not watching? It could be our secret.”

— barkbark the cardboard dog 

— neil Josten putting out a hit on a man while eating noodles and annoying the FBI like the absolute menance that he is

— jeanee being right person wrong time 

— jean emptying Andrew’s candy drawer in the trash 

— ”He will be court.”

— cat taking jean on a bike ride 

— elodie… “She was only ten when I left home. Ten! Why didn’t they love her enough to keep her safe? Why didn’t they—” love me?”